It simply was the most sold console and the one with a lot of social media positive hype. It can't be explained better than that.

It probably has to do with the PS4 being at the top of the market this gen, so Activ went to where the highest possible profit would happen. It could be MS wasn`t interested in renewing a contract or something, Sony offered more for the deal, or as said before, Acti wanted to side with Sony. Seems like these are possible scenarios.

Though it`s not like PS4 is the only place to play COD. XBO owners can still play it, but will just have to wait a bit longer, or not get a piece of content, which mentioning now makes these sort of deals kind of terrible....

nearly double marketshare, PS4 will be default position for all 3rd party games when it comes to marketing partnerships, those that don't make the cut will then go for a deal with Xbox.

Sony have the advertising rights for both Acti and EA xmas shooters, even they dont care they have to share the advertising lime light with each other, your still gonna sell more games on playstation this gen.

You are both right but not really looking at why.

Its not that MS "didn't want" to renew an exclusive deal, especially one as big as COD. Its that being that they have a smaller install base the deal will cost them more to make than if they were ahead. And being that third party games always seem to sell better on the PS4 they are better off spending their money on exclusive software.... 

There is no gain from snapping up marketing or dlc early access exclusives when ur rival will still sell better than you anyways. 

What boggles me is Activision asking for this kind of deal.

COD wasn´t a big franchise when the deal with Microsoft was made back in 2007.

And this time I can´t see the apeal for either Sony or Activision. It´s mutual exclusive if Sony didn´t pay that much or Activision thinks the franchise is going downhill and need some extra funding.

Any way, I don´t think this deal will effect sales any grand manner. I don´t know of any XOne owner that will change consoles because of this.

It didn´t had a impact by the end of last generation, any way. The last 3 or 4 CODs sold basic at the same ratio on both the PS3 and 360.

Most of the people that cared about getting the DLC first probably aready bought an X1. 

Or they still use their 360... wasn't that the xbox mantra last year?  That xbox owners were more content and hadn't upgraded yet? 

Now they will sell there X1 for a PS4. If DLC was their buying decision, no reason stopping now.

Im going to go out on a limb here......and say that it was probably money.

$$

Simple. MS is spending less money on the Xbox division, due to lower sales, and therefore aren't renewing the expensive COD deal. So, Sony probably offered to pick it up, though, most likely at a lower price.