Summary
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently made some scathing comments aboutPlayStationover its long-runningCall of Dutymarketing deal. Back in 2015,PlayStationstruck a marketing agreement with Activision for theCall of Dutyseries, allowing the gaming giant to market every single entry in the series up until 2023’sModern Warfare 3.
TheCall of Dutypartnership ran deeper than just marketing, as PlayStation also received platform-exclusive perks such as early access to betas, exclusive game modes, special cosmetics, and more. Over the last nine years, this agreement has led to many players to consider PlayStation consoles as the de facto choice to playCall of Dutytitles. However, afterMicrosoft closed on its merger with Activision Blizzardlast year, it seems the company is keen to change that perception.
In an interview withIGNafter the recent Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer spoke about the upcominghighly anticipatedCall of Duty: Black Ops 6and how the company is handling its launch. “I want to give you the choice on how you play your games, and who you play with, and not try to do slimy platform things to force you to do what I want you to do,” he said. Spencer referring to PlayStation as “slimy” is a clear indication that theCall of Dutymarketing deal with Activision remains a point of contention for the CEO, who believes there should be a level playing field for such major tentpole titles.
Spencer Wants Everyone To Have Access to Call of Duty from the Get-Go
The CEO also made similarly scathing comments whileintroducingCall of Duty: Black Ops 6during the Xbox Games Showcase, stating that it had been “10 years” since aCall of Dutytitle was part of an Xbox presentation, and that “it’s been even longer since allCall of Dutyplayers got the same game at the same time,” alluding to PlayStation users receiving early access forCall of Dutybetas. Spencer then committed to “everyone” getting to experience the entirety ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6at launch, including season expansions and updates without platform-exclusive benefits.
Spencer’s gamer-first approach is commendable, but prior to PlayStation, Microsoft had a similarCall of Dutymarketing agreement with Activision during the days of the Xbox 360. Signed in 2010, this deal prioritized Xbox users for game add-ons and map packs, with PlayStation 3 players receiving the content at a later date. However, Xbox leadership is much different today, and the platform-agnostic approach reflects the evolving philosophy of the brand, as Spencer also confirmed thatmore Xbox titles will go multiplatformin the future.
