Shubham Sawarkar
Editor’s note: This article is part of Day 2 (June 23, 2023) of the FTC vs. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard trial.
In a courtroom packed with anticipation, Xbox boss Phil Spencer made a resolute declaration to Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley during Microsoft’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) trial. Under oath, Spencer assured the court that Microsoft had no intention of withholding the popular game franchise Call of Duty from PlayStation consoles if its acquisition of Activision Blizzard came to fruition.
Responding to Judge Corley’s inquiry about the future availability of Call of Duty on PlayStation, Spencer firmly raised his hand and stated, “I will do whatever it takes. We have no plan. It is my testimony that we will not pull Call of Duty from PlayStation.”
Highlighting the collaborative nature of the gaming industry, Spencer acknowledged the necessity of Sony’s cooperation in allowing Microsoft to ship the game on its platform. However, he reiterated his commitment, stating, “My testimony is that we will continue to ship future versions of Call of Duty on Sony’s PlayStation 5.”
This unwavering stance echoes Spencer’s previous statements on Call of Duty exclusivity. In the past, he reassured gamers that the franchise would continue to be available on PlayStation, vowing to support the platform “as long as there is a PlayStation to ship to.” The sentiment was echoed by PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, who expressed confidence that Call of Duty would remain on PlayStation for the foreseeable future in an email disclosed during the trial.
The trial has brought the issue of console exclusivity into the spotlight, with the FTC scrutinizing Microsoft’s 2021 acquisition of Zenimax in recent proceedings. Addressing another aspect of the case, Spencer shed light on the absence of a PlayStation 5 version of Minecraft, attributing it to Sony‘s failure to provide dev kits to Microsoft.
As the trial continues, industry observers eagerly await further insights into the potential impact of the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard merger. Amidst concerns about the future of gaming franchises and platform exclusivity, Phil Spencer’s unwavering commitment to Call of Duty‘s availability on PlayStation provides reassurance to millions of fans worldwide.
