Microsoft & NVIDIA reach deal to bring Call of Duty & other Xbox games to GeForce Now
In a bid to further advance the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft announced a deal with NVIDIA to bring Call of Duty and other Xbox titles to GeForce Now.
Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard revealed way back in January of 2022 is under heavy scrutiny by European, UK, and US regulators. While the deal has yet to officially receive the green light, this hasn’t stopped Microsoft from sharing its long-term plans.
On February 21, Microsoft revealed a binding contract with Nintendo that would see them bring Xbox games to Nintendo platforms for ten years. Of course, this deal could include the renowned Call of Duty franchise that has been a major focal point of the Activision acquisition.
February 21 was a busy day for Microsoft, as they also revealed that a similar ten-year deal has been struck up with NVIDIA. The deal sees Microsoft bring Xbox PC games to NVIDIA’s cloud-based gaming service called GeForce Now.
While Xbox games will hit GeForce Now immediately, the arrival of Activision titles such as Call of Duty is dependent on Microsoft’s successful acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft reveal 10-year deal with NVIDIA
Previously, NVIDIA shared the same beliefs as Sony in that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard would crush the competitive nature of the gaming industry and bring about antitrust concerns.
Microsoft claims that the agreements in place with NVIDIA and Nintendo will bring Call of Duty and other popular franchises to more gamers than ever.
A press release concerning the agreement states: “The partnership delivers increased choice to gamers and resolves NVIDIA’s concerns with Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. NVIDIA therefore is offering its full support for regulatory approval of the acquisition.”
The partnership will bring Call of Duty and many other games to GeForce Now on PC, macOS, smartphones, and more if the deal is approved.
With these agreements in place, Microsoft hope to quell the concerns about its Activision Blizzard acquisition. Unfortunately for Microsoft, Sony remain firm in their refusal to negotiate.
Microsoft are ready to offer Sony a similar 10-year deal and commit to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation.
Microsoft also expressed that carving out Call of Duty, or any other Activision Blizzard division for that matter, to get the deal done is simply not an option.
The latest chapter in the story of Microsoft’s major acquisition is an interesting one with partnerships arriving to strengthen their case. It will be interesting to see how the following events unfold.
One thing is certain, this tale with twists and turns is quickly reaching its culmination as European regulators will provide their decision by March 23, with UK regulators expected to chime in by the end of April.
For more, check out how Microsoft’s deal with Sony reportedly includes Call of Duty on PlayStation Plus.
Image Credit: Activision / Microsoft / NVIDIA
