Activision: No Subscription Services For Games If Microsoft Deal Fails

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Avinash Jaisrani

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Microsoft is currently working towards acquiring Activision Blizzard, and the gaming giant will pay a whopping $68.7 billion for Activision. Microsoft believes the acquisition deal is moving fast, but Sony continues to be a hurdle in Microsoft’s path.

Sony believes Call of Duty on Game Pass would be an unbeatable combo. However, this scenario would only be possible if the acquisition goes through. According to Microsoft’s CMA document, Activision games will not be part of any subscription service if the Microsoft deal fails.

According to Activision’s internal document, the subscription model would harm sales leading to ‘brand dilution and cannibalization of buy-to-play sales.’ This makes sense going by Call of Duty’s recent track record.

The franchise has shown no signs of slowing down despite being nearly two decades old. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has become the franchise’s biggest launch on Steam and PlayStation. Additionally, Warzone 2.0 reached 25 million users, surpassing the previous entry. 

Activision is not the only publisher to deny the subscription model. Take-Two Interactive is not too fond of Game Pass, either. On the other hand, companies like EA are entirely engaged with gaming subscriptions. 

Looking at the numbers, it is easy to see why Activision would be reluctant to switch to the subscription model. The company is not wholly unfamiliar with subscriptions, however. Multiple Call of Duty titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops3 and Call of Duty: World War 2 have been given away for free on PlayStation Plus. 

The Activision Blizzard acquisition is in a very interesting place right now. Companies like Sony and Google continue to be unhappy with the idea, but Microsoft appears to be determined to finish the deal. 

Microsoft recently offered a 10-year Call of Duty contract to Sony. This happened after Sony was concerned about Call of Duty becoming an exclusive title for the Xbox platform. However, even this was not enough to convince Sony, and the future remains uncertain for the Activision Blizzard acquisition. 

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Avinash Jaisrani

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

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