Sony calls Call of Duty deal “inadequate on many levels”

Microsoft’s intention to purchase Activision Blizzard for $70 Billion came as a surprise to many when it was first announced earlier this year. Since then, the situation surrounding the publisher’s biggest multi-platform franchises have been in flux – especially Call of Duty. While we do know current deals set in place will remain, Sony has now claimed that Microsoft proposed deals beyond this are “inadequate on many levels.”

Following the announcement that Microsoft intends to purchase Activision Blizzard, the console manufacturer stated that all current contracts between its competitors and Activision Blizzard would be honoured. Since then, however, Xbox’s Phil Spencer stated that following the conclusion of these predetermined deals it would promise to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for only three more years.

In a surprising statement to Gamesindustry.biz by PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan following Spencer’s revelation, he said “I hadn't intended to comment on what I understood to be a private business discussion, but I feel the need to set the record straight because Phil Spencer brought this into the public forum.”

Ryan continued, “Microsoft has only offered for Call of Duty to remain on PlayStation for three years after the current agreement between Activision and Sony ends. After almost 20 years of Call of Duty on PlayStation, their proposal was inadequate on many levels and failed to take account of the impact on our gamers.”

The PlayStation CEO concluded by saying “We want to guarantee PlayStation gamers continue to have the highest quality Call of Duty experience, and Microsoft's proposal undermines this principle.”

As mentioned by Ryan, Call of Duty is as much a PlayStation franchise as it has been an Xbox one, with Sony having partnered with the franchise for many years, giving PlayStation console owners some small benefits. The thought of a juggernaut such as Call of Duty one day being Xbox exclusive is in many ways unthinkable, and so the candor of Ryan’s statement makes sense. Hopefully the two console manufacturers manage to sort something out.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Spencer’s statement? What about Ryan’s response? Let us know down below.

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