Microsoft is already selling Call of Duty streaming rights to Ubisoft
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22nd Aug 2023 10:10
The ongoing deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard has gone quiet since its deadline was pushed back a couple of months. Though we'd rather see it all done, it's nice to be left alone by a barrage of legal jargon for a bit.
We don't know where the deal will turn, but as Microsoft seems adamant it'll happen, it looks as though it's pulling out all the stops to see it finished. In a pretty huge move, the gaming giant has made Call of Duty available practically everywhere with a little help from its friends.
Microsoft hands off Activision Blizzard streaming rights to Ubisoft
Click to enlargeIn a shockingly quiet move, it looks as though Activision Blizzard games, including Call of Duty, will be handed off to Ubisoft for streaming distribution.
It has been officially revealed that streaming rights will be offered to Ubisoft for their Ubisoft+ platform in the event of the ABK deal going through. This means there's a chance that players on both Xbox and PlayStation consoles could gain access to the biggest Activision Blizzard games on streaming for a price.
"To address the concerns about the impact of the proposed acquisition on cloud game streaming raised by the UK Competition and Markets Authority, we are restructuring the transaction to acquire a narrower set of rights," reads a new statement.
"This includes executing an agreement effective at the closing of our merger that transfers the cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft Entertainment SA, a leading global game publisher. The rights will be in perpetuity."
What does this mean for Call of Duty on Game Pass?
Click to enlargeA lot of concerns with the deal centred around the idea that Xbox would horde the biggest franchises under the ActiBlizz banner, but now it looks like we're drastically restricting their rights on that matter. Who knows what games will be coming to Ubisoft+ once they do officially touch down, but it's likely now that Call of Duty won't appear on the baseline Game Pass after all.
It's a surprising left-turn in the context of the deal, and thankfully, it opens play up to fans everywhere - though it will be yet another fee for fans to pay. We'll have to wait to see how this pans out, but in the meantime, get excited.
