Microsoft is reportedly working on a brand new game which may take as long as an entire decade to complete.
In a complaint issued by the FTC, in which it makes a case against the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, it is stated that the software giant is working on a game which may take as long as an entire decade to complete.
The document states that Microsoft and Sony both produce AAA games. The Elder Scrolls, Halo, and Forza franchises are examples of AAA games from Microsoft, while the God of War, MLB The Show, and Spider-Man franchises are examples of AAA games from Sony.
According to the FTC, Microsoft’s own experience with releasing AAA games reflects the cost and time to develop such content. Halo Infinite, a recent title from the Microsoft’s first-party Halo franchise, was in production for [REDACTED] years, and cost almost [REDACTED] million. Other AAA games may take even longer to develop. For instance, according to one Microsoft executive, an unannounced forthcoming title from an existing franchise may take a decade to develop.
The document also highlights the significance of Activision’s most well-known franchise, Call of Duty, even among AAA games. Activision calls Call of Duty, which debuted nearly twenty years ago in 2003, “one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time.” In 2021, Call of Duty: Vanguard topped the revenue charts as the best-selling game in the United States, followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. In the first ten days after its release in 2022, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II generated $1 billion in revenue worldwide. In contrast, Top Gun: Maverick, the year’s highest-grossing movie, took one month to cross the $1 billion mark.
Previously, the antitrust regulator in China had rejected a “simplified” filing for review of the planned $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft.
