Microsoft to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo in 10-year deal
Microsoft announced its plans to purchase Activision Blizzard for $69B in January, which has raised regulatory concerns
Microsoft has committed to bringing the video game title "Call of Duty" to Nintendo platforms.
It is a 10-year deal announced by the chief executive officer of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, in a post on Twitter.
Nintendo said the Microsoft announcement was true but declined to comment further.
Microsoft announced that it was buying the "Call of Duty" maker, Activision Blizzard in a planned $69 billion deal in January, in the biggest gaming industry deal in history.
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The deal has raised concern among regulators that the deal could stifle competition.
It was reported last month that Microsoft's bid to acquire the video game publisher, could face a major roadblock.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is likely to file an antitrust lawsuit to block the $69 billion takeover, according to Politico, citing people familiar with the matter.
At the center of the FTC’s concerns is whether acquiring Activision would give Microsoft an unfair boost in the video game market.
Activision games "Call of Duty" are pictured in a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
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Sony is concerned that if Microsoft made hit games like Call of Duty exclusive to its platforms Sony would be significantly disadvantaged.
Microsoft has pledged to continue making Call of Duty available on Sony’s Playstation console, and recently made an offer to give Sony access to the game for the next 10 years.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSFT | MICROSOFT CORP. | 430.98 | +7.52 | +1.78% |
| ATVI | NO DATA AVAILABLE | - | - | - |
| NTDOY | NINTENDO CO. LTD. | 14.74 | +0.09 | +0.61% |
The EU opened a full-scale investigation last month. The EU competition enforcer said it would decide by March 23, 2023, whether to clear or block the deal.
The Activision Blizzard Booth during the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong / AP Images)
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Microsoft competes with Sony Group Corp and Nintendo in the global video game industry.
Reuters contributed to this report.