Microsoft has been making some big moves lately. After their acquisition of ZeniMax Media, which came with several development studios, the company made a new bid in 2022. We’re sure you’re all familiar with it by now, but Microsoft is looking to acquire Activision Blizzard. This is another notable company and one that would fetch nearly $70 billion if the deal goes through. Of course, it’s an uphill battle for Microsoft as they deal with regulators to even be able to go through with the purchase. One of the significant legal battles in an attempt to stop this acquisition from going through is set to have its pre-trial tomorrow.
The Federal Trade Commission, better known as simply the FTC, had thrown a lawsuit against Microsoft. According to the FTC, the Microsoft acquisition would gain control over a leading independent game studio. In their eyes, Microsoft would hurt the competition and make it challenging for Sony to fight back. This all stems from Call of Duty, a massively popular FPS franchise that has turned out countless units across multiple console platforms. Fortunately, Microsoft has made a few moves beforehand, showcasing that they are not looking to cease the immediate release of Call of Duty titles on competitor platforms.
Before the lawsuit announcement, Microsoft had unveiled that they were bringing out a ten-year contract deal. This contract would legally force Microsoft to release Call of Duty games to its competitors for a full decade. That should make it more than enough time for competitors like Sony to bring out a Call of Duty alternative for their platform if the IP should see its end on PlayStation. To further aid in this cause, both Nintendo and Valve’s Steam marketplace have signed a contract that would guarantee them Call of Duty games if the deal goes through.
This should be an exciting battle. If Microsoft acquires the company, we’ll likely see future and past Call of Duty games hit the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Likewise, it would mean Sony to start working on their own competitor FPS franchise to gain stable footing with a fan base by the time Microsoft’s ten-year contractual agreement comes to an end. Of course, this could also not go the way Microsoft hopes for and leave Activision Blizzard as an independent studio capable of releasing games on any platform.