There are rumblings that changes may be afoot in the Call of Duty content clash. While the series has been historically aligned with the Xbox brand, rumours earlier in the year indicated that Sony may be willing to stump up the cash in order to ensure that the property is associated with the PlayStation 4. And speaking on the latest episode of GameTrailers’ popular Pach-Attack show, Wedbush Securities executive Michael Pachter agreed that the platform holder could enter a bidding war with Microsoft in order to secure timed exclusive DLC for the next entry in the blockbuster series.
“The reason that Xbox kept getting exclusivity and Sony didn’t is because Microsoft was willing to pay and the people at PlayStation weren’t,” he explained. “The difference now is that Adam Boyes is in charge of third-party negotiations rather than Rob Dyer, and he would probably like to get DLC exclusivity on the game. The other big change is that Rob reported to Jack Tretton, but now it’s Shawn Layden in charge, so maybe they will decide that it’s worth bidding on.”
However, Pachter continued that he doesn’t believe that the Redmond-based firm will be willing to give up on the series, and given its corporate-wide warchest, it may have enough resources to prolong its period of exclusivity – even if the Japanese giant joins the bidding. “Microsoft has more money than Sony period,” he added. “That’s not necessarily because of their gaming division, but because of their overall business. Alas, it means that they can pay whatever they want.”
Fascinatingly, the analyst concluded that he doesn’t know what’s going to happen, but indicated that we’ll probably find out soon. As already alluded, the speculation coming out of Sony’s retailer focused Destination PlayStation event was that Sledgehammer’s new series instalment was on display, and it was being demonstrated on the PS4. Whether that means that the franchise has switched sides remains to be seen, but with Destiny, Watch Dogs, and purportedly Batman: Arkham Knight all under the PlayStation maker’s umbrella, it would be a big blow to Microsoft if it lost Call of Duty, too.
[source gametrailers.com]
Comments 19
Dont want to look like Im trolling but
“Microsoft has more money than Sony' .. Really?
'the analyst concluded that he doesn’t know what’s going to happen'
Fascinating indeed.
@N711
The more money remark might be true. As for being clueless on things, well of course he is: he's no insider, he just sees things from the analyst POV.
Topic: Then that would mean...
Sony becomes the new MS and MS becomes the new Sony. Sony have new IPs (unlike MS) and COD on lockdown and MS have FIFA, Battlefield on lockdown as well Titanfall. This could be Gen 7 with roles reversed with a twist, don't know where Ninty fits into that tho.
I'd imagine Microsoft does have more money since they are so successful a business they are verging on being a super power....Sony isn't anywhere near as dominant outside of the PS4 as far as I'm aware.
They should use some of that money for new IP's instead of renting/buying them from 3rd parties.
Ok seriously, Pachter has got to be the dumbest man EVER!! Nothing he says makes any freakin' sense. Ok, rant over. But seriously, CoD is dying down. It would not be worth the money to buy DLC exclusivity when you will only maybe get a couple more years out of it.
COD is still going strong and despite its recent calming period its going to be strong for quite a few more years. I hate its regurgitated nature but its still a great FPS. I believe if Sony could secure a COD deal this gen it would be a MASSIVE blow to MS. I would imagine MS won't let this happen, especially since Titanfall wasn't quite the boom they expected.
I no longer care for call of duty so anything sony pays towards dlc exclusivity seems like money wasted to me
@Munkyknuts
exactly. Microsoft has all kinds of business, as a student I had to buy Microsoft office student edition at $150. most students do. plus my computer is Microsoft windows 8.1 of course and so on and so forth. Microsoft is everywhere.
Sony shouldn't pay for COD exclusive DLC. COD Ghost sold more copies on PS4 than the bone, so maybe Activision automatically makes it that way. They're doing the same with Destiny the PS4 is the lead platform. Hopefully this doesn't mean we will see COD at Sony's E3 taking up time. The only 3rd party that should be at Sony E3 is Destiny, KH3, FF, and maybe Farcry 4.
Like @Dohv said. Ghosts from my memory has been selling better on the PS4 than the XB1. I think it's the same deal with the DLC if i am not mistaken. How much more? I don't know.
I seriously think (i could be wrong on this though) that if MS would be willing to pay, that Activision might not take the money. Because in the end, they are making a good amount off the PS4, than XB1 versions. Who knows though. What ever they do it's not going to get me to play the game. I stopped playing after Black Ops 2, unless they get a new engine for the game and greatly improve things, i won't be coming back. I have been playing CoD for a very long time on the PS2 playing online. We'll see what they do with the next one coming up.
@Big-Boss What I meant in a sarcastic way is theres no point reporting what that guy says really I could make that up myself and Im not specially clever
What's the point in paying for something your already getting for free?
Also this year's COD Sledgehammer’s Is apparently going to be one of the biggest jumps graphics wise the game has seen in a while, if this is true it dam well needs it not only that fresh gameplay too.
No no no nooooo!
I love how Sony focuses on the best first party gems and Indies. Don't waste money on securing crappy map packs for a month before the competition. Who cares! Besides, CoD is definitely on the slump... Let sleeping dudebros lie.
Pachter: "I have it on good authority that Sony likes money."
This is the same dumbass who said that Nintendo was better off putting their franchises on Sony and Microsoft consoles. He should just go to ground before people start a witch hunt over amateur analysts.
Sony would like to have the DLC-first exclusivity deal on COD? Really. ****. Groundbreaking news there Patcher. In other could-you-believe-it news people actually need air to live and kids ate a load of chocolate yesterday...
@seeafish "Who cares?" The tens of millions of casual gamers who relentlessly buy COD. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean others don't. COD, FIFA, Assassin's Creed, those three will always sell the best - rightly or wrongly - and Microsoft has exclusivity deals on two of them which is not good for Sony.
See, this is what happens when you have old farts that try to talk about gaming. "Old farts", they are always late to the game and for discussing games. Sony would have benefitted from having DLC during the previous installments before black ops II. I think it's a bit to late now, they would be better off doing stuff like this on different and newer games. Patcher is old, he is thinking old and always will.
I don't think Sony should do that for PS4, since the Playstation brand is considered far more diverse than Xbox. I abandoned that for Gen 8, b/c Playstation is nicer to players who don't like to subscribe.
I usually skip the season pass, but I'll get it just to reinforce Sony's decision, should they go through with this.
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