Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that it expects Activision Blizzard’s games to remain multiplatform, citing the company’s success in developing successful titles for both console and handheld platforms. “Activision Blizzard is a well-known and successful developer of video games, and we believe their games will continue to be popular on multiple platforms,” said SCEA President Shawn Layden. “We’re excited to see their latest titles released on both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.” The PlayStation 4 is Sony’s most popular gaming platform, with over 100 million units sold since its launch in 2013. The Xbox One is Microsoft’s most popular gaming platform, with over 150 million units sold since its launch in 2014.
“We expect that Microsoft will abide by contractual agreements and continue to ensure Activision games are multiplatform,” a Sony representative told The Wall Street Journal after the sale was announced.
Where Sony’s statement becomes interesting is the mention of “contractual agreements.” Does that mean Sony expects Microsoft to hold Activision Blizzard properties to itself when these existing agreements expire? It makes sense that Microsoft would want to avoid legal action by not fulfilling the current deals, but could we see a world where games like Call of Duty and Diablo are only available on Microsoft platforms?
Xbox Chief Phil Spencer seemed to imply that this wouldn’t be the case in his blog post immediately following the sale announcement. He said, “Activision Blizzard games are enjoyed on a variety of platforms, and we plan to continue to support those communities moving forward.”
That certainly sounds like Microsoft intends to keep releasing the company’s games across all platforms, but we’ll have to wait until the sale is finalized and these contractual agreements expire to know for sure.
RELATED: Why the Xbox Series X Is a Great Buy (If You Can Find One)
