Microsoft and Nintendo Sign 10-Year Legal Agreement for Call of Duty on Nintendo Platforms

In a significant development for both Nintendo and Microsoft, the two gaming giants have officially entered into a binding 10-year agreement to bring the renowned Call of Duty franchise to Nintendo platforms.

This partnership marks a major milestone in the ongoing relationship between Microsoft and Nintendo, targeting fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of the globally popular first-person shooter series on devices such as the Nintendo Switch. The agreement was finalized and signed in February 2023, after initial discussions began in late 2022.

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, confirmed the commitment via social media, stating that the 10-year legal contract guarantees Call of Duty will launch on Nintendo systems concurrently with Xbox, offering full feature and content parity across both platforms.

This is the first time in several years that Call of Duty will make a return to Nintendo's ecosystem, and Nintendo gamers can anticipate experiencing the franchise without missing out on any content delivered to their Xbox counterparts. To clarify the scope of the agreement, during Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard press conference in Brussels, Brad Smith addressed the specifics following queries and some misconceptions that arose after his initial statement.

Smith emphasized that the deal with Nintendo is exclusively for Call of Duty titles.

"The agreement with Nintendo focuses solely on Call of Duty," he stated, underlining that while the partnership builds on previous collaborations with Nintendo, the current contract does not extend to other Xbox intellectual properties. This clarification was supported by journalist Tom Warren, who reported on Smith's response and reiterated that while the agreement marks a significant collaboration, it is distinct from any broader plan to bring additional Xbox games to Nintendo platforms at this time.

The timeline for when Nintendo players can expect to see Call of Duty titles is still dependent on various factors, including the development cycle, platform optimization, and the conclusion of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The exact method of how future Call of Duty games will be delivered on current and upcoming Nintendo hardware remains to be seen.

Previous comments from Xbox head Phil Spencer indicate that development and platform support would only commence post-acquisition.

Nevertheless, the assurance of feature and content parity has set the stage for Nintendo fans to access the same Call of Duty experience as players on Xbox. In summary, the Microsoft-Nintendo Call of Duty agreement is a pivotal move in cross-platform gaming, reinforcing both companies' commitment to expanding access to one of the industry's most recognized franchises.

While the deal does not currently cover additional Xbox IP, it promises to bring new excitement to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Direct updates, and eShop releases in the years ahead.

Nintendo Microsoft Call of Duty Activision Blizzard Brad Smith Xbox Tom Warren