Warzone Mobile Will Ultimately Replace Call Of Duty Mobile, Reveal CMA Documents

CMA documents have disclosed how Microsoft plans to “phase out” Call of Duty Mobile over time. Warzone Mobile will replace the FPS game developed by TiMi Studios, according to Microsoft’s response to the CMA. In addition, the mobile version of Warzone will release in the latter half of 2023. The document mentions how after this launch, the company will gradually discontinue the game everywhere except China.

Head over to page 25 of the documents dated February 22 by the UK’s CMA. Microsoft revealed this info while talking about the mobile gaming part of the Activision Blizzard deal. The tech giant says in response to the UK regulator that it can’t divest Activision because of the acquisition’s key objective. As per the documents, Microsoft really wants this deal to go through so it can build a gaming business.

Furthermore, the company wants it to be significant in scale so it can challenge Google and Apple. If Activision is separated from the deal, the company would not be able to achieve this. Losing Call of Duty Mobile and Warzone Mobile as a result is quoted as the main reasons for this by Microsoft. The response also talks of how removing Blizzard Entertainment from the acquisition is also not a viable solution.

Diablo Immortal is a very popular game and part of Activision Blizzard’s mobile segment. Hence, dispossessing the company from Microsoft is not a fair remedy, as per the documents. Interestingly, the excerpt also reveals how these games are the real deal breakers for the mobile strategy. The American company’s response explains how Warzone Mobile and Diablo Immortal are more important than King games.

It will gain the assets, know-how, and talent to develop mobile versions of its own console games via these titles, not King games like Candy Crush. Previously, many thought that King would provide Microsoft with the necessary tools to venture into mobile gaming. But, it’s actually Activision Blizzard’s mobile games that the company considers more important, by the documents. 

Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been making the headlines for a year now. From the UK CMA opposing the deal to the EU likely to approve the deal now, we have seen a lot of twists and turns in this period. When the deal first happened many thought it was for the gaming world’s biggest FPS series: Call of Duty. And, the franchise has been the main roadblock in the deal happening, with Sony saying it will give Xbox an unfair advantage.

Even though Microsoft agreed on deals with Nintendo and Nvidia for Call of Duty, Sony has been reluctant to give in. The Japanese gaming giant has not accepted deals as it considers the franchise irreplaceable. However, we now know that the main bone of contention in the acquisition is not even what Microsoft really wants. News first came out last August that Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard to go into mobile gaming.

Phil Spencer also confirmed this recently, saying they need ABK to become relevant on mobile. These documents further back this up, insisting on how the company wants to reach more players via mobile games. Even though Activision Blizzard is confident the deal will go through, only time will tell what truly happens.