Xbox chief Phil Spencer told CNBC on Thursday, Nov. 15, that he expects Call of Duty to remain available on PlayStation and other platforms while regulators continue reviewing Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Spencer responds to Sony’s criticism
Spencer addressed recent comments from Sony and PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan, who described Microsoft’s offer regarding Call of Duty as “inadequate” on multiple levels. In the interview, Spencer was asked whether Microsoft’s public promise to keep the franchise on PlayStation for “several years” could extend indefinitely.
He replied that his expectation is for Call of Duty to continue to be released on PlayStation and other platforms where players can access it.
Regulatory process limits what he can say
“I can’t speak much about the current state of regulatory proceedings because of the mechanism involved,” Spencer said. He added that Microsoft has publicly clarified its commitments to fans and customers and reiterated the expectation that Call of Duty will continue to be shipped on PlayStation and elsewhere.
Spencer also said he hopes to expand the places where people play Xbox games, indicating a desire to broaden access across platforms.
Xbox’s broader strategy: reach and cloud
Spencer described expanding Xbox’s reach as an objective for the coming years, building games that are accessible to more players. He emphasized placing the player at the center of the company’s strategy and pointed to technologies such as cloud gaming and simultaneous PC releases as ways to increase the audience for Xbox titles.
“That has been our aim. We put the player at the center and through technologies like cloud, day-and-date delivery on PC, our expectation is that the games we are building will be played by more players going forward,” he said.
Game Pass framed as competitive innovation
The interview also touched on concerns that including Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass could harm competition—a point raised by Sony. Spencer defended Game Pass as an outcome of competition rather than an effort to “stifle competitors.”
“When I look at something like Game Pass specifically, I think it’s the result of competition in our market,” he said. “We sat as Microsoft and Xbox and thought ‘how can we innovate and create value for players?’ So we produced a new model for customers to build their game libraries, and players love it. I think that’s what competition is about.”
Pricing stance for Xbox hardware
Spencer was also asked about console pricing and said Microsoft currently has no plans to raise Xbox console prices. He noted the difficult financial environment and said increasing prices would not be the right action for the company’s customers at this time.
Deal timeline remains dependent on regulators
The proposed Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been a central topic in the gaming industry this year. According to Microsoft, regulatory reviews in multiple countries are ongoing and are expected to take several months; the company says the deal is likely to be completed only next year.
