Activision games will stay on PlayStation after Microsoft’s acquisition, says Sony

techradar.com:

Sony has given its first public response to Microsoft's agreed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and suggested that it expects many of the games that fall under the deal to remain available on PlayStation platforms.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson for Sony said: “We expect that Microsoft will abide by contractual agreements and continue to ensure Activision games are multiplatform.”

Activision publishes some of the best-selling games on PlayStation, including the Call of Duty series. Sony’s comments here suggest it expects Activision titles, such as Call of Duty, will stay on PlayStation after Microsoft’s acquisition has been finalized.

That sentiment has been echoed by Activision Blizzard, which says it has no intention of removing its existing games from PlayStation systems after the deal.

In a FAQ sent by Activision Blizzard to its employees, and available to read on the US Securities and Exchange Commission website, the publisher says it expects its current PlayStation content will not change.

“We will honor all existing commitments post close,” it said. “As with Microsoft’s acquisition of Minecraft, we have no intent to remove any content from platforms where it exists today.”

For several years, Sony has enjoyed an exclusivity agreement with Activision, which guarantees Playstation consoles receive exclusive Call of Duty content ahead of Xbox. This has included in-game bonuses for Call of Duty: Vanguard players on PS4 and PS5, a new game mode for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and a special Survival mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

Sony hasn’t suggested for how long the exclusivity agreement will be in place, or what other “contractual agreements” might require Activision to continue