Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, confirmed that upcoming Call of Duty releases will feature identical content across all platforms. The announcement follows Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the parent company behind the popular first-person shooter series.
During a recent episode of the Xbox Podcast, Spencer asserted that Microsoft does not intend to use Call of Duty to drive sales of Xbox consoles. In other words, there won’t be any Xbox-specific maps, skins, or different types of content for the game.
Phil Spencer on Call of Duty: He confirms that there will be 100% parity on content for Call of Duty on all platforms
“We have no goal of somehow using Call of Duty to get you to buy an Xbox console.”
Confirms there won’t be a platform exclusive beta anymore for Call of Duty. pic.twitter.com/xxEJQj5edn
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) October 17, 2023
The message is clear: Microsoft aims to keep the playing field level for all Call of Duty fans. Whether you’re a PlayStation, PC, or Xbox gamer, you can expect the same experience, removing any fears of platform-exclusive content that could otherwise tip the scales in favor of one group of players over another.
Interestingly, despite Activision Blizzard now being a part of Microsoft, its games will not go to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service until at least 2024. This delay might disappoint some Xbox Game Pass subscribers, but it gives a sense of the timeline Microsoft is working with post-acquisition.
Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, will continue until the end of 2023 to assist with the transition. He will report directly to Phil Spencer. Both companies are taking a cautious approach to the merger, ensuring the integration process is smooth and beneficial for both parties.
Spencer’s announcement also clarified that there won’t be any platform-exclusive betas for upcoming Call of Duty games. This is quite a departure from previous practices, where specific platforms would receive early access to new content.
