Microsoft Formalizes 10-Year Commitment To Bring ‘Call of Duty’ to Nintendo

The news arrives just ahead of Microsoft’s forthcoming European Commission hearing on the pending Activision Blizzard deal.

Gaming
2.3K 6 Comments

Update: Microsoft pledged to bring the Call Of Duty franchise to Nintendo consoles in December 2022, and now they’ve made good on their promise, signing a deal that ensures Nintendo gamers will get their full Call of Duty fix for the next decade — if Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is approved. Microsoft company president Brad Smith officially announced the deal via a tweeted statement, and noted that Nintendo Call of Duty games would have “full feature and content parity” with other systems. “We are committed to providing long-term equal access to Call of Duty to other gaming platforms, bringing more choice to more players and more competition to the gaming market,” Smith’s statement also read.

The announcement comes at a fortuitous time for Microsoft, who has come under regulatory fire for their pending acquisition of Activision Blizzard, with government officials in the US and UK expressing fears about a monopoly if the deal were to go through. Microsoft is due in European Comission court next week to face antitrust aligations, with a final decision set to be made by the EU court in April. UK regulators have suggested that Microsoft drop Activision and the Call of Duty franchise from its acquisition plans, and Microsoft is facing a pending case in the US, where the FTC has sued the company in an attempt to block the deal.

With all the legalese surrounding the pending acquisition, Microsoft’s recent move is seen by some as an attempt to placate regulators, showing them that their fears of a monopoly are unfounded. In November 2022, a report from the New York Times indicated that Microsoft had offered the same 10-year Call of Duty commitment to Sony that it had to Nintendo, though Sony did not comment on the matter.

Look for new Call of Duty titles to release on Nintendo platforms in the future, read the original story below for more info and stay tuned for more news on the pending acquisition as it’s made available.


Original Story: Microsoft is committed to bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo, both on current consoles and on future hardware. The tech giant has officially declared that it will offer Call of Duty on Nintendo for the next ten years, given that its Activision Blizzard merger successfully closes.

“Microsoft has entered into a 10-year commitment to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo following the merger of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced on Twitter. “Microsoft is committed to helping bring more games to more people – however they choose to play.”

The ten-year commitment most likely means that Call of Duty will roll out on Switch, followed by further iterations of the console, as well as any other gaming devices Nintendo debuts down the line.

Spencer went on to say that Call of Duty will continue to be offered simultaneously on Steam and Xbox.

As of right now, Microsoft’s Blizzard acquisition is still in the air. The Federal Trade Commission is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss whether they’ll make moves to curb the deal. The FTC is allegedly concerned that the merger would give Microsoft too much control over the market.

In other gaming news, a new Elden Ring update sees multiplayer colosseum battles.

Read Full Article
Text By
Source
Gamespot
Contributing Editor
Ross Dwyer/Hypebeast, Sarah Kearns/Hypebeast
Share this article

What to Read Next

Official Images of the Nike Air Force 1 Low "Classics"
Footwear

Official Images of the Nike Air Force 1 Low "Classics"

Commemorating 50 years of hip-hop.

Frieze and Felix Return to the City of Angels
Art

Frieze and Felix Return to the City of Angels

The largest iteration of either fair to date.

G-SHOCK’s “Virtual Rainbow” Series Pays Homage to Gaming Culture and E-Sports With Cyberpunk-Inspired Design
Watches

G-SHOCK’s “Virtual Rainbow” Series Pays Homage to Gaming Culture and E-Sports With Cyberpunk-Inspired Design

Presented by G-Shock
Four new models decorated with an RGB spectrum.

JJJJound Unveils Its First Leather Jacket
Fashion

JJJJound Unveils Its First Leather Jacket

The new garment is crafted alongside ECCO Leather as part of its sustainable EL3 initiative.

A Ma Maniére Celebrates the Beauty and Power of Black Women With Its New Air Jordan 12 Collaboration
Footwear

A Ma Maniére Celebrates the Beauty and Power of Black Women With Its New Air Jordan 12 Collaboration

The “Black/Burgundy” colorway is dropping on February 24 while the “White/Burgundy” pair has been pushed back to March 2.


Get to Know the Norwegian Designers Set to Make Waves at Milan Design Week
Design

Get to Know the Norwegian Designers Set to Make Waves at Milan Design Week

Each will launch collections at “Norwegian Presence” this year.

Take a Closer Look at Moncler Genius' FW23 Collaborations
Fashion 

Take a Closer Look at Moncler Genius' FW23 Collaborations

Presented at Olympia London, Moncler presented collections alongside Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Palm Angels, and more.

Todd James Deploys 'Soldier of Fortune' at NANZUKA UNDERGROUND
Art

Todd James Deploys 'Soldier of Fortune' at NANZUKA UNDERGROUND

Alongside a limited edition collectible called “Pentagon Pile Up.”

Tekla Looks to Le Corbusier for Second Cashmere & Lambswool Blanket Collection
Design

Tekla Looks to Le Corbusier for Second Cashmere & Lambswool Blanket Collection

Featuring checked and striped designs.

Pharrell's adidas Hu NMD S1 RYAT Arrives in "Focus Olive"
Footwear

Pharrell's adidas Hu NMD S1 RYAT Arrives in "Focus Olive"

Supported by pink accents.

More ▾