A tweet from Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming’s CEO, read: “We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed 🧲 a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to 🧲 a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.”

In the United States, the FTC had argued 🧲 the acquisition deal would hurt consumers whether they played video games on consoles or had subscriptions because Microsoft would have 🧲 an incentive to shut out rivals like Sony Group.

However, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley ruled on 11 June: “The FTC has 🧲 not shown it is likely to succeed on its assertion the combined firm will probably pull Call of Duty from 🧲 Sony PlayStation, or that its ownership of Activision content will substantially lessen competition in the video game library subscription and 🧲 cloud gaming markets.”

To address the FTC’s concerns, Microsoft had agreed to license Call of Duty to rivals, including a 10-year 🧲 contract with Nintendo, contingent on the merger closing.

On Sunday, Microsoft did not disclose the duration of the agreement with Sony.