Tech

Microsoft will respect Sony exclusives

Since we learned two days ago of the purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, many eyes have been placed on its main rival in the field of video games, Sony. And it is that both companies have been facing Xbox and PlayStation for years, with exclusive titles as a very, very important asset in said competition. And there are titles that can decide the choice of one or another console.

About a year and a half ago, when Microsoft bought Zenimax, andDoubts arose about whether those from Redmond would take the entire catalog of the company’s studios to Xbox, thus depriving PlayStation of some very iconic titles. None of this has happened so far, but despite this, with this week’s operation, doubts have surfaced again, now pointing to Activision Blizzard titles for which Sony does have exclusive rights.

And they have been spread so much, that Phil Spencer himself, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has had to clarify through of a message on his Twitter account which, as you might have guessed, Microsoft will honor all agreements signed between Sony and Activision Blizzard to date. A message that also confirms Microsoft’s desire to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. He ends the message by stating «Sony is an important part of our industry and we value our relationship«.

Call of Duty is, as we have already told you this afternoon, a key title for PlayStation, to the point that Sony could lose more than 250 million dollars a year if the title stops coming to PlayStation. Investor response to these risks, from the moment the deal was announced, has been one of undisguised fear. This, of course, explains the reason why the Microsoft manager has published the tweet and, in addition, has explicitly mentioned the Call of Duty franchise. Even the biggest detractor of Microsoft has to admit that the behavior of those of Redmond is impeccable on this point.

However, the big question is what will happen in 2024, year in which it is estimated that the contracts signed between Sony and Activision Blizzard will expire. Will Microsoft then act to bring all Activision Blizzard titles to Xbox exclusively? Personally, I don’t see it as very likely, mainly for two reasons.

Microsoft will respect Sony exclusives

The first has to do with numbers, of course. The investment that Microsoft will have to face to buy Activision Blizzard will take time to pay off, and give up the income provided by the sale of their titles to PlayStation users doesn’t seem like a particularly smart move in this regard.

But above all, I’ve been thinking about the second one since the day before yesterday, and it’s himThe situation in which Microsoft would be left if the blow to Sony was too loud. In Redmond, to their dismay, they already have experience dealing with anti-competitive regulators, agencies that would unquestionably take action if Microsoft acted in this direction.

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