According to recent reports, Xbox has firmly denied any intentions of making Call of Duty an exclusive title. The immensely popular game franchise holds a dominant position in the entertainment industry, which has generated significant controversy surrounding Microsoft's proposed acquisition of publisher Activision. Call of Duty consistently ranks among the top-selling games each year, with few exceptions when Rockstar Games releases a new title. This level of success makes the prospect of Microsoft gaining exclusive control over the franchise a cause for concern among Sony, regulators, and fans. However, Microsoft has sought to allay these fears by assuring stakeholders that it has no plans to make Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox.
In support of this stance, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, who approved the bid for the nearly $70 billion acquisition of Activision, clarified that the company has never entertained discussions regarding exclusive rights for Call of Duty. This information was revealed in a document submitted during the Microsoft vs. FTC hearing related to the Activision acquisition. Hood emphasized the strategic and financial value of keeping Call of Duty available on multiple platforms, highlighting Microsoft's intent to continue producing Activision games for other systems.
Hood stated, "The possibility of making Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox was never assessed or discussed with me, nor was it even mentioned in any of the presentations to or discussions with the Board of Directors. I understood the necessity of keeping Call of Duty on other platforms. The Acquisition's strategic rationale and financial valuation are both aligned toward making Activision games widely available, not less."
Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, who approved the $69 billion bid for Activision: "The possibility of making Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox was never assessed or discussed with me, nor was it even mentioned in any of the presentations to or discussions with the Board of Directors." pic.twitter.com/x2IFDjdEFj
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 29, 2023
Considering the immense size and cost associated with producing Call of Duty, it is evident that restricting the game to a single platform would likely be detrimental to Xbox. Given its scale, Call of Duty relies on a broad player base to thrive, making it essential to release the game on as many platforms as possible. Xbox's emphasis on maintaining wide availability aligns with the understanding that the franchise requires a substantial install base to succeed. Therefore, it becomes clear why Xbox is emphasizing this point as an integral aspect of the proposed deal with Activision.
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