Narrowly averting a grim dystopian future of platform-exclusive noobstomping

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Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer has announced a deal with Sony to keep Call❤️ Of Duty on PlayStation consoles, following Microsoft’s acquisition of COD publisher Activision Blizzard last year. The announcement, posted by Spencer❤️ on Twitter, marks the latest chapter in a long-running territorial war for some of gaming’s biggest IPs between the two❤️ biggest platform holders in the industry. In this instance at least, a truce has been called - not only is❤️ the bombastic shooter franchise going to be available on both Xbox and PlayStation consoles, a Verge report confirms that the❤️ deal is good for 10 years.

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The saga kicked off back in 2024 when Microsoft acquired Zenimax❤️ Media, the company that owns Bethesda, id Software and Arkane. That means massive franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Doom❤️ now ultimately fall under Microsoft ownership, along with marquee new titles like Starfield and... well, the less said about Redfall❤️ the better, but it was certainly intended as such. Microsoft capitalised on that merger by making Starfield an Xbox-exclusive title,❤️ to no small amount of ire among PlayStation devotees.