Microsoft Tells Sony To Make Its Own Call Of Duty

Microsoft is hitting back against Sony's claims that Call of Duty can't be replaced, telling its competitor to just make its own series. This comes as Microsoft says that ten years of multi-gen Call of Duty releases give Sony more than enough time to make up for the loss, developing its own online shooter to compete with the gaming behemoth.

Sony has previously suggested this would not be possible, even trashing Battlefield in the process, since it would be the closest thing it had to Call of Duty should it go Xbox exclusive. This also suggests that Xbox is switching strategies, going from promises to share Call of Duty to saying PlayStation should simply develop its own Game.

Related: It’s Depressing How Important Call Of Duty Is To Gaming

"Microsoft considers that a period of 10 years is sufficient for Sony, as a leading publisher and console platform, to develop alternatives to CoD," says Microsoft, providing evidence to the ComPetition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK (thanks, VGC).

Microsoft's testimony also says that the ten-year deals it's putting on the table will extend into the next console generation. However, it's not clear if the Games that are released during this timeframe will remain on rival storefronts or be delisted as soon as the deal expires. "Games downloaded in the final year of the [deal] can continue to be played for the lifetime of that console," the statement reads, possibly hinting that the Games will have to be installed to be played after that date.

In any case, that's Microsoft putting its cards on the table - it's willing to offer a decade of Call of Duty, but nothing beyond that. It will be up to the CMA to decide if this gives Sony enough time to make up for the comPetitive edge that Call of Duty exclusivity will give Microsoft, or if that's even possible given the series' long reign over the gaming market. So far, the CMA has suggested that the public is in favour of the deal at least, as long as the emails it's receiving aren't from bots.

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