In a monumental deal that sends shockwaves through the gaming industry, Ubisoft has acquired the exclusive rights to stream Activision Blizzard games on its subscription services Ubisoft+ and Ubisoft+ Multi-Access. This landmark agreement comes as part of Microsoft’s restructuring of its proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which has faced antitrust scrutiny. By appeasing regulators, Microsoft paves the way to close the deal by transferring cloud streaming rights to mega-franchises like Call of Duty and Overwatch to rival Ubisoft for the next 15 years. Let us take a look into Ubisoft Activision Blizzard cloud gaming details.
The Deal between Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard
- Microsoft will transfer cloud streaming rights for current and future Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft for the next 15 years
- This addresses concerns raised by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding Microsoft’s potential cloud gaming dominance
- The deal takes effect upon completion of Microsoft’s acquisition, expected in October 2023
By acquiring cloud streaming rights, Ubisoft will be able to add Activision Blizzard titles like Call of Duty to its subscription services Ubisoft+ and Ubisoft+ Multi-Access.
This will significantly expand Ubisoft’s catalog beyond mainly first-party titles like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy games.
Launch Date
The Ubisoft+ lineup is expanding!
We're excited to announce a new agreement that will bring Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft+ via streaming upon the completion of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard!
We’ll also be licensing the games to a range of cloud streaming… pic.twitter.com/sZTnEFJedC
— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) August 22, 2023
The deal is contingent on Microsoft’s acquisition being approved. This is expected to close in October 2023 after addressing antitrust concerns.
Once the acquisition is complete, Ubisoft will be able to start adding Activision Blizzard games to its services. The first titles could arrive as early as late 2023.
Platforms
With the streaming rights, Ubisoft will be able to offer Activision Blizzard games across:
- PC – Via Ubisoft Connect
- Xbox consoles – On Ubisoft+ Multi Access
- PlayStation – Through Ubisoft+ Classics
- Amazon Luna – As part of Ubisoft+ Multi Access
- Other cloud gaming platforms – Through licensing deals
This will make major franchises available on more platforms than ever before. Call of Duty on PlayStation is especially notable after concerns about Microsoft making it Xbox exclusive.
Ubisoft+ Pricing and Tiers
To access the Activision Blizzard games when they launch, players will need an Ubisoft+ subscription. Here are the pricing tiers:
- Ubisoft+ PC Access – $14.99 per month
- Ubisoft+ Multi Access – $17.99 per month
- Ubisoft+ Classics – Included with PlayStation Plus Extra
Ubisoft+ Multi Access will likely provide the most value by bundling Ubisoft’s catalog with Activision Blizzard games on both PC and Xbox.
This stunning power move cements Ubisoft’s standing as a dominant force in cloud gaming. This dramatically expands cloud gaming options for major franchises. It’s an exciting new chapter as titles like Call of Duty become more accessible across platforms. Gamers ultimately stand to benefit from Ubisoft’s bolstered standing, enjoying premier titles on a multitude of platforms and subscription services.
And that's a wrap! Thanks for joining ❤#UbiForward pic.twitter.com/OXaBftaWj6
— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) June 12, 2023
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