Microsoft Agrees to 10-Year Call of Duty Deal with Nintendo

Microsoft said on Wednesday that it had agreed to a 10-year contract with Nintendo to produce Call of Duty if its acquisition of Activision Blizzard is approved by regulators.<br><br>The company confirmed the deal’s duration for the first time after announcing a similar agreement with Sony in October, and following a meeting between the chief executive of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, and the president of Nintendo of America, Doug Bowser.<br><br>The agreement means Nintendo Switch players will have access to the global phenomenon for the next decade should Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard close.<br><br>The news comes as the acquisition faces increased scrutiny from regulators in the UK, EU and US, who are concerned that the acquisition will harm competition in the market.<br><br>The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently assessing the deal, after it was announced in January 2022.<br><br>The agreement with Nintendo will be legally enforceable, subject to the acquisition closing, and demonstrates the full commitment of Microsoft to extend the global phenomenon to more gamers.<br><br>Mr Spencer said: “When Activision Blizzard joins Team Xbox, we’ll have even more options for where to play Call of Duty<br><br>The agreement with Nintendo cements this promise, ensuring players on the Nintendo platform can also experience Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard games for years to come under Microsoft.<br><br>The deal is also a significant moment for the gaming industry, with Call of Duty made available on the Nintendo console for the first time in over a decade.<br><br>Nintendo Switch players will be able to experience the Call of Duty for the first time since Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2013, which was released on the Wii U.<br><br>The decision is expected to strengthen Microsoft’s hand in its ongoing battles with regulators to have the acquisition approved.<br><br>The UK’s CMA previously raised concerns that if Microsoft were to buy Activision Blizzard it could harm ps5 players.<br><br>The regulator said in February that the deal could lead to Microsoft exploiting its position by restricting access to Call of Duty to ps5 users.<br><br>Mr Spencer said: “This is just one of many ways we’re expanding access to Call of Duty<br><br>We have a deep respect for the Nintendo brand and the community of gamers who play on their consoles.<br><br>“Our commitment to Call of Duty on the Nintendo platform goes beyond just the next 10 years. It’s a promise to the Nintendo community that we’ll make Call of Duty available where they want to play it and how they want to experience it.”<br><br>The news has been welcomed by gamers across the globe, who have been left worried by the anticipation surrounding the deal.<br><br>Fredrica Usher said: “Genuinely I don’t see what Microsoft has done wrong by buying Activision Blizzard<br><br>I’m glad they’re making these agreements with Sony and Nintendo because if they wanted to lock editions behind their systems they could.<br><br>“I’m glad they didn’t because it’s better for us in the end.”<br><br>Ismael Cazorla Udogba commented: “It looks like the buyout is going to happen after all.<br><br>If it’s the case we really hope they’ll have a better way to handle developments internally.<br><br>“Especially given developments on Starfield.”<br><br>PsychedelicBuddha said: “They need to do this for everything, but good on them for actually doing it.<br><br>It’s a step in the right direction.<br><br>“Hopefully this is the end of exclusives.<br><br>Let’s hope it’s not just call of duty.<br><br>Please also bring back Tony hawk.”