Phil Spencer, head of Xbox at Microsoft, said Call of Duty will continue to be released on PlayStation “for the next several years,” and that Microsoft does not plan to make the franchise unavailable to future PlayStation consoles.
Spencer’s commitments and limits
Speaking on the Decoder podcast, Spencer declined to promise Call of Duty would appear on PlayStation consoles forever, but emphasized a commitment to long-term availability. He said he does not intend to “pull the rug out” from a hypothetical PlayStation 7 and acknowledged that “no contract lasts forever.”
Spencer added that while writing a contract that said “forever” would be unrealistic, he is open to negotiating a lengthy agreement that would reassure Sony and regulatory authorities reviewing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
No hidden restrictions or Game Pass-only locks
Addressing widespread speculation, Spencer rejected suggestions Microsoft might limit Call of Duty on PlayStation by only providing a Game Pass–linked version or otherwise embedding restrictive conditions. He said Call of Duty will be offered natively on PlayStation “not tied to Game Pass or streaming.”
He noted that if Sony wanted a streaming version, Microsoft could provide that option as it already does on its own consoles, but stressed there would be “nothing hidden” in how the franchise is made available to PlayStation players.
Regulatory and industry context
The concern over potential exclusivity for Call of Duty intensified after Microsoft announced its planned $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Call of Duty is one of the world’s best-selling video game franchises and maintains a large player base on Sony’s platforms, promptingSony and regulators to worry about competitive disadvantages if future releases became Xbox-only.
Spencer said he has been negotiating with both Sony and regulators to reduce those risks and to provide assurances about the franchise’s availability on rival systems.
Image: Activision
