Microsoft has reportedly offered Sony a whopping 10-year Call of Duty deal to ensure the series remains for PlayStation.
If reports of this deal are true, a decade-long deal seemingly shows intent that Microsoft does not plan on making Call of Duty an Xbox exclusive. At least for the foreseeable future anyway.
Is a 10-year deal on the table?
As reported by VGC, Microsoft told New York Times that the deal was offered to Sony on November 11th. To be honest, this would be a strange claim to make if not true. So, with that in mind, I will give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt.
Ever since Microsoft moved to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, Sony (as well as PlayStation boss Jim Ryan) has raised concerns.
From the outside looking in, Sony is concerned that Call of Duty will be an Xbox exclusive. Furthermore, Sony is also concerned gamers will choose to play the series on Xbox if it comes to Game Pass.
Microsoft has tried to ease Sony’s concerns
However, Microsoft has previously tried to ease concerns raised by Sony. When speaking to Brazilian regulators, Microsoft stated that it would make no sense for CoD to be an Xbox exclusive.
Additionally, Xbox chief Phil Spencer stated that Microsoft does not intend to pull the rug from underneath Sony.
This is following claims by Sony that Microsoft’s previous multi-year deal for CoD to remain on PlayStation was “inadequate on many levels”.
All these concerns have been raised by Sony, despite an apparent previously existing deal that already ensures Call of Duty cannot come to Xbox Game Pass for a number of years.
When Spencer was talking on the Decoder podcast recently about not pulling the rug underneath Sony, his words now have a little more context.
“It’s not about at some point ‘I pulled the rug underneath PlayStation 7’s legs’ and it’s ‘ah ha you just didn’t write the contract long enough’. There’s no contract that could be written that says forever,” Spencer said.
Can a deal be struck for Call of Duty between Microsoft and Sony?
Yet, if the reports are true in regards to a 10-year deal and if Sony rejects such an offer, I’m not sure what is expected. After all, it seems like a very giving offer.
A 10-year deal seems to be a generous proposition regardless of the industry and it certainly wouldn’t be wise for any company to offer a deal that lasts forever.
At some point, every deal needs to be revised and if there’s a 10-year gap in-between, that sounds like a sweetener to me.
That being said, it will be interesting to see what Sony’s response will be, should it decide to comment publicly.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is yet to be finalised. It is believed that the takeover will be completed by June 2023.
Finally, what are your thoughts on this apparent 10-year deal? Let us know across our social media channels.
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Featured Image Credit: Activision/Source: VGC