370°

It looks like Perfect Dark has lost its game director

Dan Neuburger is The Initiative's second major design departure in a year.

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videogameschronicle.com
Orchard811d ago

The reality is this is extremely common in this industry. People jump around all the time, because it’s such a small industry with a limited pool of talent you’re almost always guaranteed a promo or pay rise by jumping around.

The thing that is weird here is that he appears to have departed without having a new role elsewhere, so perhaps his departure wasn’t his own choice.

isarai811d ago

No it's not "extremely common" to have the game director leave mid project, nor is it a "small industry with a limited pool of talent". Gaming is literally the 2nd biggest entertainment industry on the planet.

Orchard811d ago (Edited 811d ago )

Except it is. Turnover in this industry is high due to crunch/work conditions, dev cycles being long and the fact that everyone always has open positions, so that’s how you get more money / level up easily.

More common for lower level staff than directors sure, but still common. I’ve seen it happen many times.

It might be the 2nd biggest entertainment industry but the number of skilled workers in the industry is relatively small, you always end up working with people you already worked with before when moving companies.

But like I said, this one is weird because people normally have their next gig lined up before leaving their current.

tombfan810d ago

Haven't seen a lot of games changing director mid game and the ones that does usually means that are not going well.

Godmars290811d ago

"Extremely common" seemingly to MS projects.

SurgicalMenace811d ago

That's more like it. Doesn't seem like old MS can catch a break. Almost like they don't know 2hat they're doing.

Aarontk810d ago

Except you’re seeing what you want to see, confirmational bias.
Sony San Diego lost its creative director and we don’t even know what project they were working on.
The Days Gone director left and spoke about their frustration with Sony.
The director for ps5’s demon souls left.

That’s just three that come to mind. This site gravitates toward news that is potentially Xbox negative. Sometimes new directors on a project are a good thing. Sometimes bad too.

elazz810d ago

@Aarontk. Except The Days Gone director finished a game that after a rough launch received quite some praise after updates. He left after the game got on shelves. Any other projects he might have been involved in at the time would be early pre production at best. So not a similar situation as this Perfect Dark guy.

Godmars290810d ago

@Aarontk:
Sony's known for putting out a decent stream of well regarded games. MS doesn't. That they lose people on what unreleased projects they do have planned just makes it worse.

darthv72810d ago

@god, just so everyone is clear... you're saying when people leave Sony studios it's okay because Sony pumps out more games on a regular basis.

Got it. Thanks

Godmars290810d ago

@darthv72:

I said, in regards to volume and quality, Sony is better regarded than MS. That if they lose people mid project, something I doubt there are examples of, its not as big of a deal.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 810d ago
DarXyde811d ago

Hm, maybe. I kinda feel like there's a pattern. If I recall the project timeline (and correct me if I make any mistakes, I'm going off memory)...

First, we heard of something being worked on at The Initiative.

Then, Perfect Dark is announced, followed by Drew Murray leaving The Initiative.

Crystal Dynamics is onboarded, and we're now learning about the second big departure.

I don't think there are any issues with the game materializing, but my take is that there are some serious constraints that people don't like. Based on the aforementioned timeline, I kind of think there were disagreements about what would be the maiden game for the studio. Given Murray's roots at a creative studio like Insomniac, I suspect he wanted a new IP and that got ripped from his hands. He left on good terms, but who really knows?

I also suspect that Microsoft mentioning that they are "partnering with" Crystal Dynamics really means "they're the veterans, guys. Listen to them." And some infighting has ensued. It seems not improbable given this Neuburger lad previously worked for CD and may have left BECAUSE of their leadership style. If so, I think it means control of the project was wrestled from The Initiative, perhaps with Spencer's approval.

I don't really know, honestly. Is it strange for a "AAAA studio" to lose talent? I mean... People change jobs often enough in the gaming industry, but we're also talking about a studio that's effectively touted as being visionary and next-level. It feels off to have key personnel losses for what felt like a careful curation of talent.

I've long thought it might be problematic to have too many chefs in the kitchen, and there's no certainty that I'm right. I'm just saying that it does seem odd.

Crows90811d ago

Usually lower level employees change jobs often. Not directors.

Rimeskeem811d ago

The only other director I know leaving a game mid development in the last 5 years was Jeff Kaplan and that was a HUGE deal.

Crows90811d ago

Say what you want but I don't know if any game that's switched directors and ended up being any good. Usually directors will stay when they like a project.

Profchaos810d ago (Edited 810d ago )

No not common at all being a small talent pool of you can't stick out and deliver a project everyone knows about it.

When this happens it's a bad sign

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 810d ago
Shadowsteal811d ago

Managing 40 studios is easier said than done. Especially when Microsoft had such a difficult time managing 5 not so long ago.

esherwood811d ago

That’s what I was thinking. These companies are valued high now but who knows what they’ll be after a couple bad games. Xbox got a lot of pressure to make sure they don’t lose all that money

VersusDMC811d ago

They end up making xbox avatars like Rare?

But don't really think developers have to worry about being closed as the gamepass quality standard isn't that high and sales numbers don't matter as much. Just pump the games out.

derek811d ago

Microsoft will continue to mismanage their gaming division because there is no pressure on them to improve, it just not that important to the company as a whole. Maybe that will change with the company spending 80 billion to buy up game publishers/studios which isn't an insignificant amount of money even to a company the size of Microsoft.

jznrpg811d ago

It was supposed to be AAAA and now it doesn’t have a director . Overhyping a studio and especially a game before it even in production is a really bad idea . But that’s what MS does . I was at Target today and saw an Xbox display today . It says fastest most powerful console , but it’s definitely not the fastest and theoretical power is nice and all but it’s losing in fps for most games . That doesn’t make it a bad machine but if anyone is informed it will make them think twice before buying it because they aren’t marketing games and they aren’t marketing the truth . PS5 went for speed Xbox went for raw power so it can’t be both but they claim they win in everything which is sad really . It’s the reason why Xbox is so off putting to me , BS makes it stink.
And their fans pump out the same stuff like , game directors leaving before a game is released is common and normal but it isn’t unless the game is having a rough production .

esherwood811d ago

Who gives a crap what the fans do lol. Your not buying into a culture or something. Something tells me your one of those people

Godmars290811d ago

Except that's exactly what Game Pass is suppose to be: Gaming culture you just *happen* to pay for.

VersusDMC811d ago

Everyone is going to defend everything happening to this game behind the scenes and when it comes out Mediocre they will throw out the gamepass defence...

Michiel1989811d ago

and when it comes out good you will throw out the gamepass defense as well.

alb1899811d ago

If the game turn to be Bad it will be a shame, and a lost of money for MS.....just that. You guys try to make from everything a world end scenario.

MadLad811d ago

There's people who WANT it to come out mediocre.
Just like there were people who WANTED Infinite to come out mediocre.

Crows90811d ago

@michiel
There's no game pass defence if it comes out good. And that point it's a matter of success in sales.

@tedcruz
Nobody wants games to be bad. They simply are and infinite is nothing special. The campaign is mediocre at best. Sure you can play around in that open world but that's not really part of the story or main missions which is completely mediocre and in some cases just bad.

The multiplayer is the best part but the live service crap is the big problem.

Michiel1989811d ago

@crows there is, dont you see what being said 24/7 on here? when there is only something remotely good being said about ms the sony camp says: GP bad for the industry with nothing else to back it up besides them seeming happy Sony is charging more money for their games in the biggest entertainment industry on the globe. Its not that they are starved for cash or cant invest enough in their new games, its because they can.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 811d ago
HardKnockKid24811d ago

I think if you look up all the multi platform games that have launched thus far you’ll see that while “most” is probably accurate, it’s not by the margin you think. And dude, if Xbox is “off-putting” for you just don’t buy it. You clicked in to comment on a game that is Xbox exclusive. Clearly there’s SOME interest there.

SurgicalMenace811d ago

I've got a SX but with all the "most powerful" talk, what example is there to prove it? GP, BC, Quick Resume, etc don't show power at all. Who brags about power then pats themselves on the back for having the largest legacy collection available on any console. You damn well better be able to play games from older consoles well. All I'm asking for is a reason to use my SX outside of BC, GP, Quick Resume, or any other gimmick besides playing next generation experiences. I purchased your system, MS, now deliver anything to show its worth it.

MadLad811d ago

Most fun I've had with an FPS campaign in a long time. Sitting at an 87 on Metacritic. Long time fans more or less unanimously feel it's the best form the multiplayer has been since 3.

If that's your standard for mediocrity, your standards must be disgustingly high.

The game's issues is lack of multiplayer content had right now, and a terrible UI for the multiplayer.

Ausbo810d ago

The reason they can get away with the “fastest console is because they are talking about RAM. The PS5 has the faster hard drive for sure, but Microsoft has the higher RAM speeds.

Is it false? No.
Is it a little misleading? Yeah sure. Especially since the customer will notice the hard drive speeds over everything.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 810d ago
slowgamer811d ago

If you can't take the heat, don't climb inside the oven.

Eonjay811d ago

As a developer myself, the idea of working in an oven is undesirable. Putting your employees inside of a pressure cooker is not best practice lol.

PitbullMonster811d ago

Imagine Cory Barlog left during the development of God of war or Neil Druckmann during the development of The last of us or Kojima during the development of Death Stranding.
This is nothing to downplay and not that common.

BrainSyphoned811d ago

Doubt Kojima is going to leave Kojima Productions

Godmars290811d ago

Was saw what happened to Metal Gear 5 when Kojima left that. What became of the franchise afterwards.

Thegr81811d ago (Edited 811d ago )

Those are studio heads. The studio head Darrell ghalager is still there. Also naughty dog did lose its original director for the last of us 2. Amy Hennig was the director and she quit do to a disagreement of the direction of the game.

elazz810d ago

Amy Henning was in pre production for Uncharted 4 while Neil and Bruce were working on The Last of Us. She wasn't the director of the last of us. And I'm not even sure if she was the director for uncharted 4 since they were still pitching and writing.

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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."

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
ocelot0712h 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.

Elda6h ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

XiNatsuDragnel5h ago

Good at least they can sell hardware

210°

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_Observer23h ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning7721h 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.

darthv7221h ago(Edited 20h ago)

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

Obscure_Observer20h ago(Edited 20h 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.

Lightning7716h ago(Edited 16h 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_Observer9h ago(Edited 9h 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.

anast6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

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

-Foxtrot23h 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...

darthv7220h ago

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

VersusDMC19h 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.

Inverno18h 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 😂

Chevalier15h 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_vulgaris20h ago(Edited 20h 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.

Chevalier15h 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.

PhillyDonJawn3h 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

Elda15h ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Obscure_Observer9h ago

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

PhillyDonJawn2h ago

Right probably something like astrobot

romulus232h ago

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

Elda37m ago

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

Asplundh8m 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 5h ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear211d 5h 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.

qalpha14h ago

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

Goodguy011d 9h 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 6h 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 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

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

CrimsonWing691d 3h 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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