Published 10:02 21 Jan 2022 GMT

Sony Finally Responds To Microsoft/Activision Deal

It's business time

Ewan Moore

As I'm sure you're all-too aware at this point, Microsoft has purchased Activision Blizzard for an eye-watering $68.7 billion. This means hit franchises like Call Of Duty, Overwatch, Diablo, and World Of Warcraft now fall under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella.

Obviously, PlayStation fans out there only really have one question: will all of these franchises now be Xbox exclusive? Unfortunately, given that the Microsoft/Activision buyout won't be properly done and over the line until 2023, we don't really have a concrete answer - and we won't for some time.

For now, Sony has finally responded to the buyout which wiped $20 billion from its market value in just one day. The company says that it fully expects Microsoft to honor any existing agreements it has with Activision, will "continue to ensure" that Activision games are released on its platforms.

As with everything everyone has said at every stage since the buyout was announced, this is about as clear as mud.

“We expect that Microsoft will abide by contractual agreements and continue to ensure Activision games are multiplatform,” a Sony rep told The Wall Street Journal.

It's worth noting that Microsoft honoured Sony's previous Bethesda contracts. Deathloop released as a PS5-exclusive, as planned. As will Ghostwire: Tokyo. There's no reason to think Microsoft wouldn't do the same again here. It's what comes after those contracts and agreements expire that's less certain.

There's been some suggestion that future Call Of Duty titles will be Xbox exclusive, while the constantly evolving Warzone remains multiplatform. Other analysts have warned that Call Of Duty being exclusive to one platform could be an impediment to the entire Activision deal.

Like I said, it's all very up in the air right now. What we do know is that Xbox boss Phil Spencer would like to keep Call Of Duty on PlayStation. But what he would like to happen and what actually ends up happening could be two very different beasts.