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.”
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.”
Call of Duty coming to Xbox Game Pass
In a blog post on the official Microsoft website, CEO Phil Spencer spoke about the future of the Activision Blizzard buyout and made some very interesting comments regarding what it would entail.
One of the most interesting snippets was confirmation that CoD would make its way to Xbox Game Pass, a monthly subscription service that lets players download games without buying them.
“Game Pass empowers developers to bring more games to more players, not fewer,” he wrote. “We intend to make Activision Blizzard’s much-loved library of games – including Overwatch, Diablo, and Call of Duty – available in Game Pass and to grow those gaming communities.”
Call of Duty on Xbox Games Pass release date rumors
Unfortunately, there is currently no official release date for Call of Duty titles on Xbox Game Pass. We do however have a good idea of when it will happen, as the Activision buyout is set to conclude next year.
With the timeline of the deal unchanged, it seems likely that Call of Duty will arrive on Xbox Game Pass in June 2023, although this hasn’t been officially confirmed just yet.
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s video game subscription service that launched in 2017. For a monthly fee, gamers are granted access to a rotating catalog of games. This service isn’t exclusive to Xbox console owners as Android, iOS devices, and PC players can also access the subscription.
Obviously, the benefit of adding Call of Duty to the Xbox Game Pass catalog is not lost on fans of the franchise. Not only would they save money but the day one access is a significant bonus for longtime CoD fans.