Microsoft plans to bring its Xbox PC games to Nvidia GeForce Now and promises to offer Activision Blizzard games on the cloud service if the acquisition closes

Microsoft is bringing its Xbox PC games to Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud gaming service. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels today …

The Verge 2023-02-22 Tom Warren

Context & Ripple Effects

Microsoft had already moved Game Pass onto PC and described a streaming network meant to reach any device. Opening Xbox PC titles to Nvidia extends that service logic beyond Microsoft's own cloud stack and makes the Activision Blizzard commitment a consequential part of the acquisition case.

The partnership later progressed into select PC Game Pass titles on GeForce Now, while Nvidia's addition of the first Activision Call of Duty games shows how the proposed catalog-access pledge translated into distribution.

First-order effects

GeForce Now gains access to Microsoft Xbox PC games, giving Nvidia a larger publisher catalog to offer through its cloud service.
Microsoft commits to make Activision Blizzard games available on GeForce Now if its acquisition closes, limiting the acquired catalog's availability as a Microsoft-only cloud advantage.

Second-order effects

Microsoft shifts some of the value of Xbox PC and Game Pass content toward Nvidia's streaming platform, making service reach more important than keeping cloud access exclusive.
Nvidia can deepen account and library integration around Microsoft purchases and subscriptions, a direction reflected in Xbox-account linking for supported games.

Third-order effects

If major publishers continue to license cloud access across services, game libraries become less effective as exclusive platform moats and more important as inputs to subscription and streaming distribution.
The arrangement points toward cloud gaming competition centered on delivery quality, account integration, and catalog terms rather than a single hardware owner's closed ecosystem.

The trend: Gaming is moving from console-bound exclusivity toward multi-service cloud distribution, with content access increasingly negotiated separately from the platform that owns the game.

Discussion

Gameranx Ryan Parreno on x
Microsoft: Call Of Duty Needs To Run Well On All Consoles - Including Nintendo Switch
Pure Xbox Fraser Gilbert on x
Microsoft Defends ActiBlizz Acquisition By Highlighting PlayStation's Dominance Over Xbox
@xboxp3 Phil Spencer on x
We have signed a 10 year agreement with NVIDIA that will allow GeForce NOW players to stream Xbox PC games as well as Activision Blizzard PC titles, including COD, following the acquisition. We're committed to bringing more games to more people - however they choose to play.
@tomwarren Tom Warren on x
Microsoft president @BradSmi on not reaching an agreement with Sony over Call of Duty. “I hope we will. I walk around with an envelope that contains the definitive agreement that we sent the Sony two days before Christmas.” https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@dmc_ryan Ryan McCaffrey on x
@XboxP3 Now do native Game Pass support for Steam Deck.
@knoebelbroet Knoebel on x
Some other interesting stuff: Brad Smith: Sony can spend all its energy trying to block the deal by blocking competition, or it “can sit down with us to hammer out an agreement” Nividia Blogpost: https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/ ...
@lulumeservey Lulu Cheng Meservey on x
We're confident regulators will find that our proposed merger will promote competition and create more opportunities for workers and better games for our players.
@astaranx @astaranx on x
Microsoft is building a market without PlayStation if they continue to refuse the COD deal. https://twitter.com/...
@lulumeservey Lulu Cheng Meservey on x
Microsoft is doing exactly what they said they'd do. Whereas Sony continues to rebuff the opportunity to get a long-term agreement for Call of Duty and is trying to undermine the deal to protect its two-decade dominance in gaming. https://twitter.com/...
Gameranx Ryan Parreno on x
Microsoft Reveals PlayStation's Current Call Of Duty Contract Ends Next Year
Pure Xbox Fraser Gilbert on x
Microsoft Signs Binding Contract To Bring Call Of Duty To Nintendo
@bradsmi Brad Smith on x
We've now signed a binding 10-year contract to bring Xbox games to Nintendo's gamers. This is just part of our commitment to bring Xbox games and Activision titles like Call of Duty to more players on more platforms. https://twitter.com/...
@bradsmi Brad Smith on x
With today's agreements with NVIDIA and Nintendo, we will bring Call of Duty to 150 million new devices. That will serve consumers AND advance competition. https://twitter.com/...
@tomwarren Tom Warren on x
Microsoft's @BradSmi on Xbox cross-platform + exclusives: “Microsoft has 58 games already running on PlayStation, Sony only has 2 running on Xbox. We've said that if this acquisition goes through, we're happy to make sure that there's a #59 with Call of Duty and no doubt others.”…
@dosomemolly Molly on x
a blight upon Nintendo's catalogue https://twitter.com/...
@gibiz @gibiz on x
Xbox signs a deal with Nvidia that will see all its games (that are also on PC) come to the GeForce Now streaming service. Including, if the deal goes through, Call of Duty. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ ...
@postup_bbb @postup_bbb on x
So can we assume with todays announcement that Nintendo is officially for the merger? Also we got a person who said he wrote contracts for a living asking questions they should already know the answer to🌚 Question: How can Microsoft sign a deal with Nintendo and they don't own...…
@discussingfilm @discussingfilm on x
Microsoft has signed a 10 year contract to bring ‘CALL OF DUTY’ to Nintendo platforms on the same day as they release on Xbox. https://twitter.com/...
@jezcorden Jez on x
Unpopular opinion to make everyone mad. Microsoft should bring as many of their games to Nintendo Switch as possible imo.
@vivadadom Dom on x
this image poorly aged lmao https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@eric_seufert Eric Seufert on x
Microsoft will make Xbox games available on Nintendo devices with release schedule and feature parity. Presumably a sign of goodwill as its Activision acquisition remains under review. https://twitter.com/...
@reversalx7 @reversalx7 on x
So excited! I hope we can make PowerPoint presentations soon as well on the Nintendo Switch! #hyped #letsgo #microsoft #nintendo #baldbychoice https://twitter.com/...
@goodgamekofi Kofi on x
Nintendo must have new hardware coming soon because ain't no way current Call of Duty running on a Switch. https://twitter.com/...
@hamilbug Isobel A Hamilton on x
Absolutely love Microsoft trotting out its: “We'll put COD on the Switch” defence again. Poor devs though. https://twitter.com/...

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