Why would Sony want to buy any more studios? Its apparent from the changes theyve made to the existing WWS set up that they want to trim the number of studios they own, so why would they want the capex & running costs of adding more studios in?
Deals like the QD one, or game-by-game make far more sense as it places the cost risk back on the studio rather than having to go through back-office integration and so on.
Why are people obsessed with Sony buying studios? All they become is a cost-centre on the bottom line.
It's a concern about the development pipeline if they keep closing studios
My point is why throw a ton of money at Quantic Dream to buy them when they're already working happily exclusively with Sony?
This is a good post. PlayStation fans (and, to a lesser extent, others) often get caught up playing game dev fantasy football and neglect to consider the complexity of these business deals, as well as the additional cost and risk incurred by purchasing a mid-size or large studio. And Sony obviously understands this. That's why you see them closing less important studios and pursuing one-off and multi-game deals. Save for a few rare examples, it just makes more financial sense for a platform holder to cut deals than to buy studios outright.Sony consolidated their UK studios, closed one drowning in red ink & one that was closed as part of a wider reorganisation of WWS in Europe (which may or may not be Brexit related).
For those talking about buying studios, do you have any idea what a full acquisition involves? It isn't just people & IP. It involves estate issues, all back office functions, usually done substantial back-office systems integration, legacy contract & pension liabilities.
Partnerships are far better value for Sony & more importantly are better for the studios.
Developers- It rewards developers by providing greater ties with in-house studios.
Consumers- It rewards consumers by bolstering the first party lineup, ensuring they will always delivering more games to them.
Sony- It rewards Sony meeting the consumer reward above = profit.
Im sure there are a number of examples where devs were thought to always work with one particular company and then one day not.
Insomniac, Alan Wake devs, Bioware etc
I think the only studio they are realistically interested in acquiring is Insomniac. They've proven themselves on multiple different franchises, and i think Spiderman is going to be huge.
Housemarque and quantic dream are possibilities too. If Detroit is a hit then I can see sony making a move. If i remember correctly housemarque may have hinted that their next game could be aaa and i feel like sony would be funding that a la order and see how they do.
I don't know why you guys even want Insomniac, Housemarque or Quantic Dream to be acquired by Sony. The relationships work right now and they have options beyond just PlayStation. It's a very happy medium.
Insomniac are one of the few AAA independent studios left right now and they should continue to diversify their profile to sustain themselves. QD have their niche right now and I don't see the point of acquiring a developer who already only wants to work with Sony.
If there are studios they should acquire, they should be studios that can cover their weaknesses. Insominac, Housemarque and QD aren't one of them.
Best wishes.
TLoU 2 releases 2019.
TLoU 2 Complete Edition releases fall 2020, in time for the PS5 launch.
I can see Death Stranding pulling off a similar trajectory~~~
Do sony even need to flat out buy Kojima productions?
Where else will he go, Xbox? Nah Nintendo makes great hardware but not the type that man loves, too few third parties I see him partnering with. So its eitger Sony or self publishing
I'm not sure how the Decima situation is going to work out. Kojima Productions is working on the engine with Guerilla and it's Guerilla's engine. KP development tools are all based on Decima. So if Death Stranding is just a one-off deal, what happens when that's over? KP starts all over again with a new engine? If KP goes multiplatform, they wouldn't be able to use Decima right? Will they be able to make an Xbox game with Decima? Is it basically licensed out at this point?
You're right, but Kojima specifically chose Guerrilla's engine for Death Stranding. Which means one of three things as far as I can tell:
1) He's going to be making multiple Death Stranding games and will be using Decima for all of them.
2) He will be making something else after Death Stranding and will be allowed to use Decima for his next project.
3) He will be making something else after Death Stranding but will switch to a new engine.
Option 3 seems extremely unlikely given that he's set up a Kojima Productions studio in Amsterdam to work with Guerrilla and co-develop the engine. Option 1 is quite likely because Sony tends to sign devs up for 3 game contracts. Option 2 is so-so in my opinion, although given his prominence in the industry he may have been able to negotiate a unique deal whereby he can use Decima on other platforms after DS. There's also the fact that this was at one point supposed to be coming to PC which means this may not be too unlikely.
It's crazy to me that ND made TLOU remastered, announced and released U4 and Lost Legacy and announced TLOU2....
And we still have no idea what Sucker Punch has been doing since Second Son and First Light in 2014.
Arent they smaller? And if nd were doing for example savage starlight...sigh and not sequels it would probably take them a way longer time too
I don't see Sony ever buying a well established studio again. It's just not worth the money. Some small and upcoming studio is much more likely.
It'd cost Sony way more to purchase the studios people have been mentioning than they've paid for any others. They got Media Molecule (I think) before LittleBigPlanet became a huge hit. I can't remember when exactly they got Sucker Punch but they have never had the big success Insomniac has.
Sony consolidated their UK studios, closed one drowning in red ink & one that was closed as part of a wider reorganisation of WWS in Europe (which may or may not be Brexit related).
For those talking about buying studios, do you have any idea what a full acquisition involves? It isnt just people & IP. It involves estate issues, all back office functions, usually done substantial back-office systems integration, legacy contract & pension liabilities.
Partnerships are far better value for Sony & more importantly are better for the studios.
About this discussion on BC :
I really hope Sony doesn't give up on Remasters because of BC.
I understand ppl wanting it.
But at the same time if I had to choose one of them I would be on the Remasters side.
Unless they work a way to make BC like in PC : using the new hardware tech to make games look and run better.
If I buy a new hardware I want my software to take advantage of it...even if I have to pay again for this.
Tbh on my personal perspective I would love BC + Opcional Paid Enhaced Upgrade.
Something that Arkane did this gen : I had Dishonored for PS3 and paid US20 to upgrade my version to the Definitive on PS4.
.....Really? I can't agree. If there's BC, stop wasting money on remasters and go make games, even if they're small games. Even if I'm not interested, at least they're new games.
.....Really? I can't agree. If there's BC, stop wasting money on remasters and go make games, even if they're small games. Even if I'm not interested, at least they're new games.
By and large, these studios aren't remastering their own games. The Last of Us Remastered is one of the exceptions, though according to Naughty Dog, that experience helped with Uncharted 4. But stuff like Gravity Rush Remastered, the Nathan Drake Collection, and other stuff, it's remastered by a different company.
I'm aware. Still. Fuck that. By all means, feel free to pull a Shadow of the Colossus. Current-gen assets for a PS1-2 (and PS3 when we get to next-gen) is cool. Remasters just...bug the hell outta me lol.
I know this is not relevant to 1st Party studios but this is the thread I mainly read so might as well tell you guys
I'm not even sure if it has been announced already buy I heard they're getting ready to publish Soul Calibur 6 in Europe.
Take it with a grain of salt and all that
Edit: I heard = someone in the industry told me
I know this is not relevant to 1st Party studios but this is the thread I mainly read so might as well tell you guys
I'm not even sure if it has been announced already buy I heard they're getting ready to publish Soul Calibur 6 in Europe.
Take it with a grain of salt and all that
Edit: I heard = someone in the industry told me
Not to mention the stellar work Clever Beans/EPOS did with WipEout Omega Collection.
Ask to your source in industry if there is a chance of getting a new Ridge Racer from Bamco tooI know this is not relevant to 1st Party studios but this is the thread I mainly read so might as well tell you guys
I'm not even sure if it has been announced already buy I heard they're getting ready to publish Soul Calibur 6 in Europe.
Take it with a grain of salt and all that
Edit: I heard = someone in the industry told me
If true, hype!I know this is not relevant to 1st Party studios but this is the thread I mainly read so might as well tell you guys
I'm not even sure if it has been announced already buy I heard they're getting ready to publish Soul Calibur 6 in Europe.
Take it with a grain of salt and all that
Edit: I heard = someone in the industry told me
I know this is not relevant to 1st Party studios but this is the thread I mainly read so might as well tell you guys
I'm not even sure if it has been announced already buy I heard they're getting ready to publish Soul Calibur 6 in Europe.
Take it with a grain of salt and all that
Edit: I heard = someone in the industry told me
And I do believe that we will get Detroit before GoW launches. Feels ready, polished, playable versions are out and Playstation started to promote the game.
'They' being you mean Sony are publishing it themselves? Would be surprising if so. Obviously want a fighting game of their own, so they really ought to invest in one rather than keep buying third party exclusives.
That being said, I've always liked Soul Calibur and I hope the series isn't dead. I'm not very good at fighting games, but SC is probably my favourite after Virtua Fighter.
I honestly expected Detroit to be out by now, as it's been a long time since they revealed it. Although they've probably be better releasing it mid next year rather than between now and March, in my opinion.
'They' being you mean Sony are publishing it themselves? Would be surprising if so. Obviously want a fighting game of their own, so they really ought to invest in one rather than keep buying third party exclusives.
That being said, I've always liked Soul Calibur and I hope the series isn't dead. I'm not very good at fighting games, but SC is probably my favourite after Virtua Fighter.
I honestly expected Detroit to be out by now, as it's been a long time since they revealed it. Although they've probably be better releasing it mid next year rather than between now and March, in my opinion.
Is rdr confirmed for May? I honestly see that maybe slipping again.Yup, they still want to release GoW, Spiderman and Shadow in the first half of 2018
I think a release in January would be possible. no big titles.
May belongs to RDR2, GoW probably a March title. I have no idea when Shadow and Spiderman will be out, Days Gone a Fall game.
Yup, they still want to release GoW, Spiderman and Shadow in the first half of 2018
I think a release in January would be possible. no big titles.
May belongs to RDR2, GoW probably a March title. I have no idea when Shadow and Spiderman will be out, Days Gone a Fall game.
Is rdr confirmed for May? I honestly see that maybe slipping again.
About the acquisition talk...
Imo, if Sony is interested in any acquisition in the moment they should go with Housemarque. They ALWAYS deliver and are very efficient. They are also not huge, so I imagine they are not very expensive.
But at the same time, they have such a good partnership already with Sony (I mean, they are basically a first party studio already since every single game they release is Sony published), so idk why they would do that in the moment...
Supermassive and Quantic Dream is the same situation.
Yup, you're totally right. Sounds realistic.January has SFV Arcade Edition, Ni No Kuni II and Monster Hunter World tho, thats a lot of PS centric games.
H1 would line well with
February - SotC
March - GoW
April - Detroit
May - No first party title, its all about RDR2
June - Spider-Man
Then you would have H2 for maybe Days Gone and Dreams
its still confirmed for both Spring 2018 and FY 2019, that would leave it for either April or May.
90%Is rdr confirmed for May? I honestly see that maybe slipping again.
Nex Machina is the one exception to the publishing rule. Otherwise, yup.
EDIT: BTW, I've been meaning to ask -- is your username based on the movie?
I think everyone will be waiting til rockstar announces a RDR2 release date so they can dodge it like hell.
Then they delay it and everybody's fucked.
Devs who publish their game in the same month as R* will do, get bankrupt
God of War 3 released in the same month of RDR back in 2010 and it is to this day the biggest launch ever for a Sony title on NPD
Soul Calibur 6 would have been a great PSX surprise........
Sorry, about Soul Calibur 6 when I said "they" I didn't mean Sony.
I don't want to be too specific as to what my friend's job is, but to publish a japanese game in Europe there's some steps you have to take, and he found out about it in one of those steps.
I should have said is not related to Sony in any way, first of third party.
Is just some cool info I wanted to share with my fello sonyers, sorry for the confusion
I would still believe it be on Sony Stage, however, I could see Microsoft locking it up after the Japan trip Phill went on.
I hope not! No way
Sorry, about Soul Calibur 6 when I said "they" I didn't mean Sony.
I don't want to be too specific as to what my friend's job is, but to publish a japanese game in Europe there's some steps you have to take, and he found out about it in one of those steps.
I should have said is not related to Sony in any way, first of third party.
Is just some cool info I wanted to share with my fello sonyers, sorry for the confusion
Speaking about PSX I would suggest keeping your expectation low its just going be another E3 2017 situation we few extra niche titles. The only major new thing that most likely will show up is TLOU2 Gameplay or Sucker Punch. Sadly I don't think Kojima has anything new to share but I hope I'm wrong.
Capcom may have some few surprise in stock such as MHW Beta or first footage of REmake 2. Square Enix won't have anything sadly because there keeping Kingdom Hearts for D23 Japan. I could see Atlus showing off there new Cathrine like game there but that's a very big predictions and of course more Yakuza.
Capcom seems to have established a bit of a pattern with their major announcements.
E3 2016: Announce RE7 for early year release
PSX 2016: Announce MvC for fall release
E3 2017: Announce MH for early year release
Will be interesting to see if they show something at PSX this year. Watch their logo appear, everyone loses their shit and it's RE2 Remake -_-
It will be Multi-Platform of course but Namco has recently having a strong relationship with Microsoft. But I do hope its one of there PSX thing.
Speaking about PSX I would suggest keeping your expectation low its just going be another E3 2017 situation we few extra niche titles. The only major new thing that most likely will show up is TLOU2 Gameplay or Sucker Punch. Sadly I don't think Kojima has anything new to share but I hope I'm wrong.
Capcom may have some few surprise in stock such as MHW Beta or first footage of REmake 2. Square Enix won't have anything sadly because there keeping Kingdom Hearts for D23 Japan. I could see Atlus showing off there new Cathrine like game there but that's a very big predictions and of course more Yakuza.