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Phil Spencer has commented on the possibility of future Activision Blizzard games being Xbox exclusive following news of Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard. After the story broke today, January 18, many are already wondering if the gaming giant will make games like Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox, and how this might shape Xbox Game Pass moving forward.
Back in 2020, it was revealed that Microsoft planned to purchase ZeniMax Media in a buyout that cost the company around $7.5 billion when it was finalized in 2021. As multiple Bethesda classics hit Xbox Game Pass following the deal, the large acquisition left many to ponder on Bethesda's upcoming titles, and whether or not they'd come to PlayStation consoles. While Microsoft has since revealed that some games like Starfield will be exclusive to Xbox, other upcoming games like The Elder Scrolls VI have a future less certain. Microsoft-owned titles like Minecraft have been immensely popular outside of Xbox platforms, meaning there's potential for Microsoft to allow some games on PlayStation or even Nintendo consoles, though with such expensive acquisitions, some exclusivity is to be expected.
Xbox head Phil Spencer has now commented on Xbox exclusivity once the Activision Blizzard buyout is completed. In a report from Bloomberg (via Dina Bass), the CEO of Microsoft Gaming suggested that exclusivity isn't a concrete plan for the newly-acquired games, stating the following:
“I’ll just say to players out there who are playing Activision Blizzard games on Sony’s platform: It’s not our intent to pull communities away from that platform and we remained committed to that.”
In the same report, sources familiar with Microsoft's plans claim that the platform holder plans to keep "some" Activision franchises available to consoles like PlayStation, "but will also keep some content exclusive to Xbox." As of right now, nothing is set in stone as it's believed Microsoft's Activision deal won't close until 2023.
Although no games were explicitly mentioned in the report, it's possible a huge IP like Call of Duty will not be part of Xbox's exclusivity, as it's one of the biggest franchises of the acquisition and is enjoyed by millions across platforms. Microsoft can still position Xbox as the best place to play these games through other means, though. The deal will likely increase the value of Xbox Game Pass, meaning the company can leverage the service as a cheap and efficient way to play Call of Duty on day one. Although Phil Spencer has said he's not a big fan of timed exclusive game content, Microsoft still has the ability to pull that card on these key titles.
With the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard purchase not set to complete for some time, it'll be a while before fans get to see the extent of the buyout, and what it means for future Xbox exclusivity deals. Perhaps Microsoft will be able to close the deal before Activision reveals Call of Duty 2023, allowing it the ability to market next year's entry as an Xbox Game Pass title from the get-go. With such an unprecedented acquisition, fans will have to wait and see how it all plays out.