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[Nirolak]

From a gaming standpoint, you will remember Sony Music best for their Aniplex games Fate/Grand Order (the world's top grossing mobile game) and Madoka (another major mobile hit).

Now they're getting into multiplatform console/PC publishing as well.

Sony Music Entertainment has announced the establishment of a new game publishing label called Unties.

With the growth of game development environments, high quality game development has become possible even in small scale environments, and the evolution of digital publishing has made it easier to distribute developed titles to users worldwide. On the other hand, with a mixed bag of titles overflowing the market, there are also situations where interesting titles are buried without being noticed.

At Unties, we dig up the masterpieces buried in those situations, and support them so that more users notice and pick them up. We spread information about excellent games and sell titles for multiple platforms.

The name ”Unties" comes from the thought ”to unleash the excellent talents of unique game creators all over the world" and ”setting creators free from the various shackles of game publishing, named from the intention of realizing publication that is freedom of production without restraints."

Source: http://gematsu.com/2017/10/sony-music-entertainment-establishes-unties-game-publishing-label

Games:

Tiny Metal

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Developer: Area35
Genre: Tactics Simulation
Players: 1 (online functionality also included)
Release Date: November 21, 2017
Links: Official Website, Steam Greenlight
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaDL8VhhaJg

Last Standard

Platforms: PC, Others TBA
Developer: I From Japan
Genre: 3D Action
Players: 1 (online battle support also planned)
Release Date: TBA
Links: Official Website, Steam Greenlight
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw1PmoRmQ7M

Merkava Avalanche

Platforms: PC, Others TBA
Developer: WinterCrownWorks
Genre: Suvival Robot Action
Players: 1
Release Date: TBA
Links: Official Website, Steam Greenlight
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01mHnrBr6IQ

Deemo Reborn

Platforms: PlayStation 4 (with PlayStation VR support)
Developer: Rayark
Genre: Rhythm Action
Supported Languages: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Protuguese, Russian
Players: 1
Release Date: TBA
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSf6R2Uh2BI

 

[Olengie]

Down for more titles

 

[Loudninja]

Huh really interesting.

So Sony as a whole is leading more and more to games.

 

[GhostTrick]

Mmh wait what.
Is it actually like a different branch of Sony as a whole... Indirectly competing with the gaming branch ?

 

[wapplew]

I read undies...


Sony go third party.

 

[Nirolak]

Mmh wait what.
Is it actually like a different branch of Sony as a whole... Indirectly competing with the gaming branch ?

This isn't completely unheard of actually. Sony Online Entertainment was a division of Sony Pictures before it got booted over to Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Mind, SIE sold off the division after getting it.

 

[dracula_x]

Mmh wait what.
Is it actually like a different branch of Sony as a whole... Indirectly competing with the gaming branch ?

→ https://www.giantbomb.com/sony-music-entertainment-japan-inc/3010-1394/published/

This isn't completely unheard of actually. Sony Online Entertainment was a division of Sony Pictures before it got booted over to Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Mind, SIE sold off the division after getting it.

btw, SMEJ publish games since 90s.

Just one example:

Publisher: Sony Music
Developer: Game Freak

or another example (Equinox on Super Famicom):

also Tenchu in Japan

 

[Famassu]

That Tiny Metal trailer music sounds like it could come from some epic scene in a JRPG like Final Fantasy.

Interesting development from SME, moving on to console publishing.

 

[Falk]

Tiny Metal is helmed by Project Phoenix's Hiroaki Yura, fwiw.

It was the strategy game mentioned in this update

 

[Bishop89]

i really dont understand why this falls under Sony Music lol

 

[Hero of Legend]

Actually, didn't Sony Music own Tenchu long ago before it being passed onto Activision and then FROM Software?

 

[SMD]

Sony publishing a game on the Switch?

Nintendo PlayStation confirmed.

 

[GhostTrick]

→ https://www.giantbomb.com/sony-music-entertainment-japan-inc/3010-1394/published/



btw, SMEJ publish games since 90s

Well yes, but at least it seems they remained like under the gaming division's platform.

 

[Nirolak]

i really dont understand why this falls under Sony Music lol

SIE presumably doesn't want to publish multiplatform games.

Similarly Sony Pictures still contracts its own mobile games.

 

[ggx2ac]

The name “Unties” comes from the thought “to unleash the excellent talents of unique game creators all over the world” and “setting creators free from the various shackles of game publishing, named from the intention of realizing publication that is freedom of production without restraints.”

They sound like the kind of guys that wouldn't mind allowing cross-play either.

 

[Loudninja]

SIE presumably doesn't want to publish multiplatform games.

Similarly Sony Pictures still contracts its own mobile games.

Its a win win like this lol

 

[dracula_x]

Well yes, but at least it seems they remained like under the gaming division's platform.

they weren't

Sony publishing a game on the Switch?

Nintendo PlayStation confirmed.

more like Switch is a new Vita

 

[Pachael]

This probably also partially answers the question on what Sony Music is doing with the Aniplex money they're earning

 

[Why would you do that?]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think Sony Music was making games before SCE was a thing. Sony Music made all the Sony SNES games.

Edit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records_Japan

 

[Nightengale]

Considering that SIE has (most likely) scaled back investment in smaller indie-scope games in favour of VR and AAA titles, this is a good thing in terms of money going back to indie-scope games from the broader Sony umbrella. Multiplatform even, so even better.

 

[Hero of Legend]

I highly assume Sony Interactive Entertainment IPs are banned from any sort of multiplatform busniess even if Sony Music would be happy to use them for such.

Doesn't explain how PoPoLoCrois ended up with a 3DS-exclusive though.

 

[Callibretto]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think Sony Music was making games before SCE was a thing. Sony Music made all the Sony SNES games.

Also isnt many of playstation exec come from sony music background?

 

[BlackLagoon]

btw, SMEJ publish games since 90s.

80s actually. Sony Imagesoft was under SMEJ, and before that I believe they were publishing games in Japan as CBS Records.

 

[Nirolak]

I highly assume Sony Interactive Entertainment IPs are banned from any sort of multiplatform busniess even if Sony Music would be happy to use them for such.

Doesn't explain how PoPoLoCrois ended up with a 3DS-exclusive though.

This is an indie publishing label for Japanese and Asian companies in general, judging by their starting line-up.

I don't think they would even be interested in Sony's normal IPs.

 

[Bishop89]

SIE presumably doesn't want to publish multiplatform games.

Similarly Sony Pictures still contracts its own mobile games.

thanks for that.

very unusual arrangement imo.

 

[Hero of Legend]

This is an indie publishing label for Japanese and Asian companies in general, judging by their starting line-up.

I don't think they would even be interested in Sony's normal IPs.

They could MAYBE arrange something like taking some chances with Sony's smaller tier JP IPs and give them a shot on Switch. For example; Parappa the Rapper, Loco Roco, and Patapon. All just got PS4 remasters and.... they did horribly IIRC. Simple Switch ports could be neat testing grounds.

That's if this would even be allowed of course.

 

[Nightengale]

thanks for that.

very unusual arrangement imo.

The better way to look at it is that 'no arrangement exist.'

Sony Music Exec #1: man, we're rolling deep in FGO money, what do?
Sony Music Exec #2: maybe invest in indie game publishing?
Sony Music Exec #1: that sounds like a good idea, let's go ahead with it!
Sony Music Exec #3: shouldn't we talk to game-business division about it?
Sony Music Exec #2: nah, too much red-tape. if our boss is ok with it he just needs kaz approval.

~ 6 months later in mid-year/year end planning ~

Sony Music: pleased to announce Sony Music plans to start investing in indie games soon!
Sony PlayStation: first time I heard of it.
Sony Music: don't worry, based off the last planning session, our initiatives don't overlap with PS-business's 2018/19 plan.
Sony PlayStation: No worries. Don't be a stranger. Come to us if you need collaboration.
Sony Music: Sure!

~ no collab happen because it's too annoying to deal with cross-business red-tape ~

 

[2+2=5]

One brach spend millions(billions?) on R&D for consoles, ads, online stores and infrastuctures, studios, third party exclusives etc... and another branch develops concurrent games on the same platform and even concurrent platforms?

Sony is a mess lol.

 

[Hero of Legend]

One brach spend millions(billions?) on R&D for consoles, ads, stores, studios, third party exclusives etc... and another branch does concurrent games on the same platform and even concurrent platforms?

Sony is a mess lol.

It's almost like 2+2=5 to Sony!

 

[ggx2ac]

As seen in the Deemo reborn trailer, this would be the logo for the publishing label.

 

[Nightengale]

Conglomerate corporations are a mess lol.

Fixed that for you.

 

[dracula_x]

One brach spend millions(billions?) on R&D for consoles, ads, online stores and infrastuctures, studios, third party exclusives etc... and another branch develops concurrent games on the same platform and even concurrent platforms?

Sony is a mess lol.

the more the merrier

80s actually. Sony Imagesoft was under SMEJ, and before that I believe they were publishing games in Japan as CBS Records.

yes, true. It was a subsidiary of the CBS/Sony Group (now Sony Music Japan)

 

[Panajev2001a]

From a gaming standpoint, you will remember Sony Music best for their Aniplex games Fate/Grand Order (the world's top grossing mobile game) and Madoka (another major mobile hit).

Now they're getting into multiplatform console/PC publishing as well.


Source: http://gematsu.com/2017/10/sony-music-entertainment-establishes-unties-game-publishing-label

Games:

I like this... it kind of feels cyclical as Sony Music is where PlayStation / SCEJ actually came from in a way (in more than one). It is nice to see them pushing games again.

 

[Nibel]

Sony publishing a Advance Wars title on Switch before Nintendo does

What a time to be alive

 

[SinCityAssassin]

...was that Deemo PS4/VR port a thing before?

 

[FelipeMGM]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think Sony Music was making games before SCE was a thing. Sony Music made all the Sony SNES games.

Edit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records_Japan

Also isnt many of playstation exec come from sony music background?

yep, SCE even spun off Sony Music back in the day

 

[SomedayTheFire]

One brach spend millions(billions?) on R&D for consoles, ads, online stores and infrastuctures, studios, third party exclusives etc... and another branch develops concurrent games on the same platform and even concurrent platforms?

Sony is a mess lol.

Not too dissimilar to Microsoft then.

Honestly, calling them a mess for this is pretty stupid.

 

[LiquidSolid]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think Sony Music was making games before SCE was a thing. Sony Music made all the Sony SNES games.

Edit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records_Japan

Sony Interactive Entertainment itself was originally spun off from Sony Music. A lot of the execs from back then, like Shu, started off at Sony Music.

Anyway, weird move and it's messy but I guess it makes sense if you just look at how successful Sony Music's game publishing arm has been. If they continue to see this success, I wonder if they'll look to spin it off into its own "Sony Mobile Entertainment" division.

 

[Jarod McChicken]

I'm not sure how this initiative would "concurrent" SIE's business anyway. Considering all the "others TBA platforms" on those games, the launch of Unties will probably only results by even more indie games coming to PS4.

 

[mao2]

It looks like Akinari Ito who was previously in charge of indie games for SIE (he quit in May) is now working with Unties.
https://twitter.com/itolu_18/status/920186939000496128

さて、発表となりました。UNTIES‐アンティーズ‐です！
私も一緒にお仕事することになりました！
もちろん独立して自分のこともやりつつですが、ディベロッパーさんを盛り上げるべく、活動をしてまいります！よろしくお願いします。です！！
https://www.sme.co.jp/s/SME/pressrelease/detail/NEWS00770?ima=0257

 

[Veon]

more like Switch is a new Vita

You and I plus everyone else knows that isn't true. Unlike the Vita, the Switch has real games that actual people want to play.

I still hope hold that one day PSP2 is a real thing.

 

[Busty]

Huh really interesting.

So Sony as a whole is leading more and more to games.

It's interesting that they are put so much into gaming while their film & TV division continues to die on the vine.

 

[Raytow]

You and I plus everyone else knows that isn't true. Unlike the Vita, the Switch has real games that actual people want to play.

I still hope hold that one day PSP2 is a real thing.

LOL so Vita owners aren't actual people? the mental gymnastic fanboys will do to just diss the Vita.

 

[Principate]

It's interesting that they are put so much into gaming while their film & TV division continues to die on the vine.

Gaming is much more profitable

 

[paradise_circus]

Hmm, looks like they sold sony online too fast.

 

[Nezzhil]

Release date for Tiny Metal? Yeeeeees. I almost become a backer during the crowdfunding campaign.

 

[wapplew]

Gaming is much more profitable

With loot boxes and all kind of whaling business practices.

 

[ggx2ac]

With loot boxes and all kind of whaling business practices.

They just need to incorporate gacha into their movies.

*rolls*

"You've received 3* bad ending of the Amazing Spider-Man 2, watch scene?"

 

[nampad]

Not sure why they are trying to get into the crowded console/PC market where they lack expertise instead of focusing even more on the mobile market.

Tiny Metal looks like an interesting Advanced Wars clone. Last Standard and Merkava Avalanche look uninteresting so far and Deemo is just Deemo, now in VR.

 

[AudioEppa]

Interesting news. I’ll pay more attention once some of their upcoming games sound more appealing. All the games/genres listed in the OP aren’t my thing.