Is Call of Duty going Xbox exclusive? Here's what we know.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Source: Activision

Microsoft recently outlined plans to larn 1 of the earth's largest video game publishers, Activision Blizzard, in a bargain valued at $68.7 billion. The industry-shaking buyout marks the latest and most influential deal to bolster the company'south gaming efforts, expanding the Xbox brand with an exhaustive list of new properties. Best-selling Blizzard franchises like Overwatch, Diablo, and World of Warcraft join the Xbox family, accompanied by Activision titans like Call of Duty. While it's not the first major Xbox conquering — the firm too scooped up Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion back in 2022 — the deal is easily its largest to date.

Microsoft scooping upwardly Activision Blizzard has wide-reaching implications within the video games industry, bringing some of the world'due south biggest names nether the Xbox platform. That includes Telephone call of Duty, Activision's striking military machine shooter, easily amid the highest-grossing franchises of all fourth dimension. Having Call of Duty in-house will benefit Xbox for years to come, just what does it hateful for fans of the iconic franchise? Here's what we know and expect from Call of Duty in the post-acquisition era.

Phone call of Duty remains a lifeline for Activision

Call of Duty: Warzone Source: Activision

Microsoft's near $seventy billion deal brings all things Activision, Blizzard, and Male monarch under the Xbox'due south wing, including some of the world's most popular game properties and accompanying development studios. That includes Call of Duty, at present primarily shared among several key franchise caretakers, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software.

Call of Duty continues to see annual installments, with projects subject to a three-twelvemonth development cycle, shared among a growing talent pool. Phone call of Duty Warzone, its ongoing free-to-play battle royale, has emerged as a new abiding among these releases, with each game building upon a foundation since 2022. Other Activision development studios like High Moon Studios, Beenox, and Toys for Bob, have also shifted resource to supporting Call of Duty in contempo years, leaving the publisher centered effectually its cash moo-cow.

The Activision Blizzard bargain is expected to run into many established Activision and Blizzard franchises launch exclusively through Xbox platforms, including its Xbox consoles and PC storefront. However, those decisions could arise on a case-by-instance basis, much similar the previous Bethesda deal. While titles like The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 continue to receive updates on PlayStation consoles, upcoming titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 have pivoted to Xbox exclusivity.

"Activision Blizzard games are enjoyed on a variety of platforms and we program to continue to support those communities moving forward," Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated following the announcement. While Microsoft isn't talking specifics at this bespeak in fourth dimension, Spencer has farther stressed its commitment to rival platforms. "I'll just say to players out there who are playing Activision Blizzard games on Sony'south platform: It's not our intent to pull communities away from that platform and we remained committed to that," Spencer told Bloomberg.

Is Call of Duty now going Xbox exclusive?

Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold War Screenshot Source: Activision

Information technology's unknown whether Microsoft volition take Telephone call of Duty sectional to Xbox platforms — simply don't expect it to driblet PlayStation anytime soon. Microsoft's acquisition isn't expected to shut until midway through 2023, which ways its adjacent entry, a rumored successor to 2022's Call of Duty Modern Warfare, volition probable release as usual. But even when Activision Blizzard loses full autonomy, nosotros're not expecting sweeping changes overnight.

Call of Duty remains cemented as Activision'southward chief revenue stream in 2022, with its primary developers and sister studios doubling down on Call of Duty content. The shooter remains a hit, with contempo reports from The NPD Grouping positioning its latest 2 entries, Phone call of Duty Blackness Ops: Common cold War and Call of Duty: Vanguard, among the best-selling Xbox and PlayStation games of 2022. That's without touching on its boxing passes, cosmetics, and other paid content driving microtransactions betwixt premium titles and its free-to-play Warzone modes.

Call of Duty drives immense revenues for Activision, and we don't expect Microsoft to cut ties with a 3rd of its thespian base of operations. Simply put, Call of Duty just makes too much damn coin, and Microsoft probable won't walk from those gains.

Xbox Game Pass Booth Source: Matt Brown | Windows Central

That'due south not to say Microsoft won't leverage its ownership of the Call of Duty IP, with inclusion inside Xbox Game Pass guaranteed as it continues to drive the gaming subscription service. Players can also expect various Xbox-sectional content to follow the $68.vii billion purchase, much similar previous deals catered to PlayStation users. With time those perks will probable be amplified, making Call of Duty a distinctly Xbox-tied experience.

Microsoft and its continued push button to aggrandize Xbox Game Laissez passer content could benefit Call of Duty in the long term, with the platform holder pursuing diverseness amid its studios. While Call of Duty remains invaluable to Activision, the bargain could convalesce pressure to evangelize tape revenues each quarter, packing releases on a tight schedule. At that place'south no better time than now for Phone call of Duty to break away from its annual release cycle, while nosotros also hope once-abandoned Activision franchises to brand a return, albeit nether the Xbox Game Pass offerings.

While we don't know what the future holds for Call of Duty, PlayStation owners won't see changes for some fourth dimension. Multi-billion-dollar franchises like Minecraft accept thrived with cantankerous-platform support, and a like approach could be a smart fit for Telephone call of Duty'southward sprawling player base. While the deal will benefit Xbox players more than anyone, the future looks bright with a new face at the helm.

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