Microsoft has officially signed a contract deal with Nintendo to bring its iconic Call of Duty series to Nintendo platforms over the next 10 years. The agreement allows for the games to come to Nintendo players on the same day as Xbox and is part of its initiative to expand its games to a wider audience of players.
We’ve now signed a binding 10-year contract to bring Xbox games to Nintendo’s gamers. This is just part of our commitment to bring Xbox games and Activision titles like Call of Duty to more players on more platforms. pic.twitter.com/JmO0hzw1BO
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) February 21, 2023
Microsoft-Blizzard Acquisition and the History of Call of Duty on Nintendo Platforms
Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer originally claimed that the company had signed a deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms back in December 2022. Back then, the firm was in the process of closings its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and this deal was to be solidified if said acquisition went through.
The deal has met a few roadblocks and is still in pending status. Now that the 10-year deal has been solidified, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is now more likely to go through, but nothing is set in stone at this time. The acquisition is expected to fully close around June 2023 if all things go well.
Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith confirmed via Twitter that the contract between Microsoft and Nintendo to bring Xbox’s games to Nintendo players is now legally binding, and Call of Duty appears to be the first game that will be part of that deal.
The last time a Call of Duty game was ever available on a Nintendo platform as nearly a decade ago when Call of Duty Ghosts was released for the Wii U back in 2013. While the specific platforms that the series would be released on, as well as what games will be released, was not specified, it is very likely that the Nintendo Switch will soon feature Call of Duty of games.
Whether past games will be ported to the console or newly developed games will be added in the near future is yet to be determined. More Nintendo systems are likely to come out over the next decade, so fans can expect to see more games from both Call of Duty and other Xbox franchises over that time period.
