UPDATED: Microsoft Reiterates Promises Not To Make Call Of Duty Exclusive Following Activision Blizzard Merger, Sony Now Worried About Buggy Ports

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed remedies in regards to Microsoft’s plans to acquire Activision Blizzard. The company was not satisfied.

In a 33-page response, Microsoft objects to the CMA's suggestion that some of Activision Blizzard's businesses and properties be divested before the acquisition proceeds on the grounds that it is "highly uncertain and impracticable." Moreover, this apparently would prevent the company from "achieving its key strategic objective – namely building a mobile gaming business with sufficient scale in order to challenge Google and Apple."

Microsoft is talking about Call of Duty Mobile and Warzone Mobile, as well as Diablo Immortal, Hearthstone, and Warcraft Arclight Rumble. The company claims divestment would mean specifically losing out on exclusive Call of Duty content.

So in turn, Microsoft suggested a 10-year deal with Sony in regards to Call of Duty games being available on PlayStation platforms. And the same for Nintendo. Therefore, no exclusivity — including timed — during this promised period at the very least. Microsoft also offered up the ability for Sony to put Call of Duty on PS Plus on day one if it so desires.

Additionally, the company proposed a similar deal that would enable cloud gaming providers to gain access to Call of Duty and other games that Activision Blizzard publishes on PC.

These deals have already been inked with some cloud providers and Nintendo.

Still, Sony is skeptical. Accessibility aside, the company responded with fear that Microsoft will not only raise the price of Call of Duty but make the PlayStation port riddled with bugs and errors.

UPDATE: Lulu Cheng Meservey, Activision's CCO and EVO of corporate affairs, took to Twitter with claims that Sony has zero actual interest in Call of Duty. According to Meservey, SIE CEO Jim Ryan made intentions clear in Brusselss on February 21st saying, "I don’t want a new Call of Duty deal. I just want to block your merger."

Microsoft offered Sony (the dominant console leader for well over a decade, with 80% market share) a 10 year agreement on far better terms than Sony would ever get from us.

We've also offered Sony guaranteed long-term access to Call of Duty.

But they keep refusing.

Why? https://t.co/OFR05svGgH

— Lulu Cheng Meservey (@lulumeservey) March 8, 2023