Summary

  • Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wants a level playing field with PlayStation when distributing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 content.
  • Spencer wants all players to have equal access to Call of Duty games and not be limited by platform exclusives.
  • Xbox's new multiplatform approach signifies a shift in strategy for the company.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently made some scathing comments about PlayStation over its long-running Call of Duty marketing deal. Back in 2015, PlayStation struck a marketing agreement with Activision for the Call of Duty series, allowing the gaming giant to market every single entry in the series up until 2023's Modern Warfare 3.

The Call of Duty partnership ran deeper than just marketing, as PlayStation also received platform-exclusive perks such as early access to betas, exclusive game modes, special cosmetics, and more. Over the last nine years, this agreement has led to many players to consider PlayStation consoles as the de facto choice to play Call of Duty titles. However, after Microsoft closed on its merger with Activision Blizzard last year, it seems the company is keen to change that perception.

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Activision Reveals How Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Will Be Split Between Game Pass Tiers

Activision confirms that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 won't offer the same content to all Game Pass members, with some tiers having greater access.

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In an interview with IGN after the recent Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer spoke about the upcoming highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and how the company is handling its launch. "I want to give you the choice on how you play your games, and who you play with, and not try to do slimy platform things to force you to do what I want you to do," he said. Spencer referring to PlayStation as "slimy" is a clear indication that the Call of Duty marketing deal with Activision remains a point of contention for the CEO, who believes there should be a level playing field for such major tentpole titles.

Spencer Wants Everyone To Have Access to Call of Duty from the Get-Go

The CEO also made similarly scathing comments while introducing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 during the Xbox Games Showcase, stating that it had been "10 years" since a Call of Duty title was part of an Xbox presentation, and that "it's been even longer since all Call of Duty players got the same game at the same time," alluding to PlayStation users receiving early access for Call of Duty betas. Spencer then committed to "everyone" getting to experience the entirety of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at launch, including season expansions and updates without platform-exclusive benefits.

Spencer's gamer-first approach is commendable, but prior to PlayStation, Microsoft had a similar Call of Duty marketing agreement with Activision during the days of the Xbox 360. Signed in 2010, this deal prioritized Xbox users for game add-ons and map packs, with PlayStation 3 players receiving the content at a later date. However, Xbox leadership is much different today, and the platform-agnostic approach reflects the evolving philosophy of the brand, as Spencer also confirmed that more Xbox titles will go multiplatform in the future.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Tag Page Cover Art
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
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9 /10
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Released
October 25, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher(s)
Activision
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Franchise
Call of Duty
Genre(s)
FPS