Microsoft Has A Bunch of Unused IPs. Why Not Use Them?

Microsoft has a rich catalog of diverse, unique, and well-loved IPs that haven't been used in a long time. While new IPs are welcome, Microsoft utilizing the properties it already owns could be the surefire solution to the company's exclusive problem.

[PhoenixUp]

Easy answer. Microsoft doesn’t have enough internal developers to manage those dormant IPs.

[Gazondaily]

Yep pretty much

[darthv72]

Maybe i am being to optimistic but I have a strange feeling we will start to hear more about these older unused IP's at some point. Especially since a few of them have become BC for the xbo.

MS knows there is a demand as well as a shortage and I feel they will have to address both sooner rather than later. They have been quiet for quite a while now so they may be getting ready to finally open up about the subject.

[gangsta_red]

@Darth

As much as I like to see a lot of those games make a comeback I doubt a few of them would make a splash today. I don't even think a lot of those games on that list did much when they first released.

It's not enough to bring back an IP, but they have to bring back an IP that has interest and actually looks like a good game a lot of players would enjoy and buy.

But I'm all for an updated 3rd person co-op / online shoot'em up Brute Force reboot.

[darthv72]

@zero, why does it have to be E3? They can open up about it any time they want to but they just need to open up. I don't care where or when but they need to address it.

@red, given the current situation with how the 8th gen feels (overall)... I find myself going back to 7th gen on both 360 and PS3 more so than playing my PS4 and XBO. Except for the new GoW... that game is sweet but when I'm done I will go right back to 7th and perhaps even 6th gen stuff.

If MS really sees an interest in those older IP's then perhaps they can realize that yeah... people want those fun games again and can give them not just the bc treatment but real actual continuations for them. I'd love a new Stubbs, Blinx, Brute Force, Quantum Redshift (just to name a few). If Sony can reboot Warhawk (an og PS1 IP) on the PS3 then so can MS with Crimson Skies

[UltraNova]

They should announce anything they have as soon as they can. They need to rebuild theit customers trust/faith in them when it comes to xbox exclusives. Waiting for E3 (its a month away) is ok for now provided they show some games, preferably ones that will be released this year.

[CyberSentinel]

That would require “investments”, that’s not Microsoft’s strategy. Microsoft wants the Xbox brand to become the console ‘Steam’ service. They want to provide the online infrastructure, and collect the royalties from other game developers.

[gamer7804]

they could license them out to developers, but I'd be cautious since they need a lot of brand new IP's as well. I think make another Fable, Perfect Dark, then try something new a 3rd person heavy story game.

[Aceman18]

I would love sequels to blue dragon, lost odyssey, and project Gotham racing

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Project Gotham? Another racer MS doesn't need anymore racers but a brand new Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey would be superb. I can picture Blue Dragon becoming Scalebound like in size and scope, except done better.

[Aceman18]

@angel

Well it's the only race I truly liked on the xbox, so ima need a new one lol.

[Godmars290]

Easier answer: they haven't figured out how to introduce/justify MTs and/or multiplayer.

[Fist4achin]

You mean with MS money, they can't hire and find developers to work on those IPs?! This has been something I have been wondering for a while and frankly have lost a lot of love for Xbox. They have so much potential and I personally feel like they gave up. They could be doing so much better. I still think the OG Xbox was the better system in terms of games.

[mark_parch]

Just make a banjo kazooie and banjo tooie remaster. doesn't take a big studio. if they do it to the same standard as crash bandicoot and spyro it's a guaranteed success.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[LaWiiG]

Bring me BLOOD WAKE!

[FallenAngel1984]

When Microsoft’s own flagship series Halo & Gears of War are on the commercial decline do you think Microsoft would’ve devote much time resurrecting any of their dormant IPs beyond remasters like they did for Voodoo Vince & Phantom Dust? Most of them went dormant for a reason.

The only franchises they revisit seem to be Rare IPs. Killer Instinct was great, that Conker for Project Spark was subpar and its Hololens presentation was horrible, and they seemed to like to bring up Battletoads a lot a few years ago but nothing came of it.

[mark_parch]

I think the battletoads references were just because rash joined the killer instinct roster

[maybelovehate]

Especially the big ones like Perfect Dark and Banjo Kazooie. Just don't let Rare work on them lol

[letsa_go]

They should have playtonic games make a new banjo game. THAT would be interesting!

[maybelovehate]

Maybe, I wasn't really a fan of Yooka-Laylee. But they would probably do better than Rare.

[letsa_go]

Well considering it is all the guys that actually made the first 2 games, yeah I think they would do it better than whoever is currently at rare!

[gangsta_red]

"The original Xbox launched in 2002, and since it was the “new kid on the black”"

That's racist!

[PhoenixUp]

It’s also factually wrong since Xbox released in 2001

[gangsta_red]

Which makes it even more racist!!

[jhoward585]

I see a pattern. I noticed when MS release a game and it doesn't make enough profit for their company they won't make a sequel. This has been the case with many of their franchises. New and old.

[maybelovehate]

That is true of all products though. If they don't sell and there is no interest, why would you have a sequel.

[Legion21]

Because it might be worth the long term investment. Look at games like call of duty and uncharted the first installments were good but didn't really hit huge sales numbers or highly critical reviews until the sequels. Developers are going to learn a lot from making a new IP those lessons can make the sequel a better game.

[Mmmkay]

Assassins Creed

[crazychris4124]

because taking risks is risky

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

1. Lack of 1st party investment
2. Lack of Studio Creative Freedom
3. Ignoring Fan demands.

[TheColbertinator]

Microsoft wont resurrect Crimson Skies.

Nintendo wont resurrect Earthbound/Mother

Sony wont resurrect Colony Wars

Total idiocy

[PapaBop]

Mech assault as the article picture is just too too cruel. Imagine a new one re-imagined taking inspiration from how the online worked in Chromehounds.. if only.

[CorndogBurglar]

Damn it I miss Chromehounds! That was the best mech game of all time.

[Mister_Wolf]

Am I right in saying they also still have the IP for PGR?

[Cmv38]

1. Those ip were not that great if we're being honest. Most of them at least.
2. A first party ip doesn't automatically equal success.
3. Which brings up this point, who us going to make those games?

[WickedLester]

Because with the exception of a small few off of that list, the rest of them sucked to begin with. Sorry but its true.

[cfc83]

Maybe because few people would buy any of them.

[trooper_]

Because they refuse to take risks.

[Saijahn]

MS built their network first, made a killer console, and seemingly just skipped games. Whereas Sony focused on their games. I can't go another e3 without some killer apps for Xbox. Hoping to see Jade Empire 2, a KOTOR, something exciting

[mark_parch]

I've been praying for a new KOTOR or BANJO for ages , I would be happy with a really good remaster at this point

[Elit3Nick]

+Points for including Mechassault in the title pic. Since we're getting a huge Battletech push this year, MS should go and make another Mechassault to draw in new fans into the BT universe.

[bigmalky]

They probably spend more time and resources researching how to monetise their IPs than actually developing games.

[FloydianAndroid]

I believe Microsoft is working on the exclusive issue. I get that this is basically a website version of a shrine to Sony, but the fact is the Xbox one as a system has improved bit by bit since spencer has taken over. I know the Sony fanboys won’t give credit to how great the back compat feature is, which shows how biased they really are. “Microsoft sucks! Who wants to play old games?” Well, me for one. I don’t just discard old games when new systems come out. Also, the x has a 4K blu-ray player which again all the Sony people turn their noses up at. Look, I get it, Sony has amazing exclusives, but there isn’t a lack of games to play on Xbox lol I play all my 3rd party games on xbox one x, because they look better, the Xbox controller is better, Xbox live is better than ps plus, the u.i. Is better. This is all subjective, but because the fan boys hate Microsoft doesn’t affect how I feel about it lol why can’t people just enjoy what the enjoy without being ridiculed or trolled. The PS4 is a great system with great games, but it’s not wrong to prefer Xbox lol

[Mister_Wolf]

Backwards compatibility is great, but it needs to be coupled with a flow of new games coming out too, moreover the effort to push for 1st party needs to be demonstrated in a meaningful way. Microsoft's current stance of "we are working on it" is reactive, not proactive.

[TheOttomatic91]

Because it would take time, effort and (most importantly) money, something which MS is not willing to do.

[OnDec76]

Because Microsoft doesn't care about video games. They need to bow out of the console space and move out the way for Sega's next gen console

[Gamist2dot0]

They blew their budget on buying Minecraft when they should have focused on long term quality projects. $2.5 billion would have funded god knows how many IPs for this gen and next for Xbox.

[FloydianAndroid]

I don’t know if you realize this or not, but money isn’t the issue, and they do care about games. They had other things that had to be fixed, now they have the best console and are focusing on games. Maybe it came too late, but it will get better. Everything other than exclusives has been fixed. All they have to focus on now is making games. The system they have now is incredibly easy for devs to make games with and that’s the focus now. I think that will be apparent at E3.

[Tankbusta40]

Poor management at the top...Phil, Ybarra and and plenty of others need to be canned as they have no vision. I want the Xbox brand to succeed but it won't under guys like them.

[FloydianAndroid]

Say what you want about Phil, but look what he inherited when he took over. He’s done a stellar job of righting the ship and now the games will start to slowly come.

[Max-Zorin]

Because Xbox management is stupid.

[Knightofelemia]

Microsoft just doesn't give a shit that's why

[Moonman]

No talent.

[Moonman]

Well lack of.....scarcity.....lol

[EyeAmTJ]

Mechassualt please... Thank You