EA CEO Andrew Wilson believes the current confusion surrounding the Call of Duty franchise about its exclusivity might benefit the Battlefield franchise. Wilson states that since the Battlefield franchise will remain multi-platform after Call of Duty potentially becomes an Xbox exclusive, it will be one of the leading shooter franchises available on multiple platforms.
According to Seeking Alpha, Wilson is adamant that the Battlefield franchise will thrive if Call of Duty becomes an Xbox exclusive. The simple reason behind this is due to Battlefield remaining a multi-platform shooter franchise. As for the current state of the Xbox and Activision Blizzard deal, it’s still being scrutinised by the CMA and several authorities before it can finally be greenlit.
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Wilson’s full comment on the matter reads:
“In a world where there may be questions over the future of Call of Duty and what platforms that might be on or might not be on, being platform agnostic and completely cross-platform with Battlefield, I think is a tremendous opportunity.”
Microsoft reportedly told Sony that the Call of Duty franchise will remain a multi-platform release for the next three years. Thereafter, it’s possible that Xbox will shift the series towards becoming an exclusive. Sony’s Jim Ryan responded to this offer, calling it “inadequate.” He also criticised Xbox for essentially monopolising the market and expressed his concern over the Call of Duty franchise, as big as it is, becoming an Xbox property.
It’s a valid argument though the finer details of just how generous Xbox will be over Call of Duty‘s exclusivity in the coming years remains to be seen. PlayStation has always received platform-exclusive content for each new Call of Duty entry, including early beta access and more.
In the eyes of EA, this is an opportunity to propel the Battlefield franchise into the spotlight as it will become the primary big-budget shooter available on multiple platforms if Call of Duty goes exclusive.
Source: Seeking Alpha
