In the ongoing legal battle over Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, one question keeps arising: will Xbox make Call of Duty exclusive? Despite arguments from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it seems that Xbox has consistently stated its lack of interest in exclusivity.
According to Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley's recent ruling in the FTC v. Microsoft trial, Xbox's stance on Call of Duty has remained unchanged even in internal documents. The judge stated that there were no internal documents contradicting Xbox's public commitment to make Call of Duty available on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
This consistency aligns with previous statements made by Xbox representatives, including Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, who testified under oath that Call of Duty would not be taken away from PlayStation.
Surprisingly, in nearly one million pieces of internal documentation submitted to the court, there was no evidence of Xbox executives discussing exclusive plans for Call of Duty. This lack of evidence explains why Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan confidently stated that Call of Duty will continue to be available on PlayStation for years to come.
With this ruling in mind, it seems unlikely that Xbox will make Call of Duty exclusive in the future. The Activision Blizzard merger can proceed as scheduled, and gamers can expect the popular franchise to continue being available on multiple platforms.
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Did PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan Misrepresent Publishers' Views on Game Pass?
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan's recent statement about publishers' disdain for Xbox Game Pass has raised eyebrows. However, the claim appears to be verifiably false, as many publishers have embraced the service.
Ryan stated in a deposition during the FTC trial that "all publishers" unanimously dislike Game Pass as it is "value destructive." This sweeping statement does not align with the reality of publishers' actions.
Publishers such as Ubisoft, WB, and even EA - which includes its own EA Play service - have made their games available on Game Pass. These publishers have willingly entered into agreements with Microsoft, indicating a level of interest and willingness to embrace the service.
While it is possible that some publishers may have reservations about Game Pass, Ryan's claim of a unanimous dislike seems exaggerated. Take-Two and Activision may be more resistant to the service, but they do not represent the entire industry.
Ryan's statement raises questions about the accuracy of his claims and the motivations behind them. As Game Pass continues to grow and gain popularity, it is clear that many publishers see value in participating, contradicting Ryan's assertion of unanimous dislike.
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FTC Documents Reveal Financial Benefits of Activision Games on Xbox Game Pass
Documents filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the ongoing case against Microsoft and Activision have revealed that both companies have acknowledged the "large financial benefits" of bringing Activision content to Xbox Game Pass.
The FTC's findings of fact document states that Activision recognized significant financial gains from making its content available on cloud gaming services. Additionally, the document suggests that Microsoft and Activision could achieve the same results through a contract, indicating a potential willingness from Activision to make its content available on subscription services, including day-and-date releases.
However, it is noted that Activision has been resistant to subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass, particularly due to potential cannibalization effects that could impact full game sales. Activision has preferred to bring Call of Duty games to Sony's PlayStation Plus Essential subscription, which rotates games on a monthly basis.
The revelation of the financial benefits associated with Game Pass raises questions as to why Activision has not signed a deal to bring its games to the service. While the answer lies in redacted text, it appears that Activision has been cautious about the impact on their sales and has instead sought agreements with PlayStation.
Overall, these documents shed light on the financial considerations and complexities surrounding subscription services like Xbox Game Pass in the gaming industry.
