Call of Duty to Remain on PlayStation, Confirms Xbox CEO Phil Spencer in FTC Hearing

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer has reaffirmed Xbox’s commitment to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation during the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hearing discussing Microsoft and Activision. Spencer made this commitment under oath, emphasizing Xbox’s dedication to the popular shooter franchise.

In response to questions, Spencer stated, “I would raise my hand. I will do whatever it takes. We have no plan. I’m making a commitment standing here that we will not pull Call of Duty — it is my testimony — from PlayStation. Sony obviously has to allow us to ship the game on their platform. But absent any of that, my commitment is, and my testimony is that we will continue to ship future versions of Call of Duty on Sony’s PlayStation 5,” as reported by IGN.

Although Spencer initially mentioned “PlayStation” in general, he later clarified by specifying “PlayStation 5.” It remains uncertain whether this was a slip-up or a deliberate statement indicating a commitment limited to the current PlayStation hardware. The Verge also quoted Spencer, who remarked, “I think as we’ve seen even in preparation for this that gamers are an active and vocal group. Us pulling Call of Duty from PlayStation in my view would create irreparable harm for the Xbox brand.”

Spencer further addressed concerns that Microsoft may undermine Call of Duty on PlayStation systems, refuting these claims by highlighting the importance of maintaining a high-quality gaming experience. He stated, “Building a ‘high-quality game for Xbox and building somehow a lower-quality game’ on PlayStation would hurt Microsoft’s reputation and finances.”

Microsoft has repeatedly expressed its willingness to uphold Call of Duty’s presence on PlayStation. Initially, they proposed a deal that would extend the series’ stay on PlayStation for several more years. However, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan deemed this offer “inadequate on many levels.” As a counteroffer, Microsoft then proposed a longer 10-year deal, which Sony declined. On the other hand, Nintendo accepted this offer.

Throughout the trial, discussions surrounding exclusivity have been prevalent. While Indiana Jones will be an exclusive title for Xbox and PC, it remains uncertain whether The Outer Worlds 2 and The Elder Scrolls 6 will make their way to PlayStation.