Xbox's Phil Spencer Reaffirms No Call of Duty Exclusivity Amidst Activision Blizzard Merger

The long-anticipated merger between Xbox and Activision Blizzard has finally concluded, bringing a wave of speculation and anticipation to the gaming community. However, as the ink dries on this historic deal, Xbox head Phil Spencer took to the Official Xbox Podcast to clarify one crucial aspect: Call of Duty will not become an Xbox exclusive title.

Spencer reiterated the company's commitment to "100 percent parity" on content across all gaming platforms. He expressed his desire for players on PlayStation and potentially even Nintendo to "feel 100 percent part of the community." The aim is to prevent players from feeling like they're missing out on content, skins, or timing by promoting equal access for all.

Phil Spencer emphasized, "We have no goal of somehow using Call of Duty to get you to buy an Xbox console." This statement assures that there will be no platform-exclusive betas, skins, or other content for Xbox players.

Despite possible technological limitations on certain platforms, Spencer's vision is to unite the gaming community under the "Call of Duty nation" banner, regardless of the device they use. He subtly criticized past exclusivity deals with the franchise, emphasizing the importance of fostering a united player base.

This commitment comes in the wake of a 10-year deal with Sony to maintain Call of Duty on PlayStation platforms, and it addresses concerns raised during the intense battle over the Activision Blizzard merger throughout 2023. While accusations were made regarding Xbox's intentions to sway players to their platform, Spencer has been unwavering in asserting that Call of Duty will remain available to all, emphasizing an inclusive approach in the evolving landscape of the gaming industry.

Aside from this key announcement, Spencer touched on various topics during the podcast interview, including the availability of Activision Blizzard games on Game Pass in 2023 and Xbox's strategy regarding franchise reboots.

As the gaming world awaits the release of Modern Warfare III, set for November 10, the assurance of inclusivity in the Call of Duty community is a notable highlight amidst the changes brought about by the merger between Xbox and Activision Blizzard.