GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

How Sony Won Call of Duty DLC Exclusivity Away From Microsoft

Sony's existing partnership with Activision for Destiny helped.

492 Comments

For years now, all Call of Duty DLC has launched first on Xbox platforms. But that's changing this fall with Call of Duty: Black Ops III thanks to Activision electing to partner with Sony instead of Microsoft.

It's a big change for one of the biggest franchises in gaming. To dive deeper into the subject, we spoke with Adam Boyes, the PlayStation VP of Publisher & Developer Relations.

As you might expect, Boyes shied away from discussions specifics about the business terms of the deal, but he did offer some general insight into how the partnership came to be and what it means.

"Well, I think the first thing was we've had a great relationship with Activision around Destiny," Boyes said. "And I'm a huge fan of that."

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Sony's partnership with Activision for Destiny has been a deep one, with PlayStation fans getting all manner of Destiny content before Xbox players. Sony has even said that it is treating Destiny like a first-party game in some ways.

Boyes went on to say that Activision invited Boyes and his team on a trip to see Black Ops III in person. It didn't take long for Sony to be convinced that this was a game worth getting involved with.

"We fell in love instantly," Boyes said about Black Ops III, going on to describe the game as "transformative" for its various new features.

"As soon as I started playing it, I said, 'This feels incredible! You can wallride!' It's just so smooth; it's almost like poetic. And so obviously, we just continued talking with our partners at Activision and worked something out. And now we've got I think a great benefit to all the gamers."

Not only will all Black Ops III DLC launch first on PlayStation platforms, but the game's multiplayer beta will also premiere on PlayStation before coming to Xbox and PC.

Sony's exclusivity deals with Destiny and now Call of Duty may not be the last. Earlier this year, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House said these kinds of third-party exclusivity arrangements are central to Sony's business strategy going forward.

For more on Black Ops III, check out GameSpot's hands-on impressions from E3 via the links below.

No Caption Provided

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 492 comments about this story
492 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for deactivated-5bda06edf37ee
deactivated-5bda06edf37ee

4675

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

it's embarrasing to read quotes of people praising their own/partners products. it's just empty words.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-6737ee1dc6e37
deactivated-6737ee1dc6e37

761

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Activisions relationship with Bungie is everything that is wrong with Destiny sadly. I still like the game but haven't bothered playing it in a long while and after the latest pricing garbage I think I'm done with it (I will NEVER pay for emotes lol, not for any game). But I don't really care for CoD so they can have it and ruin it as well lol

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ThePlantain
ThePlantain

850

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@nickpeck36: Here's what I'm doing: Not paying for emotes but playing the rest of the game. There's no gun to my head.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Too-DementeD
Too-DementeD

362

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Too-DementeD

Xbox 360 was selling better than PS3 in the last generation, Activision partners with Microsoft. Playstation 4 is selling better than the Xbox One in this generation, Activision partners with Sony. It's not rocket science.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bdrtfm
BDRTFM

6733

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@Too-DementeD: Yeah but, you are talking to the same people who argue over whose plastic toy is superior. I'm surprised any of them managed to figure it out without an etch-a-sketch presentation.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ThePlantain
ThePlantain

850

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Too-DementeD: This guy gets it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for RogerioFM
RogerioFM

10543

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

"How Sony Won Call of Duty DLC Exclusivity Away From Microsoft"

Paying more moneys.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Delston
Delston

558

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

Edited By Delston

@RogerioFM: Whoa whoa whooooooooa. Hold on a second...just slow down... *gets out notepad*

Upvote • 
Avatar image for justin01
justin01

857

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Haven't played this since the first black ops. I still remember when the first CoD came out. This franchise has changed. Like Doritos, Mountain Dew, and sure throw in some Pizza Hut... it's just nasty.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for GSGuy321
GSGuy321

157

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Edited By GSGuy321

Instead of worrying about exclusivity how about these corporations worry about giving power back to the Gamers by implementing a refund policy like Steam's. No reason for XBL and PSN not to have a similar refund policy of no questions asked (within a time limit).

I'm going over to Steam come Fall. Power to the Gamers!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-6737ee1dc6e37
deactivated-6737ee1dc6e37

761

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@GSGuy321: For the first time in many years I finally ponied up and built a nice gaming rig. After shopping around on steam and buying a lot of games I missed, and only having spent like $20 for 10 games, I think I'm back into PC gaming for good lol. Not to mention how well the XBO controller works with most Steam games is a major plus.

I have used the return thing a handful of times and it's fantastic. I agree, it should be the new standard for EVERY digital only outlet.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hellknite190
Hellknite190

219

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@nickpeck36: Not to toot the PC Master Race horn thing, but at this point, PC gaming is pretty much more convenient than consoles now. You'll enjoy it here : D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for oldtobie
oldtobie

562

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

WTF? Compound bows? Why? They have jetpacks, exosuits, and high caliber automatic weapons and they're using compound bows. Call of Duty went off the deep end after World at War.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Ant_17
Ant_17

13634

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

@oldtobie: Still waiting for some muskets and one bullet pistols.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jinzo9988
jinzo9988

2457

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

You could've replaced the entire article with a single symbol. "$" was all that was needed. Actually if that had been the case I would've laughed my ass off.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for alaskancrab
alaskancrab

508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

Players are going to hate hate hate!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for semi74
semi74

110

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

That article just needed one word : Money

The rest is blown up BS

Upvote • 
Avatar image for tajirinere
tajirinere

395

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Players are gonna play

haters gonna hate

I'm just gonna shake it off

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SnakekillerX
SnakekillerX

51

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -1

User Lists: 0

The Xbox vs PS arguments are really getting old people. This sort of attitude is so petty, and anyone portraying this behavior really just gives every other gamer a bad name. Xbox has a ton of exclusives, blah blah, PS4 is better so they switched... blah blah.. Listen to yourselves people.. WHO CARES? At the end of the day, does it really matter which console gets what? Stop being such whiney babies about your consoles.

Yelling out random nonsense at each other doesn't make things "fact".

And while I know the irony of the next part of my post... try looking things up for yourselves.
Do a bit of research and see if what you are saying is even remotely true...

List of Xbox One Games:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_One_games

List of PS3 Games:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_4_games

Seems to me both have several exclusives, and planned games. You can see for yourselves on the link.
Who cares what system gets what? If you want to play a game that isn't on the system you own.. buy the other system.

The people who then start to whine about.. well we can't afford both! Video games are a luxury, and if you can afford one system, then you can almost certainly afford both. Stop drinking your daily coffee, stop smoking, stop drinking.

Those are all largely expensive.. yet you can afford those.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for balrogbane
Balrogbane

1051

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 63

User Lists: 5

Whoopdy-flippin-doo.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-58270bc086e0d
deactivated-58270bc086e0d

2317

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 113

User Lists: 0

Because Activision are parasites and will suck a platform dry and then move onto another source.

PS4 at the moment is the best source of oxygenated blood so that is where they go to feed.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5fff3b71ba5bb
deactivated-5fff3b71ba5bb

194

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Generic answers hiding the true dealings of the corporate underworld. Well what did you expect? That they will spill the beans to GS?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for centethomas
CenteThomas

104

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Wow. This may not seem like a big deal, but this announcement alone will probably persuade millions of COD fans who haven't bought a current gen system to buy a ps4. Activision knows how to make money, so they aren't doing this for nothing. I have an Xbox one, and lovin it. Phil spencer is a great guy, and has done so much to improve the xbox one, but I have a feeling it's too little too late.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for poppopzz
poppopzz

45

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Nothing original here. Looks like they just copied destiny, and titanfall, making money from other franchises inovations.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for sladakrobot
sladakrobot

11910

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'll say now what all Sony fans said to Xbox fans before:
Let them test the game before we get it,thanks.
;-)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SavageEvil
SavageEvil

719

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@sladakrobot: Pretty sure it launches on both simultaneously no? Perhaps you mean the DLC, even then that doesn't make sense as DLC usually works flato ut, never heard of DLC for CoD not working as intended when it was released on Xbox first.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rasdorx
Rasdorx

498

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 5

@SavageEvil: I think it meant the beta I'm not for sure.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for moose-fitz
Moose-Fitz

964

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

Edited By Moose-Fitz

I haven't bought a CoD map pack since the original black ops.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for uchihasilver
uchihasilver

856

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Dear gamers stop being hypocrits you were all fine when MS had this deal for years so stop QQ'ing and grow up whats the point in trying to argue you're console is better guess what . . . No one cares what so ever just be happy with you're choice and stop being so insecure

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ExoticCharm
ExoticCharm

836

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

So MS is concentrating on new IPs while Sony is concentrating on timed exclusives or content that will still go to X1. Doesn't seem like Sony won anything. Makes you wonder what Sony could have done with all the money they are wasting on that crap. But hey, being able to play a few maps early in one of the most overrated series of all time is sure "great".

Upvote • 
Avatar image for macaque12
macaque12

355

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

I though it was a Green Arrow game from the pick! So disappointed. I'll remember to read the title before clicking on the article

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bsford
BSford

105

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 5

lolz Call of Duty is dead. It's an old tired out game with year after year of little to no innovation and constant DLC (THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR). It's almost a scam how bad it is. Now the real truth please, the only reason why sony was able to get this is because Microsoft most likely knew this and dropped it like a $2 hooker after 6 lines of coke. It's like buying stocks at the highest possible price right before the market crashes to $0.01 per share. Good luck with that Sony. I wasn't planning on buying this before this news and I'm certainly not going to now. Only difference is, while Sony is trying to secure deals for 3rd party games that are ALSO ON XBOX, Microsoft is innovating new EXCLUSIVE games -WAY more that Sony.

It's clear that Xbox One will be the place to play this generation, but nice try Sony.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03
deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03

6005

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@bsford: The only thing clear from your comment is a cold case of denial. Don't worry though, you're not alone. Xbox fans everywhere have blown a fuse or two over Sony's dominance.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bsford
BSford

105

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 5

Edited By BSford

@reduc_ab_: you're funny. We'll see how far that "dominance" gets you this holiday season... oh wait, no games are coming out on PS4. So sad I forgot because I'm to busy with the line up of great Exclusives coming to Xbox One. Sucks to suck.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03
deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03

6005

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@bsford: Good lord, man. Red is blue. The sky is the ground. Two plus two equals..... well, you get my point. Maybe.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SnakekillerX
SnakekillerX

51

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: -1

User Lists: 0

@bsford: So strange seeing people try and defend their consoles.. either by attacking the other or by stating theirs is the best. People really need to grow up.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03
deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03

6005

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@SnakekillerX: I know it's dumb. On that note, PS4 is King.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bsford
BSford

105

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 5

@reduc_ab_: noppity nope nope. no games

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03
deactivated-5c0b07b32bf03

6005

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@bsford: It's easy to feel that way with your hands over your eyes.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for fullyskully
FullySkully

260

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

'This feels incredible! You can wallride!'

Welcome to 2014's Titanfall, Adam Boyes lol

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rasdorx
Rasdorx

498

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 5

@fullyskully: Thats what I was going to say.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gregbmil
gregbmil

2703

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By gregbmil

Why did I even buy an Xbox One.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for poppopzz
poppopzz

45

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

@gregbmil: Why did I buy a PS4.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for fatalscorpion
FatalScorpion

710

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 5

@poppopzz: Why did I buy a Wii U...for the exclusive Sonic games of course! Best. Decision. Ever.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bsford
BSford

105

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 5

@gregbmil: it's the greatest console on gods green earth, that's why

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mikedee1
mikedee1

44

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@bsford: I would have to disagree. here is why, I own both systems and from a hardware standpoint the ps4 is way better. I can stream all day on my ps4 to twitch and my xone can't even stream for more than a couple of minutes. both systems are hardwired so there shouldn't be that big of a difference. I like both systems but prefer the ps4

Upvote • 
Avatar image for fatalscorpion
FatalScorpion

710

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 5

@mikedee1: Well imho I like both systems but prefer the Wii U.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bsford
BSford

105

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 5

@mikedee1: Yeah I have no problems using twitch on Xbox One. Not sure what your problem must be but the overall experience on Xbox is far better.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for saburwulf
saburwulf

94

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@mikedee1: Man stop with that sh!t, you know it is the software that makes the hardware work great right? show me on any game where the ps4 is better that i can see not what DF tells me. and as far as Twitch you can stream all day what are you talking about. I call shenanigans on your comment.

Upvote •