750°

Why Sony Interactive Bought 'Spider-Man' Maker Insomniac Games

Hollywood Reporter - "SIE chairman Shawn Layden discusses the new deal, what it means for Insomniac's development and the company's approach to acquiring studios and talent."

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Christopher1747d ago

Because 13.1m sold is something you want to control and not have slip away when the developer decides to go off and make their own IP with Xbox or Nintendo.

I just hope part of the agreement is that Insomniac gets to make some new IPs between the other known IPs.

Majin-vegeta1747d ago

Yea dont think that will be a problem seeing as what their studios have been doing this whole gen

Christopher1747d ago

Considering what they had to do to make SSOD, doesn't really make that a true sentiment. Certain studios have been doing it, but Insomniac wasn't one of them. Hopefully Sony has been more open about it now.

darthv721747d ago

I just hope Sony lets them make a SSOD2 out of this deal. They said they wanted to make it but needed a publisher. Well.... you can't get any bigger than having Sony as the publisher.

zarbor1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Well we didn't see a problem with Sony going from the PS2 to the PS3 but it ended up being a big problem. One can only hope they don't get as arrogant since they won the last gen by a landslide.

The reason why Sony bought this studio is because they understand a very simple question of fact that Nintendo continues to enjoy in order to remain relevant. What is the difference between me and my competitors? For Sony its AAA Single Player episodic story driven games. They are so far ahead now in that arena that their competitor MS who still has no real advantage over Sony or Nintendo.

Its no different than when Sony tried to compete with Nintendo in the handheld arena and got smoked. Why? Exclusive content is king. Biggest no-brainer. MS seems to be doing a double down on the complete opposite.

Aeery1747d ago

"Why Sony Interactive Bought 'Spider-Man' Maker Insomniac Games"

Spider-man maker ?!?!?
They are the makers of R&C ... Resistance ... spidermaker is a terrible way to call them!

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1747d ago
IRetrouk1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Seems to me they will get the same freedoms the other Sony devs get.

Q. Are you concentrating on existing IP or the creation of new IP with Insomniac?

A. All the studios at Worldwide Studios manage their franchise plans and manage their IP in a way they see best. Insomniac will be no different in that way. We’ll look at what they walk into the fold with. If they have ideas around new game concepts, which every team does, we will look forward with great anticipation to what the future brings.

Q. What changes for Insomniac and your relationship now that they’re under the fold?

A. For Insomniac themselves, nothing much changes at all. They’re a fantastic studio, they deliver fantastic content. I don’t think anyone will go in there and tell them how to make a game. They certainly got game of their own. I think what Worldwide Studios provides to them is a closer relationship to the innovation — whether it’s in technology or game design that we’re doing here. We’ve got a number of teams with extraordinary talent in game creation. We’re in a place now where all of our teams are trading technology and techniques and innovation across studios to get better and stronger. I think there’s only additive natures to it. There’s nothing there that will change their culture or their ability to deliver the fabulous games they’ve been doing for 20 years.

LiViNgLeGaCY1747d ago

That's awesome. Such wonderful news.

Christopher1747d ago

That sounds great. Thanks.

ziggurcat1747d ago

Sony has a history of supporting new IPs from their 1st party studios. Otherwise we wouldn't have seen TLoU, Horizon Zero Dawn, or Ghost of Tsushima. Insomniac is a proven studio, so I don't think it would be any different in that regard.

Christopher1747d ago

Insomniac's own SSOD gets ignored in that list of yours? Did it take Spider-Man for them to become a proven studio?

jukins1747d ago

Why would he mention ssod when talking about SONY FIRST PARTY STUDIOS?

ziggurcat1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Insomniac was a proven studio long before they ever made Spider-Man. They have decades of solid games, including SSoD, under their belt.

Christopher1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

***Why would he mention ssod when talking about SONY FIRST PARTY STUDIOS?***

woof! That's some goal post moving!

Insomniac approached Sony with SSoD first. They were not interested.

Insomniac had to go elsewhere to make the game.

Meaning if they were first party, Sony would have nixed the idea all together. They wouldn't have had the freedom to branch out unless Sony approved of it.

C'mon people, at least accept the history as it is. There was a moment when Sony didn't trust an idea of
Insomniacs and they went elsewhere. Now they are back with a stronger relationship than ever. Lets not try to act like everything has worked out and Sony has always supported them. We know what happened and it doesn't mean Sony is bad. It is what it is and we all want the best for both.

l especially care that Insomniac is given the freedom I think they deserve and that Sony didn't trust the one time before.

Outside_ofthe_Box1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

@Christopher

* * * "
Insomniac approached Sony with SSoD first. They were not interested.

Insomniac had to go elsewhere to make the game.

Meaning if they were first party, Sony would have nixed the idea all together. They wouldn't have had the freedom to branch out unless Sony approved of it.

C'mon people, at least accept the history as it is. There was a moment when Sony didn't trust an idea of
Insomniacs and they went elsewhere." * * *

???

Huh?

Thought it was because Sony wanted to own the IP but Insomniac wanted to retain the rights, as opposed to what you're saying which is Sony not liking/trusting the idea altogether?

I'm too lazy to google and confirm, but that's what popped in my mind when remembering why SSOD was exclusive to Xbox instead of Playstation.

ziggurcat1747d ago

"Insomniac approached Sony with SSoD first. They were not interested."

Sony passed on SSoD because Insomniac wanted to retain ownership rights, not because they weren't keen on the idea.

"Meaning if they were first party, Sony would have nixed the idea all together."

Well, no because Sony would be the owners of the IP, and ownership was the reason why they passed on SSoD.

"C'mon people, at least accept the history as it is. There was a moment when Sony didn't trust an idea of Insomniacs and they went elsewhere."

That's not the history, though.

Christopher1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Here, I'll find it for you:

""Wasn’t about money, was about our controlling and owning the IP, and their belief and desire to execute our vision with us.""

And their belief and desire to execute our vision with us...

Sony never owned QD IPs, but they threw money at them. Same with SFV. But the really long time team of Insomniac and they didn't have the "belief and desire to execute [their] vision."

Outside_ofthe_Box1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Oh boy not this again.... Don't want to do a lengthy back and forth so I'll try to address what I have to say in one post.

Link? Does your source specifically sight Sony as not having the "desire" to their vision? Or is this general speak?

From what I found:

https://www.ign.com/article...

IP ownership seems to be the main talking point here. Even states that how most conversation with publishers begin and end with IP ownership and how some of the conversations with other publishers broke down over it.

Yeah it doesn't say Sony specifically turned them down for that reason either, but they constantly bring up IP ownership being important to them, point out that conversations with other pubs broke down over IP ownership, and how MS allowing them to retain the IP became "a conversation point."

Seems like that was the major factor on why MS won them over. Don't know if Sony specifically turned the idea altogether don't even know if Sony was wiling to allow them to retain IP ownership either, but they were highlighting IP ownership throughout when talking about pitching to pubs

rainslacker1747d ago

I thought sony didnt publish ssod because they wanted the ip rights, which was common practice for them, but insomniac wanted to retain them. Sony wasnt against funding the game itself, just the two couldn't come to terms on the contract

darthv721747d ago

So... what you guys are saying is that Sony will only buy a studio if THEY can own all the IP's that are made. Is that right?

And yes we all know that IG wanted to retain ownership of SSOD but Sony wouldnt go for it so they went to MS and Ms agreed to publish while IG retained ownership of the IP.

Is Sony going to change now that IG is part of the fold? Is IG still the owner of the IP or is it back to the old Sony owns you, Sony owns your work?

Sevir1747d ago

@Christopher.

When they announced that they would explore Multiplatform development, Ted Price was quoted several times that the studio was looking to own the IPs they've Developed.

And during that time EA became a partner while controlling, allowed them to forge a deal in which Insomniac would retain ownership of Fuze if they changed the aspects of the original concept to suit EA's Shareholders. That's why Overstrike became Fuze, and why Insomniac never worked with EA again because of how controlling they were with that development.

Microsoft was also happy to have Insomniac develop an IP on their platform simply because they knew how good Insomniac were, and they allowed exclusive distribution and publishing across Windows and Xbox, two platforms with a big audience in exchange for the game never coming on another console, while Insomniac was able to retain creative control and ownership of the IP. Ted has gone on record saying this.

He's never ever said Sony didnt believe in it. Or cared. For their business at the time, IP ownership was something they wanted.

They've got 4 or 6 IPs they owned before becoming First Party, Edge of Nowhere, The Unspoken, Stormland, Song of the Deep, Fuze/Overstrike, SSOD. They've set out to develop and curate their own IPs and own them outright, they've done that through publishing partnerships with MS, Oculus, GameStop and EA. They've now got equity in those IPs making them an attractive buy to Sony.

Get your facts straight

ziggurcat1746d ago

@darth:

What an egregious leap in logic.

Bronxs151746d ago

Don’t forget after ps2 uncharted was new ip for ND. And and after say copper infamous was new ip. Like you said horizon zero dawn after killzone. That’s one of the things I love most about Sony always something new ever gen.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 1746d ago
hulk_bash19871747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

They've been trying to acquire Insomniac since the PS3 generation. IG at the time, stated they loved being independent. But I'm glad they were able to finally come together. I look forward to the future of Insomniac as a SWW Studios developer.

sampsonon1747d ago

ask ND,GG,SP,SB about being allowed to make new IP's.

Christopher1747d ago

Do remember they left Sony to make SSOD... But iRetouk's post above makes this to be a good outcome.

sampsonon1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

@Christopher:

REASON they won't have that problem any longer.

"We pitched it a few different places, and it was really important to [Insomniac CEO] Ted [Price] that we own the IP, so some of the conversations broke down over that," Smith admitted. "With Microsoft, they just came in very energetic and excited to work with Insomniac, period. And we'd heard some really good things about them and some resources that they would be allowing us to have."

Insomniac's obsession with owning its own IP started with its co-op shooter Fuse, and comes from a long legacy of making famous franchises -- like Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, and Resistance -- that it doesn’t own. "Most publisher conversations begin and end with IP ownership," Murray said candidly, "and I think [Microsoft] has been talking to Ted for a while, and at some point it was like, 'you can retain the IP,' and suddenly, it was a conversation point."

Have a nice day :)

jznrpg1747d ago

Sony generally lets the studios make their own roadmap . New IPs get pitched and approved or nixed in the early planning stages.

hawkeyejonjon1747d ago

The thing with SSOD was Insomniac wanted to own the IP and the only way Sony would pay for it is if they own the IP which Insomniac didn't want so they went to Microsoft to keep the rights to themselves. It wasn't the fact that Sony wouldn't support New IP's from them, it was the fact about IP ownership(which is kind of ironic since Sony now owns them and the SSOD IP).

badz1491747d ago

seriously, why is Insomniac = Spider-man now with all these damn journos?? Insomniac is bestowed with the Spidey IP, they didn't "made" it! "MAKER" my a$$! call the the Ratchet & Clank Maker PLEASE!

I was not fortunate enough to buy a PS1 back then for me to experience Spyro back then but I fell in love with Insomniac with R&C since the beginning. and it's the IP they are still making games for until now too. so...NO, not Spidey, but R&C!

Direct4441747d ago

You know Sony treating their First Party game pretty well.

gamer78041747d ago

I highly doubt insomniac will be making anything other than Spiderman 2 for next gen

Bathyj1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Did you read the interview?

"All the studios at Worldwide Studios manage their franchise plans and manage their IP in a way they see best."

This is why a developer like Guerrilla gets to leave behind their bread and butter franchise and make a game like Horizon. Why Naughty Dog can put a heralded series like Uncharted on the shelf to make The Last of Us.

Quite simply this is why Sony is the best first party publisher to work for. I can't wait to see what insomniac decide on their own to make next.

Edit"
Sorry didn't mean to sound catty.

rainslacker1747d ago

Sony has wanted to buy them for a while. I think they just want another quality studio in their ranks.

2pacalypsenow1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

"Are you concentrating on existing IP or the creation of new IP with Insomniac?

All the studios at Worldwide Studios manage their franchise plans and manage their IP in a way they see best. Insomniac will be no different in that way. We’ll look at what they walk into the fold with. If they have ideas around new game concepts, which every team does, we will look forward with great anticipation to what the future brings."

Sharius1747d ago

they have the IP, pretty sure they are already in control of that sale number, that 13 mils more likely a bait to seal a deal with insomaniac, they are on a fence for quite a few year now, so sony just give them a push

mkis0071747d ago

Quick correction for you: sony does own QD ips except for heavy rain.

Christopher1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Only publisher rights on PS4. QD owns them and is taking them to PC. So, no.

https://www.guru3d.com/news...

mkis0071746d ago (Edited 1746d ago )

Um look at the epic store at the bottom of each page. Still owned by sony. Sony gets its due for licensing. Why would ps4 publishing rights ownership appear on a pc page...they wouldnt.

Sevir1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Please... Spider-Man's success only under scores the purchase. The reality is their greatest success has come from Sony. They've made 11 exclusive games in 20+ years of developing games on PlayStation .13 PS games if you count fuze and song of the deep.

Their Multiplatform business has helped them keep there teams busy with EA, MS, GameStop and Oculus, but their PlayStation Centric business has kept the studio's lights on and even gotten them to expand into NC with a second studio.

It really was the smartest partnership 20 years 4 franchises all of them have sold in excess of over 1.5 million units. They're latest exclusive becoming their biggest selling game ever.

They know PlayStation gamers buy their games. So here we are. Theyve got a stable of IPs they can manage and work on under Sony with 4 teams. 2 big AAA teams in their Burbank and NC studios and VR team in Burbank and a small team in NC that worked on Song the Deep... That kind of team structure and that kind portfolio, touches on every platform avenue Sony has that they can contribute to and enrich.

The VR team can start prototyping on the Next Gen PSVR since they're passionate about high fidelity VR experiences. The AAA teams can reboot Resistance, Continue Ratchet and Clank, further explore Fuze and Sunset Overdrive, and dive deeper into Spider-Man's universe, or come up with a new IP, their small team can rapidly sequelize Song of the Deep on PSN and make money or even do a new small IP.

They're versaitle and flexible and are one of the few independent studios that have managed to survive and thrive independently in this volatile industry and Sony has been the one to give them the means to grow unilaterally to the studio powerhouse that they are now. So hell yeah, they became a PS developer exclusively and they will grow exponentially to something amazing because of that.

Eonjay1747d ago

Of course they are free. That is the WWS way. I think we all know that by now. The caveat is that while they will do their own thing, they just sold 13 million copies of Spiderman. So of course they are going to resit that in between projects.

TheHan1746d ago

Just saying, the main reason it sold so much as a exclusive is that it was a new iP and that it was a very well made game. A sequel may not demand the same number of sales. Though it’s the best Spider-Man game I’ve ever played.

+ Show (15) more repliesLast reply 1746d ago
rob-GP1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

Probably also so that MS doesn't try and swoop in and offer a stupid amount, like they did with Minecraft, in hopes of pulling the studio and it's owned IPs away from other platforms going forward.

When one studio is actively out acquiring studios and talent, it would be stupid for Sony to sit there and do nothing.

neutralgamer19921747d ago

MS did offer a stupid amount but sometimes it's not all about money. Sony offered insomiac less than MS but still a lot. Insomniac felt they belong with ps brand and fans since they tried EA and MS and really didn't make much of an impact

their last 2 games ratchet and clank remake and spiderman became the best selling games in company's history

MS is also after bluepoint but they will also join playstation world wide studios because when no one believed in them sony did and to this day sony keeps giving them more work

QD have an open door policy with sony anytime they feel like it's time to become part of WWS they can come back and sony will welcome them back

jukins1747d ago

Definitely agree Microsoft sniffing around any available studio had a little something to do with this acquisition.

@neutralgamer1992 how do you know what was offered by either company?

ApocalypseShadow1747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

It was a smart move to purchase a developer that makes games with mass appeal for core gamers and casual with the likes of games like Spider-Man.

With the sales like that on one platform for a Disney/Marvel property, you can expect more deals and opportunities to come. Sony can present sales numbers and say "look at our platform FIRST if you want to reach a wide audience" with other Marvel games in the future.

That's how they sell consoles. Make exclusives that capture many parts of the gaming community worldwide. I suspect their next developer purchase will be at the level of Insomniac and doing the same thing. Worldwide appeal with their Worldwide Studios.

Who's next on the purchasing block and exclusives? I'd go after Capcom for next Gen exclusives, purchase Blue Point for remastered games, purchase Survios(Raw Data,Creed, Sprint Vector, Electronauts) for VR if they're interested, Impulse Gear(Farpoint) and First Contact Interactive(Firewall Zero Hour).

With other large companies jumping in like Verizon, AT&T, Google, etc. Sony's going to need more developers that reach everybody.

Majin-vegeta1747d ago

I'd prefer arc systems for their fighting genre

TheOptimist1747d ago

You can't appeal core gamers and casuals at the same time.

It is one or the other when it comes to SP games. That's what I feel anyways. Mass appeal always means targeting the casual consumer.

neutralgamer19921747d ago

this is just one just wait

kojima and bluepoint are pretty much done. Kojima met with sony WWS head and sony ceo in july

sony has much bigger plans that will truly shock gamers just wait till reveal of ps5

when i originally posted months back about insomniac i was laughed at. Remember that sony world wide studio log that leaked with kojima on it along with insomniac yet sony denied it as accidental

a big publisher will became part of sony world wide studios(if not 2) one japanese one western both own some amazing IP's

UltraNova1747d ago

Doubt Kojima but Bluepoint is a given. What are your sources?

ibrake4naps1747d ago

I'm excited to see what Insomniac make for psvr2! They made the excellent Edge of Nowhere and the upcoming Stormland!

Bronxs151746d ago (Edited 1746d ago )

I vote for moon studio. For all the variety in ps library they don’t have a 2d platformer like ori and the blind forest (Xbox) or even something like donkey Kong country (Wii u pt2 aka switch)

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1746d ago
AspiringProGenji1747d ago

The question should be, why didn’t it happen sooner?

AngelicIceDiamond1747d ago

Internet ppl think these things happen overnight. These deals and buy outs are talked about years in advance, Not within few days, weeks or even months. Plus Insomniac will be making next gen PS5 games. So the timing imo is perfect.

Christopher1747d ago

Because Insomniac wanted to remain Independent. I thought this was well known.

neutralgamer19921747d ago

sony offered to buy them many times but insomniac refused but like i been saying for years now the development cost is becoming so high that publishers much rather spend that money in house(hence why ms bought all the studios) so the choice was to stay independent and who knows where the industry goes or become part of MS(for stupid amount of money) or for sony with a bit less stupid amount of money but more creative freedom

What changes for Insomniac and your relationship now that they’re under the fold?

For Insomniac themselves, nothing much changes at all. They’re a fantastic studio, they deliver fantastic content. I don’t think anyone will go in there and tell them how to make a game. They certainly got game of their own. I think what Worldwide Studios provides to them is a closer relationship to the innovation — whether it’s in technology or game design that we’re doing here. We’ve got a number of teams with extraordinary talent in game creation. We’re in a place now where all of our teams are trading technology and techniques and innovation across studios to get better and stronger. I think there’s only additive natures to it. There’s nothing there that will change their culture or their ability to deliver the fabulous games they’ve been doing for 20 years

Are you concentrating on existing IP or the creation of new IP with Insomniac?

All the studios at Worldwide Studios manage their franchise plans and manage their IP in a way they see best. Insomniac will be no different in that way. We’ll look at what they walk into the fold with. If they have ideas around new game concepts, which every team does, we will look forward with great anticipation to what the future brings

this is why they agreed to join ps over xbox(they know they can trust ps but who knows who will lead xbox and how the new head may make changes)

Knushwood Butt1747d ago

You write like you have insider information.

I'm curious about what you wrote about Bluepoint.

neutralgamer19921747d ago

Wait for next few conferences

Instead of announcing everything at once Sony will spread it out over months leading up to a huge announcement at reveal of Ps5

That take two rumor wasn't false that's all I will say

UltraNova1747d ago

neutralgamer1992

Take Two??? Damnnn. How on Earth did MS and their deep pockets allow this to go under their radar?

kneon1747d ago

The success of Spiderman likely also meant they could ask for more money. Maybe the previous offers just weren't high enough.

neutralgamer19921746d ago

Ultra

Because playstation executives have more freedom to spend on acquisition than Phil and Xbox.

Playstation is sonny's bread and butter they realized that during this Gen while Xbox is a nice side thing for ms. They don't depend on Xbox like Sony depends now and moving forward on playstation

If given the option if money is similar most will choose to be part of world wide studios

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1746d ago
neutralgamer19921747d ago (Edited 1747d ago )

What changes for Insomniac and your relationship now that they’re under the fold?

For Insomniac themselves, nothing much changes at all. They’re a fantastic studio, they deliver fantastic content. I don’t think anyone will go in there and tell them how to make a game. They certainly got game of their own. I think what Worldwide Studios provides to them is a closer relationship to the innovation — whether it’s in technology or game design that we’re doing here. We’ve got a number of teams with extraordinary talent in game creation. We’re in a place now where all of our teams are trading technology and techniques and innovation across studios to get better and stronger. I think there’s only additive natures to it. There’s nothing there that will change their culture or their ability to deliver the fabulous games they’ve been doing for 20 years

Are you concentrating on existing IP or the creation of new IP with Insomniac?

All the studios at Worldwide Studios manage their franchise plans and manage their IP in a way they see best. Insomniac will be no different in that way. We’ll look at what they walk into the fold with. If they have ideas around new game concepts, which every team does, we will look forward with great anticipation to what the future brings

this in itself is why sony as a publisher is great. kojima and bluepoint to follow along with some japanese studios that be announced at TGS/PSX

BTW shawn let me make it easy Insomniac owns the SSOD IP and now you own it. The same applies to outer world for ms even thought take two will be the publisher the developer still own the IP meaning ms does

time to release original SSOD on ps4 and see how easily it will sell

XabiDaChosenOne1747d ago

Interesting theories that dont seem to far fetched. Where are you getting your sources from bruh?

neutralgamer19921747d ago

Can't confirm nor deny

Theories no news yes will be revealed over the next few conferences

Show all comments (104)
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."

Read Full Story >>
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

300°

Trying to push players over from PC to console is a terrible idea, PlayStation

As PlayStation announces its new strategy to encourage PC users to choose PS5 it is a bitter-sweet moment for PC gamers.

Christopher1d 3h ago

I mean, it's a business based on hardware market. Do we expect them to not even try? It's not like Nintendo doesn't do the same by not putting any games on PC and Microsoft until recently did the same. I don't care what they attempt, as long as they don't abuse the community or lie about their goals/requirements.

Will it work? Not likely. Should we care? No. Let them waste their time, it doesn't affect anything.

RaidenBlack1d 3h ago

let them try ... at the end of the day, we get few extra PC games ... yay ... and also promotes game preservation via PC ... so double yay.

LordoftheCritics10h ago

If only Playstation games provided the ease of pc gaming features.

Primary being very few PS games support m/kb.

Christopher3h ago

If only PC games supported controllers more. Main reason I play primarily on console. So many games have shit support on PC. Playing Dark Envoy now, and it's quite frustrating since I have to switch to keyboard during cut scenes just to make sure advancing conversation doesn't also auto-select a decision. Let alone it's quite rough to select between characters and inventory screens are bad bad bad.

Anywho, similar complaints for both I find. But, I 100% agree that both PC and consoles should support both as best as possible.

LordoftheCritics1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

I don't think you understand what I mean by the lack of m/kb support on PS.

Over a thousand titles have PS controller support on PC.

Not even 30 titles have m/kb support on PS5.

Once you are done with the single player title, you'll go back to playing your daily shooter/looter/mmo etc which the pc gamer has mastered with their mouse and keyboard.
Why would any pc gamer make the switch?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1h ago
Fishy Fingers1d 2h ago (Edited 1d 2h ago )

I wish them the best of luck.

But PC players are often a patient bunch, many will even wait for Epic launcher exclusivity to end until a game comes to Steam.

If they didnt buy the console when its games were exclusive, why would they do it now theyre not?

MrNinosan12h ago

Way more do than you probably think.

ravens5212h ago

All you need is that one game that'll make a few switch at a time. Like a game a PC player REALLY wants.

outsider16248h ago

I mean if there's 10 million pc gamers out there...getting atleast just 1 million from there is probably a good thing..right?

romulus236h ago

PC players are not a monolith, I don't know why people keep thinking they speak for the entirety of all PC gamers like they all know each other personally. You think out of the millions of PC gamers not one single person will be impatient?Well Sony is willing to bet there will be. Why would they do it now? People's feelings change and new PC gamers come along all the time that may also feel different about waiting, that's why.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 6h ago
-Foxtrot1d 2h ago

PC gamers are just too patient and loyal to their gaming set ups, something they've spent a lot of money on to perfect. They have backlogs of games which many never get round to finishing or get round to at all and will always have other multiplatform releases to keep them going.

Over the many years Sony has published so many awesome titles such as The Last of Us, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Infamous, Killzone, LittleBigPlanet, Dreams, Puppeteer, Resistance, Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo, Motor Storm, God of War, Horizon, Ratchet and Clank, Spiderman, Ghost of Tsushima, Bloodborne

If none of those games BEFORE all these PC ports convinced a hardcore PC gamer to get a PS5 console then why on Earth would porting them them to PC now make any difference? All PC gamers now know 100% is that they just have to be patient, which they are good at anyway to get a PS5 game 2 years later.

I get GaaS games or multiplayer focused titles but if people really want to play these games they'd have gotten a PS console years ago.

Crows909h ago

Not sure they're aiming to convince the hardcore PC gamer.

Not sure why people are obsessing over his comment...it seems pretty simple to me.

He will do all he can to entice gamers to move to his ecosystem. As you say....exclusives existing hasn't moved many gamers over. But if they get to try them and love the games then they might change their mind about waiting 2 years.

We're in an echo chamber on this site...I've Personally seen people with Xbox and PC setups but no PlayStation. I've also seen people with small PC setups but no console. Not every pc gamer invests thousands and many may decide to put one in the living room.

They're not looking to convince all of players to buy a PlayStation...just a few...and really it is just a PR statement after all...they have to give a reason why single player won't release day 1....not to mention they also have to ensure current PlayStation gamers don't jump ship to PC. It goes both ways and they're ignoring the big L by putting any of their games off their platform.

anast7h ago

"Not sure they're aiming to convince the hardcore PC gamer."

Right here

Kakashi Hatake8h ago

PC gamers think tomorrow is promised. Sorry, don't have time for that.

Michiel19897h ago

it's not just about loyalty or sunk cost, pc is an open platform while consoles are closed platforms. If you for example want to mod, you will play on pc, no question about it. Also if you like indie games, steam is a fucking goldmine for that. I've been playing a lot of indie games over the last years and there just seems to be an endless amount of them on steam. Also not having games locked to a certain fps is a prettty big deal for me and I assume a lot of other pc players.

Walalon5h ago

And don't forget steam sales, you can get a ton of games on an awesome price.

romulus235h ago

And how do you know out of the millions of PC gamers that not one single person ever went ahead and bought a PlayStation console for one or more of those games? People keep speaking for the entirety of millions of PC gamers like they know them all personally. Here's one example for you, I'm currently typing on a recently purchased PC that cost me over twenty five hundred dollars and is more than capable of running any game including Sony exclusives that come to PC and yet I still bought a PS5 so apparently I'm not patient or loyal enough to my set up, hope it's not mad at me for not being loyal.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5h ago
helicoptergirl1d 1h ago

Who cares? Then just stay on PC and play the waiting game. No big deal. Sony wins in the end anyway.

Number1TailzFan1d 1h ago

I mean if there's any single player Sony games that I actually want that aren't on PC then I would buy said console to play them on. But the ones that I like that aren't on PC are few and far between anyway so no loss for me.

If I game, it's usually multiplayer titles, otherwise I like playing around with some other software.

Amplitude3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Astro Bot is the game that just did it for me. I'm gonna have to grab a PS5 again for that.

I did this for Ratchet Rift Apart too but ended up selling the PS5 after getting my plat. Rebought it on PC and other than GoW Ragnarok and Horizon FW (which eventually I could get anyway), I haven't had a reason to downgrade my graphics, controller features, ease of recording, and increase my game costs and monthly subscriptions throughout this entire generation.

I play on a TV with a controller but this has been the absolute worst console gen for both consoles. Never in my life thought I'd be a PC gamer but I've been spoiled by the cheap costs, cross-platform controllers and mostly the unbelievably useful Steam controller config.

Show all comments (54)
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.

Read Full Story >>
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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