As part of the UK regulatory authority CMA’s examination into Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a fresh confidential document from Sony PlayStation was made public today. According to the paper, PlayStation may lose its rights to the Call of Duty series by 2027, and at the same time, it aims to introduce the next generation of PlayStation consoles.
The dates have been hidden, but Sony plans to introduce its next-generation gaming consoles after 2027. The loss of COD must be a significant source of frustration for Sony. It is unknown whether Sony has accepted Microsoft’s 10-year offer, which is in addition to the existing agreement they have with Activision. If a new console is released by 2028, the PS5 will have a life cycle that is comparable to the other PlayStation consoles, which is close to 8 years.
Because COD has traditionally given the PlayStation platform exclusive benefits like early access, in-game items, and more, this is bad news for the gaming company. Call of Duty is a tremendously important asset for either platform given that the brand is still selling phenomenally well today and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
In 2023, there is a significant probability that we will see a console refresh because both Xbox and PlayStation may release updated models of their respective next-generation consoles. Microsoft may be developing an Xbox Series alongside a PS5 Pro or Slim. Sony is worried that losing Call of Duty 2027 will make their new consoles less desirable, which will cause customers to switch to Xbox, the more environmentally friendly brand.
A massive mobile game called Candy Crush will now be under the hands of Xbox thanks to the Activision Blizzard King merger. Both Candy Crush and Call of Duty serve as the cornerstones of this merger, but Call of Duty is the only factor that has given rise to the confrontation between Sony and Xbox. The arguments for and against the perceived worth of the Call of Duty franchise are still being made by both sides, with Xbox even seeking to portray COD as a mostly inconsistent franchise that succeeds to varying degrees.
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