A new private document from Sony PlayStation was made public today as part of the UK regulatory authority CMA’s investigation into Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. According to the report, PlayStation may lose its rights to the Call of Duty franchise by 2027, while also introducing the next generation of PlayStation consoles.
The exact dates are unknown, but Sony intends to release its next-generation gaming consoles after 2027. Sony’s frustration must be compounded by the loss of COD. It is unclear whether Sony has accepted Microsoft’s 10-year offer, which is in addition to the existing deal with Activision. If a new console is not launched before 2028, the PS5 will have a life cycle similar to the preceding PlayStation consoles, which is close to 8 years.
This is bad news for the gaming firm because COD has always given the PlayStation platform special privileges like as early access, in-game goodies, and more. Given that the brand is still selling fantastically well today and doesn’t appear to be slowing down, Call of Duty is a highly essential asset for either platform.
There is a good chance that we will see a console refresh in 2023, since both Xbox and PlayStation may release new models of their respective next-generation consoles. Microsoft could be working on an Xbox Series with a PS5 Pro or Slim. Sony is concerned that the loss of Call of Duty 2027 will make their new consoles less appealing, leading customers to switch to Xbox, the more environmentally responsible brand.
Because of the Activision Blizzard King merger, the massive mobile game Candy Crush will now be in the hands of Xbox. The cornerstones of this merger are Candy Crush and Call of Duty, but Call of Duty is the only cause that has led to the conflict between Sony and Xbox. Both sides continue to make arguments for and against the perceived worth of the Call of Duty franchise, with Xbox even attempting to portray COD as a mainly inconsistent franchise that succeeds to varied degrees.