Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has agreed to leave the popular video game Call of Duty on Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY)'s PlayStation consoles following its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ:ATVI).
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced the agreement, which may alleviate concerns about the takeover’s impact on competition, between Microsoft and Sony in a tweet on Sunday.
“We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games,” Spencer said.
We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 16, 2023
Microsoft president Brad Smith added in a tweet: “From Day One of this acquisition, we’ve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers.
“Even after we cross the finish line for this deal’s approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before.”
The agreement signals that Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard may be drawing closer after a series of hurdles from competition regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.
Microsoft shares traded up 0.3% at US$346.29, while Activision Blizzard shares added 3.2% at US$92.92 and Sony gained 1.4% at US$93.71 shortly after noon on Monday.
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