450°

The Initiative is partnering with Crystal Dynamics on Perfect Dark reboot

The Initiative writes: "Perfect Dark update! We are partnering with Crystal Dynamics, the world class team behind character-driven games such as Tomb Raider, to bring this first-person spy thriller to a new generation."

981d ago Replies(9)
Orchard981d ago

Yeah… this totally came out of left field.

MastaMold981d ago

Its totally obvious that is reboot is in trouble that Microsoft has to hire a third party Dev team to help with this first party game when this game was announced what almost a year ago

gamingtext2020981d ago

That’s interesting, wasn’t the Initiative supposed to be MS’s AAAA studio?

Why do they need help from Crystal Dynamics?

In any case, we have to wait and see.

Orchard981d ago

Perhaps to speed up development?

Building a new AAA studio is hard in an industry with such a small talent pool - and COVID slowed down hiring even more so since people don’t want to have uncertainty, move or change healthcare etc.

FlavorLav01981d ago

Many companies outsource to complete a game, most don’t give a press release like this to announce the new “partnership”. Sounds to me like another MS studio doesn’t know the full direction to take their project in, and they’re bringing in an established veteran team to help guide them.

Also this game is also in early development. Nobody is rushing them to any set finish line or release date. If they’re having no troubles with the project, why not let this new All-Star team take their time and really deliver us something special like only they could 🤔?

Teflon02981d ago

Probably same reason Nintendo had Bandai assist in Smash Bros

Lightning77981d ago

With Drew Murray leaving prematurely it really did affect the development of the game. Considering he worked at CD at one point. A CD partnership is not crazy surprising considering MS history with them. Still out of left field though.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 981d ago
CaptainHenry916981d ago (Edited 981d ago )

It's the same thing I was thinking. Another thing, They announced this game a year ago, and they're still in "early development" What have they been doing? And now they're bringing in outside help to finish the game 🤔😂

To speed up early development? They can't do that by themselves? Kena just came out, and only 15 people develop the game, and it didn't take that long either with good review scores 🤔

Sayai jin981d ago

You are trting to compare a small AA studios game to a AAAA studio and game. Just stop.

crazyh0rse981d ago

it's the same thing as God of War Ragnarok getting help from valkyrie entertainment

FlavorLav01956d ago

If that was the case, where was the large PR announcement for that “partnership”. There’s a difference in development help on a ship already set sail versus help getting off the starting block, which is what Crystal Dynamics is doing for Xbox in this instance.

981d ago
rakentaja981d ago

The Initiative is not a big studio, and you probably won't be able to acquire hundreds of people in three years if you want to create something big and awesome, so all you have left is to cooperate with larger studios that already have the workforce.

chiefJohn117981d ago (Edited 981d ago )

Perhaps to work on a MP portion while the Initiative focus on the main SP Part of the game

spicelicka981d ago

Many studios get help from other studios. I don't think you understand how game development works.

moriarty1889981d ago

Also, who knows when this game will ever actually come out either. This game along with fable and Everwild have been in development for a while and NOTHING even said or shown on them. Everwild showed a little and then complete radio silence.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 956d ago
Godmars290981d ago

Wait, what is "The Initiative"? Something directly under/involving MS?

If so, why announce a reboot before having its devs lined up?

porkChop981d ago

The Initiative is a new studio that Xbox built from the ground up. They're the main dev, but Crystal Dynamics is helping them out.

Sciurus_vulgaris981d ago

I very much liked Tomb Raider (2013) and Rise of the Tomb Raider. Therefore,I personally believe, Crystal Dynamic would be good co-developer [or support studio] for the Perfect Dark reboot.

As an aside, Square Enix probably wants to make back funds lost on their Avengers title. Thus, taking a supportive, or co- development contract from MS makes sense.

Profchaos981d ago

Doubt they would have lost much Disney paid them to produce it and it still.sold really well even if it's popularity nose dived.

Sciurus_vulgaris981d ago

Or did Square Enix pay Disney for a development license? Plus, sources point to Square-Enix losing money on the Avengers ( https://www.google.com/amp/...

jznrpg981d ago

You forgot that they made the next 2 Tomb Raiders that weren’t nearly as good as the reboot

Concertoine981d ago

Not true - they made Rise of the Tomb Raider after the reboot which some argue is the best of the trilogy.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the least well received, and was made by Eidos - not Crystal Dynamics

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80°

Every PlayStation Studios game available now on Windows PC

Windows Central writes: "Many PlayStation Studios games that are ported to PC get dedicated PS5 DualSense support, which allows users to experience haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support without actually having to own a PS5.

According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, it's still the company's intent to launch the bigger single-player games on PS5 first, before later bringing the games to PC. This might not be the case for multiplayer games however, which are considered okay to launch simultaneously on console and PC."

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windowscentral.com
ocelot0713h ago

My guess is after god of war. Probably last of us 2 that's a almost 4 year old game now and by the time it's released on pc it will be more than 4 years old or close to 5.

Elda7h ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

XiNatsuDragnel6h ago

Good at least they can sell hardware

220°

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie. This is something of a homecoming, as Microsoft owns Activision.

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engadget.com
Obscure_Observer1d ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning7722h ago

I guess.

How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )

At least it wouldn't be MS of all ppl destroying them.

MS really should let go Tango go like they did TFB here.

darthv7222h ago(Edited 22h ago)

one was under Bethesda (Tango) the other under Activision (TFB). Clearly each one handled the separations of their subordinates differently.

Obscure_Observer21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

"How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )"

Perhaps because Zenimax and ABK handles such matters differently based on their own internal policies as "independent" publishers.

Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future. Which could also be the reason why they ensured an exclusive partnership with TFB and its new game, before anyone else.

Sad and disgusting. But it is what it is.

Lightning7717h ago(Edited 17h ago)

"Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future."

MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB.

It's inexcusable, they have options on how to handle studios they don't want anymore with killing jobs. Not just MS but the rest of the industry also.

Sad and disgusting sure how many will get shut down next year or this year even?

I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another.

Obscure_Observer10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

"MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB."

Imo, MS separated from TFB because they didn´t had a game associated with Xbox yet, unlike Tango.

"I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another."

Fair enough. It was indeed an epic dumb move from them to close Tango.

Still, all to be forgotten, like always have. This is not the first time a big publisher shuts down a beloved and/or successful studio out of nowhere and certainly won´t be the last. Do you remember Lionhead? Do you remember Evolution Studios? Yeah... both were beloved studios and yet, those companies kill those studios in q blink of an eye and got away with it.

anast7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

The studio boss made some money from this transaction. Once the game releases, the studio will get chopped up.

-Foxtrot1d ago

Manages to buy their freedom especially after all the shit Microsoft has been doing with its studios lately

...

Goes right back to them as partners.

Okaaaaaay...

darthv7222h ago

Id venture a guess that TFB working directly with MS was a better outcome than working through Activision to get to MS.

VersusDMC20h ago

From the article...

"Toys for Bob spun out as an indie back in February after Microsoft instituted sweeping layoffs that impacted 86 employees, which was more than half of the staff"

I doubt those 86 employees enjoyed the Microsoft experience over Activisions.

Inverno19h ago

MS shuts down studios because of lack of resources and then helps these guys by giving em resources. Also MS is what forced them to buy their freedom in the first place? What kind of logic 😂

Chevalier16h ago

The best thing is that the company that is worth $3 trillion and owns the company instead of Xbox lacks resources. How the hell does a company worth $3 trillion making a measly $70 billion purchase they 'can't' support. Lol

Sciurus_vulgaris22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

Xbox’s gaming division seems to still function as 3 semi-autonomous sub-divisions, Xbox Studios, Bethesda and ABK. The three main sub-divisions can seemingly shut down or build studios and set up partnerships independently. This would explain why Bethesda can recently shutdown studios, while ABK spins off one studio, while building a new one. Plus, Toys for Bob could be spun off by ABK, only to immediately re-partner with Microsoft.

Chevalier16h ago

That's absolutely 💯 BS. Any sane 'autonomous' company would NOT put their games on Gamepass day 1 like COD will lose probably billions.

Also they're all under Xbox game studios so any autonomy is an illusion.

PhillyDonJawn4h ago

No, I'm sure MS can and does step in when they want something done specifically but I'm also sure they let them also work independently

Elda16h ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Obscure_Observer10h ago

Don´t worry. You won´t be playing it anyway since their next game will possible be a next gen Xbox console game.

PhillyDonJawn4h ago

Right probably something like astrobot

romulus233h ago

Nah he said "uninteresting", lots of people are interested in Astro Bot.

Elda1h ago

Never Astro Bot. Astro Bot looks better than any exclusive released on XB this entire generation & believe there hasn't been much.

Asplundh1h ago

Crash 4 was good, so I'm hopeful.

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130°

What Happens to Your Steam Account When You Die?

The Outerhaven writes: While Steam has come out recently, stating that Steam accounts can't be transferred, we need to think about it since we all will eventually kick the bucket. But if Valve is denying transferring accounts, what can be done? Plenty, actually.

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theouterhaven.net
thorstein2d ago

It goes to my kids because I gave them the passwords.

To Steam: Missio has a song that conveys my feelings about you stealing my purchase after I die. It's called "Middle Fingers"

shinoff21831d 6h ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear211d 6h ago

Yeah worrying about digital ownership when you’re on the other side of the grass seems a little strange, but also on brand for these millennial journalists to worry about.

qalpha15h ago

I'm sure Keith will be happy to hear he's a millennial journalist.

Goodguy011d 10h ago

I suppose if I have kids, I'd just give em my account details by retirement age. If I die young then...idk lol.

CrimsonWing691d 7h ago

Yea, I mean just give someone the password to your account. Is that difficult to do or something? Like, I’m legit asking because I don’t know.

anast1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

It's not difficult but It's against the policy. If they find out, they will lock the account permanently.

CrimsonWing691d 4h ago

Ah ok, I had a feeling there was something like that. It seems kind of weird that you can’t just hand your account over to a family member or friend and let them take over the account.

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