Microsoft confirms PlayStation will get “same Call of Duty” as Xbox following takeover

After concerns that Microsoft would use its ownership of Call of Duty to give Xbox owners exclusive benefits, Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer confirmed that PlayStation will receive the “same version of Call of Duty” on the same day as Xbox.

PlayStation players have long enjoyed exclusive Call of Duty benefits thanks to Sony’s marketing deal with Activision. However, that’s all set to change once Microsoft fully acquires Activision-Blizzard and all of its properties.

Despite their insistence that Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation, there are concerns that Microsoft would use these huge franchises to harm their rivals. However, Microsoft have confirmed that PlayStation will get the “same version of Call of Duty” as Xbox and PC.

The UK Government expressed concerns over Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard takeover, claiming that Microsoft could “use its control over popular games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft post-merger to harm rivals.” Shortly after, Microsoft gave an update on their plans to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation.

Despite concerns from Sony and other authorities, Microsoft have stated several times that they intend on keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation. One of their main reasons boils down to profit, where they said it “would not be profitable” to pull CoD from PlayStation consoles.

In their September 1 update, Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer confirmed that they are “committed to making the same version of Call of Duty available on PlayStation on the same day the game launches elsewhere.”

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has confirmed Microsoft intends to put Call of Duty on Game Pass and reconfirms they will launch Call of Duty games on PlayStation the same day it launches on Xbox once the deal closes. pic.twitter.com/0hUlRgZybU

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) September 1, 2022

In essence, PlayStation players are set to receive the exact same Call of Duty game as Xbox players, on the exact same day. Microsoft’s President Brad Smith said much the same, stating that “We want people to have more access to games, not less.”

But, once the deal goes through, Xbox, PC, and mobile players will be able to access Call of Duty through Game Pass “to grow those gaming communities.”

Image Credit: Activision