In a landmark move for the gaming industry, Microsoft has officially entered into a decade-long legal agreement with Nintendo, ensuring that the globally recognized Call of Duty franchise will be available on Nintendo consoles for the next ten years.
This announcement underscores Microsoft’s ambitions following its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the publisher behind the Call of Duty series, and signals a new era of cross-platform collaboration in the video game sector. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer initially revealed plans to expand Call of Duty’s reach to Nintendo platforms in early discussions surrounding the acquisition.
Spencer emphasized that bringing the blockbuster shooter to more players was a key benefit of the deal for Microsoft and the broader gaming community.
Following these preliminary declarations, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith confirmed via official channels that a legally binding agreement had been signed, securing Call of Duty releases for Nintendo systems in parity with their Xbox counterparts.
This historic agreement guarantees that future Call of Duty titles will launch on Nintendo hardware the same day as Xbox, with identical content and features, ensuring that Nintendo players receive the full experience without compromise. Brad Smith stated that this deal "reflects our commitment to providing gamers with more choice by bringing one of the world’s most popular game franchises to new audiences." The announcement drawn praise from many in the industry for its potential to reshape platform exclusivity dynamics and broaden the player base for Call of Duty. The new agreement builds on Microsoft’s stated vision of making beloved franchises more accessible across a variety of devices.
Should the acquisition of Activision Blizzard be completed as planned, Nintendo Switch owners—and potentially users of future Nintendo hardware—can anticipate access to upcoming Call of Duty titles via the Nintendo eShop, expanding the series’ presence beyond its well-established home on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. However, some technical considerations remain.
Current Call of Duty releases are developed for powerful hardware and would require significant optimization to run on the Nintendo Switch.
Nonetheless, the agreement paves the way for ambitious engineering efforts and potential cloud solutions, as Microsoft and Nintendo work to fulfill the outlined terms over the next decade. The deal also arrives as regulatory scrutiny of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard intensifies, with competition authorities in multiple regions evaluating the transaction’s broader impacts on console gaming.
Should the acquisition move forward, this partnership ensures parity for Nintendo gamers and could set a precedent for future industry collaborations. As Microsoft, Nintendo, and Activision Blizzard navigate these complex developments, industry observers and fans alike will be watching closely for further updates.
For now, the decade-long Call of Duty and Nintendo agreement stands as one of the most significant console platform announcements in recent memory, promising expanded access and a stronger commitment to multi-platform gaming.
This announcement underscores Microsoft’s ambitions following its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the publisher behind the Call of Duty series, and signals a new era of cross-platform collaboration in the video game sector. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer initially revealed plans to expand Call of Duty’s reach to Nintendo platforms in early discussions surrounding the acquisition.
Spencer emphasized that bringing the blockbuster shooter to more players was a key benefit of the deal for Microsoft and the broader gaming community.
Following these preliminary declarations, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith confirmed via official channels that a legally binding agreement had been signed, securing Call of Duty releases for Nintendo systems in parity with their Xbox counterparts.
This historic agreement guarantees that future Call of Duty titles will launch on Nintendo hardware the same day as Xbox, with identical content and features, ensuring that Nintendo players receive the full experience without compromise. Brad Smith stated that this deal "reflects our commitment to providing gamers with more choice by bringing one of the world’s most popular game franchises to new audiences." The announcement drawn praise from many in the industry for its potential to reshape platform exclusivity dynamics and broaden the player base for Call of Duty. The new agreement builds on Microsoft’s stated vision of making beloved franchises more accessible across a variety of devices.
Should the acquisition of Activision Blizzard be completed as planned, Nintendo Switch owners—and potentially users of future Nintendo hardware—can anticipate access to upcoming Call of Duty titles via the Nintendo eShop, expanding the series’ presence beyond its well-established home on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. However, some technical considerations remain.
Current Call of Duty releases are developed for powerful hardware and would require significant optimization to run on the Nintendo Switch.
Nonetheless, the agreement paves the way for ambitious engineering efforts and potential cloud solutions, as Microsoft and Nintendo work to fulfill the outlined terms over the next decade. The deal also arrives as regulatory scrutiny of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard intensifies, with competition authorities in multiple regions evaluating the transaction’s broader impacts on console gaming.
Should the acquisition move forward, this partnership ensures parity for Nintendo gamers and could set a precedent for future industry collaborations. As Microsoft, Nintendo, and Activision Blizzard navigate these complex developments, industry observers and fans alike will be watching closely for further updates.
For now, the decade-long Call of Duty and Nintendo agreement stands as one of the most significant console platform announcements in recent memory, promising expanded access and a stronger commitment to multi-platform gaming.
