In what has proven to be a lively first day of testimony at Xbox's Activision Blizzard trial, Xbox vice president Sarah Bond dropped yet another bombshell. During her testimony, Bond revealed that Activision almost pulled Call of Duty from Xbox, but the company was able to negotiate a deal that would allow the game to continue releasing on the platform.
This news comes out of yesterday's court trial between Xbox and the FTC, which is currently investigating the company's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC has expressed concerns that the acquisition could lead to anti-competitive practices in the gaming industry.
Microsoft's corporate VP of gaming ecosystem at Xbox, Sarah Bond, was one of the executives who testified at the hearing. During her testimony, Bond explained that Microsoft had negotiated a deal with Activision that would allow Call of Duty to continue releasing on Xbox, even if the acquisition went through.
During the first day of proceedings in the current case between the FTC and Microsoft, a number of major reveals were put on the record. One of the most significant was the news that Call of Duty would continue to release on Xbox, despite the recent acquisition of its publisher.
Microsoft executives were back at defending its deal with 'Call of Duty' maker Activision Blizzard. Xbox chief Phil Spencer was grilled at the hearing by FTC attorney Jennifer Milici, who questioned him about the potential anti-competitive effects of the acquisition.
In the FTC trial, Phil Spencer explains why Xbox won't withhold Call of Duty if its Activision Blizzard acquisition goes through. Spencer argued that the acquisition would not harm competition in the gaming industry, and that Xbox would continue to compete with other platforms, including PlayStation.
Call of Duty will continue to release on PlayStation so long as Sony allows it, testifies Xbox. Call of Duty has been one of the biggest franchises not just in gaming, but in entertainment as a whole. The series has sold over 300 million copies worldwide, and has generated billions of dollars in revenue.
As long as Sony is up for it - Head of Microsoft's gaming division Phil Spencer has today been asked a lot about the future of Call of Duty on Xbox. Spencer has confirmed that the game will continue to release on Xbox, as long as Sony is willing to allow it on PlayStation.
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been met with some controversy, with critics arguing that it could lead to anti-competitive practices in the gaming industry. However, Microsoft has argued that the acquisition will help to bolster its gaming division, and will allow it to compete more effectively with other platforms, including PlayStation.
In conclusion, it seems that Call of Duty fans on Xbox One can rest easy, as the game will continue to release on the platform despite Microsoft's recent acquisition of its publisher, Activision Blizzard. While the acquisition is still being investigated by the FTC, it seems that Microsoft is confident that it will be able to continue competing with other platforms, and that Call of Duty will remain a key part of its gaming division.
