#Microsoft's Commitment To Bring #CallOfDuty To #Nintendo Is Now Legally Binding

Microsoft's promise to bring Call Of Duty to Nintendo has now become legally binding, following antitrust concerns expressed by regulators and rivals regarding Microsoft's proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

In December 2022, Microsoft committed to bringing Call of Duty games to Nintendo platforms over ten years. Now this commitment has become official - and it appears this could happen sooner than anticipated!

Microsoft’s 10-Year Commitment To Bring Call Of Duty To Nintendo Is Now Legally Binding

Nintendo Has Been Devoid of Call Of Duty For a While

The beloved first-person shooter series hasn't been available on a Nintendo console since 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts for Wii U, but Microsoft now hopes to change that.

Last year, Microsoft promised to bring its franchise of titles to Nintendo and Steam if its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard was approved by regulators. As part of its effort to ward off antitrust concerns surrounding the deal, this new commitment serves as another assurance to regulators that it does not pose a risk for consumers.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer declared the deal as finalized, guaranteeing Call of Duty games would be available on Nintendo platforms for 10 years after their merger is completed.

This is an incredible development for the series and something we are eager to witness. Additionally, it represents a victory for gamers who have been left behind by Microsoft for so long, as it could mean they can finally play Call of Duty on a Nintendo console.

In December 2022, Microsoft officially inked a deal that will launch on Switch sometime this year. Furthermore, future Xbox titles will launch simultaneously across both consoles with full feature and content parity; showing that Microsoft is serious about bringing more gamers together across different platforms.

Though the company has expressed a commitment, details about what Nintendo hardware it will use or which franchises may benefit from this deal remain scarce. We can assume, however, that at least some form of cloud gaming service for Nintendo Switch will be provided by them.

In related news, Microsoft is holding a closed-door session today with the EU to discuss their proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition and try to assuage regulatory competition concerns. It is expected to provide further remedies to European regulators in an effort to soothe those fears.

Microsoft will meet with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other government representatives later this week to discuss the proposed deal. The FTC is suing to block it, and is expected to request changes in order to avoid stifling competition.

If the deal is successful, it will mark the first time in seven years that Call of Duty has been released on a non-Microsoft game console. The last Nintendo platform to feature the franchise was Wii U in 2013, which got its own release of Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2013.

This announcement comes after Microsoft experienced a string of regulatory setbacks regarding their proposed Activision Blizzard deal. Global regulators, such as the US Federal Trade Commission and UK's Competition and Markets Authority, have expressed skepticism regarding what impact this merger could have on the industry.