Opinion: Microsoft Owning Activision Is Great for Call of Duty and the Gaming Community

After nearly two years, Microsoft has completed its record-setting $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision. Undoubtedly, all eyes are now set on the future of Call of Duty following the gigantic deal in gaming history. Fans are hoping for the series to become better in more ways than one. And it seems like there are chances for the franchise to reach new heights under the Xbox maker.

There are several reasons why Microsoft owning the Call of Duty publisher is actually good for the FPS series. Going forward, gamers across the globe can expect to receive huge benefits from the recently concluded merger.

Call of Duty will be amazing on Xbox Game Pass

Undoubtedly, the subscription service has been an amazing option for gamers who can’t afford to purchase all major AAA titles for their full price. Especially when considering the fact that most of the games now cost $70 (even more). That amount is not something every individual is comfortable with. Hence, most budget-conscious users seek alternatives to enjoy gaming. Luckily, Xbox Game Pass happens to be that option, and a boon for them. Since its inception, the service has become extremely popular as well.

Now, taking into consideration that Call of Duty is a premium franchise, costing a lot with its games, many fans will be able to enjoy it with the help of Game Pass subscription plans. There’s no doubt that Microsoft will bring the series to its service next year. Activision has seemingly confirmed it too with their recent social media post.

As a result, more new players will be able to enjoy COD titles going forward. Further, with the Game Pass subscription, they won’t have to purchase the next installment for $70. That’s simply because all new games will be available on the service, alongside other supported platforms.

More platforms, more gamers, and more profit!

Speaking of platforms, the merger between Microsoft and Activision will attract more players across the globe. And the reason is quite simple. Fresh hardware devices supporting Call of Duty means that even those users who typically can’t access the games in the franchise will now be compelled to try them out.

For example, Nintendo Switch, the popular handheld console, doesn’t feature the FPS titles from Activision. But that’s just the current situation because the deal with Microsoft will bring COD to Nintendo’s future devices as well. To make it happen, the Xbox maker has signed a deal with Nintendo, earlier this year. It will ensure upcoming installments from Activision on the next Switch or any other console from the Japanese firm.

Now looking at a player base comprising PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo devices, Microsoft will end up generating more revenue too. Oh, and don’t forget users coming from streaming and mobile devices. Simply put, the billion-dollar IP is set to reach new heights in terms of amassing more profit worldwide.

No special ‘platform-exclusive’ content anymore

Since the last eight years or so, PlayStation users have been getting an exclusive package each year with new COD releases. For example, 2022’s Modern Warfare II came with an exclusive Operator pack featuring the character of Oni. He was only available on PS5 and PS4 consoles – not on Xbox or PC.

Read More: Will Modern Warfare 3 Be the Longest Call of Duty Campaign Yet? Here’s the Reason Why

Similarly, this year’s highly anticipated Modern Warfare 3 will also feature a special Operator pack. It will give PlayStation users access to a unique character of Lockpick. No other platform owner will be able to have this content – even if they have opted for the Vault Edition.

However, with Microsoft owning Activision, this pattern will end going forward. Phil Spencer and team have already mentioned this before that all the gamers will get same content day and date – no matter what. Which means Treyarch’s new Call of Duty in 2024 won’t have any special content exclusively for PlayStation or even Xbox. Everyone will get to enjoy the same game. Which is the best thing when it comes to satisfying the community without creating a difference in offering the overall FPS experience.

Looking forward to a promising future

All things considered, the $68.7 billion deal is going to expand Call of Duty even more on a global scale. Microsoft will provide much-needed resources to Activision in order to bring a better gameplay experience. Plus, the company will make sure all the players end up receiving a great content, with fewer issues.

With an increased workforce, future COD installments should come out with fewer problems. Compared to ongoing titles, and the ones released before, Xbox’s team will likely try to minimize the situations featuring a poor experience at launch. That’s something Activision will look to eliminate entirely.

It will be interesting to see how players get a more refined Call of Duty experience in the future. The year 2024 will definitely be a new beginning for the most popular FPS brand in the world.

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