Summary
ThePlayStation Plussubscription service has proven to be a huge success for Sony ever since its launch in 2010, going on to become a core aspect of the console. The service has always offered a lot in the way of value, deals, and game availability for PlayStation users, although the recent record-breaking acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft poses a real threat to one of the most attractive elements of PS Plus.
In recent years,PlayStation Plushas reaped the benefits of PlayStation’s collaboration with theCall of Dutyfranchise, which itself is one of the largest IPs to fall under the Activision name.Call of Dutyhas a long history of partnership with the PlayStation Plus service, but the recent move of the franchise towards Microsoft and Xbox could be a huge blow to this defining feature of Sony’s subscription offerings.
PlayStation Plus' Call of Duty Collaboration Will Fade Under Microsoft’s Ownership
Call of Dutyis one of the titans of the first-person shooter genre, having a reign of dominance within the industry that has spanned almost two decades. In this way, it is no wonder that PlayStation and Xbox have long fought over partnerships with the franchise, with console gaming having long been considered as the core method of play forCall of Duty.
While Microsoft has had successful stints of collaboration withCall of Duty, PlayStation has had a close working relationship with the franchise since 2015, essentially leavingCoD’s partnerships with Xbox firmly in the dust. Since then,PlayStation usershave enjoyed benefits that include early-access toCoDtitles, exclusive content, and in-game boosts to things like XP and Battle Pass progression.
As well as this, Sony’s deals withCall of Dutyhave seen many franchise titles appear on thePlayStation Plus Service, which is locked in its own close battle with Xbox’s equivalent Game Pass service. In all, these are theCall of Dutytitles that have appeared for free via PlayStation Plus since 2015:
This is a fairly consistent run ofCall of Dutyreleases that added a huge amount of value to PlayStation Plus membership, with the success of Sony’s subscription service being massively important in the current gaming landscape. The most recently releasedCoDtitle for PS Plus was 2020’sCold War, with none of the recentModern Warfarereboot titles coming to the service.
Microsoft May Turn the Tides Away from PlayStation Plus
Microsoft first announced its intention to purchase Activision Blizzard in January 2022, roughly coinciding with the absence of newCall of Dutytitles coming to PlaySation Plus. WithMicrosoft now officially owning Activision andCall of Duty, it is logical to think thatCall of Dutytitles will now start to shift towards Xbox Game Pass as opposed to PlayStation Plus.
While it is true that Microsoft has been very upfront withkeepingCall of Dutyavailable across all platforms, the benefits of the franchise’s titles appearing on a subscription service will likely transfer completely over to Xbox in the coming years. Microsoft recently confirmed that someCall of Dutytitles will be coming to Game Pass in the near future, even with the possibility of day-one appearances on the service in the near future. Though this news does bode well for Xbox players, it could mark the end of a fantastic perk of PlayStation Plus.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet
