Sony is in discussions with Korean developer Bluehole to bring smash hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to the PlayStation 4 – but Microsoft is also trying to delay that version of the game. In what is increasingly becoming a boardroom saga, you should already know that the Redmond firm has agreed to publish the Xbox One version of the Battle Royale-inspired release, granting it a period of exclusivity. However, now Bloomberg is reporting that the company is trying to extend that window.

Here’s a quote from the article: “Bluehole has agreed to produce the game for Microsoft first by the end of the year and is likely to give the company a longer period as the solo console, said [sources] asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Games are typically offered exclusively for about three months to encourage people to buy a particular console, so Xbox may have the game to itself until the middle of next year or longer.”

It’s been fascinating watching this all play out, not least because Epic Games has beaten PUBG to the punch, releasing the very agreeable Fortnite: Battle Royale for free on the PS4 already. Still, it’s amazing to see Microsoft go so aggressively after this particular game; it may be one of the most popular titles in the world right now, but this whole scenario must be keeping Xbox chief Phil Spencer awake at night – after all, he’s not really a fan of timed exclusives, is he?

[source bloomberg.com]