Microsoft has been making deals for some time so that Activision Blizzard’s games will reach more platforms and customers, in the event that the publisher’s acquisition is approved. Nintendo, for example, signed a deal that guaranteed Call of Duty would be available on Nintendo platforms for at least a decade.
Now, Microsoft has signed a very similar deal with EE, ensuring more gamers will be able to access Activision Blizzard games, especially on PC and through cloud gaming. On Twitter, Phil Spencer said, “Microsoft and EE are expanding their partnership with a 10-year commitment to cloud gaming to bring PC games created by Activision Blizzard, post-acquisition and Xbox to US customers. We are committed to bringing more games to more people, however they choose to play.”
As the deal looks increasingly likely to materialize, with regulators like the CMA relaxing the pressure they initially put on Microsoft, so it’s good to know that for a decade we won’t have to worry about exclusivity on some major releases.