As Microsoft's purchase and acquisition of Activision Blizzard continues, or rather remains in a perpetual standstill, under the guise that it's a great anti-consumer practice and could be in violation of FTC (Federal Trade Commission) regulations. Providing the deal goes through, the Xbox producing company has struck a 10-year partnership to expand Activision's Call of Duty series to appear on the Nintendo Switch and future Nintendo devices. This certainly gives Microsoft a formidable ally in Nintendo to combat Sony's efforts to block the $68 million dollar purchase. Microsoft CEO Brad Smith clarifies the arrangement via Twitter.

Microsoft and Nintendo have now negotiated and signed a binding 10-year legal agreement to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo players — the same days as Xbox, with full feature and content parity. So they can experience Call of Duty just as Xbox and PlayStation gamers enjoy Call of Duty. We are committed to providing long term equal access to Call of Duty to other gaming platforms.

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. pic.twitter.com/JmO0hzw1BO

— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) February 21, 2023

Nvidia has also jumped on board Microsoft's side, as Brad Smith announced the agreement with the tech company during a press conference in Brussels. 

"For us at Microsoft, this has never been about spending $69 billion dollars so that we could acquire titles like Call of Duty and make them LESS available to people," Smith spoke. "That's actually not a great way to turn a $69 billion dollar asset into something that will become more valuable over time."   

Providing this deal is approved, and adding Nintendo and Nvidia into the arrangement, this means a great deal to not just the Nintendo Switch, but more so for the Switch's successor and possibly beyond. Sony CEO Jim Ryan turned down Microsoft's offer to keep the Call of Duty franchise on the PlayStation platform beyond its current deal back in September, citing it was inadequate. Wordplay from Jim, but if the deal is good enough for Nintendo, what holds the world's video game market leader out of negotiations? 

Your move, Jim.