Microsoft and Sony in Call of Duty console deal

Microsoft and Sony yesterday agreed to keep Call of Duty on the latter’s PlayStation gaming consoles.

It comes as Microsoft hopes to woo competition regulators over its £60billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, which makes the video game.

Watchdogs have been concerned that the acquisition may curb competition in the gaming market and mean Microsoft, which owns the Xbox brand, could restrict popular games from use on other consoles.

But in a bid to please regulators, the tech giant said it had reached an agreement with its rival Sony to keep Call of Duty on its devices.

Earlier this month, the largest-ever gaming deal took one more step closer to completion when a US appeals court said it would not stop the tie-up.

In Britain, the Competition and Markets Authority had blocked the deal in April after concluding it would lead to ‘reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers’.

Microsoft has said it was now focusing on pleasing British regulators to make sure that the deal can go through.