From a conference call held with Take 2's CFO last week:
"The first 25 million is for the first episodic content package that 's supposed to go out and that is in March of '08. That's why it moved into current because it's in the next 12 months. The second 25 will be for the second episodic, the episode, and that will be later in fiscal '08."
"The sudden closure of several video-game studios at Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox division was the result of a widespread cost-cutting initiative that still isn’t finished.
This week, Xbox began offering voluntary severance agreements to producers, quality assurance testers and other staff at ZeniMax, which it purchased in 2020 for $7.5 billion, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. Others across the Xbox organization have been told that more cuts are on the way.
Speaking about the closures more broadly, Booty said that the company’s studios had been spread too thin — like “peanut butter on bread” — and that leaders across the division had felt understaffed. They decided to close these studios to free up resources elsewhere, he said.
Game Pass has not seen the massive growth that Xbox boss Phil Spencer may have been hoping for."
"Speaking about the closures more broadly, Booty said that the company’s studios had been spread too thin — like “peanut butter on bread” — and that leaders across the division had felt understaffed. They decided to close these studios to free up resources elsewhere, he said"
So what you're saying is...you bought all these studios and you guys can't run them.
Jesus.
Reports are suggesting that Game Pass will be getting a price hike soon and that Call of Duty may not be added to the day one offering. I honestly have a hard time believing this but it does beg the question why exactly did GP fail? I think the answer is that it just didn't get the growth that it anticipated. Jim was right but I wish he wasn't because at the end of the day, its gamers, devs and other front-line workers who have to absorb the blow for Spencer and team's miscalculations.
For all the armchair executives who were calling for Sony to release its big-budget AAA games on PS+, the same exact thing would have happened at PlayStation. Game Pass has killed Xbox. Congrats.
A look back at 4A Games' admirably consistent post-apocalyptic shooter franchise.
"While the 20 year anniversary edition of Nordic Game, NG24 Spring's homepage on 21-24 May in Malmö, Sweden, is getting closer, the organizers announced that more than 150 speakers are now lined up for the show." - Nordic Game.
MS is surely betting that they're going to BANK off these GTA fans who pay a rediculous amount of money for the episodic content. That you can be sure of...
Personally. I don't mind additional maps but the story itself should be told whole, and episodic content says nothing more than a way for us to milk your money. I can see an expansion when it's truly an expansion and offers a vast amount of new gameplay. But the single player aspect should be told in it's entirety and shouldn't involve added content that the purpose of is to generate revenue and profit...
360 fanboys disagree when you tell em that take two needed bailing out of possible chapter 11 and Sony told em to take the money. they must know something we don't? a dissapointing GTA?? hmmmmm
50 mil = chump change for MS, but I hope it'll be worth it
how big is the episodic content? Like hl episode 1/2, pretty much new game big? or just some new models and missions, for 25mil a pop I'm guessing they'll be like new games.
I'm sure they will make it all back when they charge for it.