“we have no intent to remove any content from platforms where it exists today.”
So basically every CoD out there, Diablo games, all the existing games on PS but anything after that is fair game for Microsoft?
I think Matty gets it, the wording they are using is incredibly similar to Bethesda
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Yeah it’s very similar to Bethesda. No intent to remove any content where it exists today. But a 2023 or 2024 CoD or any AB game does not exist on that platform. Every single AB game that is now on PS isn’t leaving, but once the deal closes and the Sony stuff has been honoured they can do what they want.
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I think the only “but” about this thing is that an ipothetical announcement timing next to a Sony release would have literally destroyed its momentum. Pettiness levels over 9000. XD
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One thing though, it says
We will honor all existing commitments post close. As with Microsoft’s acquisition of Minecraft.
Did the Bethesda documents have that as well? They also don’t mention Bethesda here. Minecraft indeed stayed on every platform, and Dungeons as well.
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I laughed out loud in disbelief when I first read the news.
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They are being intentionally vague. The truth is Microsoft wants Activision with or without exclusivity. They might have to make concessions if there’s pushback from regulators. The ideal situation is for a repeat of Bethesda. Fast approval and no concessions.
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They have their work cut out for them with CoD. They’ll need to end the yearly releases which would probably stop at 2025. Unhook main MP from Warzone, making Warzone actually standalone. Do you make CoD MP a F2P platform like Warzone or keep it a $60 product with a campaign and a 3rd mode. Tough situation
Make multiplayer free to play and campaign stand alone like halo. But they have to greatly expand the story and make it longer.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/01/20/xbox-activision-blizzard-phil-spencer/
Phil mentions that the discussions about the acquisition started last april
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Yes! This is the way.
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Phil is the man! I should just know that Phill will always do what is best at this point.
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I had a meeting today with the ‘Elder Scrolls Online’ team and we did our leadership team [meeting] in game. That’s as much of a Zoom call as anything else!
He’s such a nerd, I love it 
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“I was looking at the IP list, I mean, let’s go!” Spencer said. "‘King’s Quest,’ ‘Guitar Hero.’ … I should know this but I think they got ‘HeXen.’”
Toys for Bob, one of the studios working under the Activision Blizzard banner, successfully launched games like “Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time," but later get folded into supporting Call of Duty games. Spencer said the Xbox team will talk with developers about working on a variety of franchises from the Activision Blizzard vaults.
I feel so much hope!
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If there’s any chance of a new Banjo…even if that’s not a AB franchise. But Phil’s words are promising!
First and foremost, it’s great that the leadership team will most likely be cleaned out. It’s not the get-your-ass-outta here boot that Kotick deserves, but I’m not sure that ever would have realistically happened.
I hope that all of the developers find comfort and happiness in the workplace when this is said and done and that the culture improves drastically.
I also hope developers get to expand their creativity rather than be COD support studios. I hope they get more time to work on their projects and more creative freedom.
I agree with some comments suggesting that COD no longer be annualized. Give us some really polished, fresh games every few years with great campaigns while the studios who normally supported development can work on other projects of their own.
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I think Phil will get together with the heads of Treyarch, Sledgehammer, and IW and see what they think is the best way forward in a similar fashion to what was done with The Coalition and Gears. If they can bounce back from their flagship studio (Infinity Ward) being husked and regaining their footing I’m sure they’ll find a good path forward especially now that their boss isn’t a dick and they’re not expected to carry the company alone.
Yeah I feel like there is no real benefit to MS putting gamepass on PlayStation when Sony is still actively paying publishers to keep games off Xbox. Seems like Xbox owners get the shortest end of the stick in that situation, can’t see it sitting well with people no matter how they tried to spin it.
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This kind of stuff was never gonna happen, or anytime soon if AB just stayed as it was. Thank you Phil!
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