260°

Microsoft Open To Double Fine Releasing More Multiplatform Games After Psychonauts 2

Head of Xbox studios Matt Booty talks about what Microsoft's studio acquisitions means for Double Fine and Obsidian's The Outer Worlds.

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XiNatsuDragnel1755d ago

Beginning of a new future perhaps

1755d ago Replies(5)
1755d ago
Obscure_Observer1755d ago (Edited 1755d ago )

@tekiz

"Read the article before you comment. They are talking about Switch and PlayStation."

Pherhaps you should listen to your own advice. Regarding Playstation and Switch they were specificly talking about a potential Psychonauts sequel.

The Outer worlds sequels will become exclusive to Xbox goin foward.

About Halo on Playstation, from the article:

"But he also stressed that there are big franchise like Forza, Halo, and Sea of Thieves that are designed around being Xbox experiences."

Translation: NOT COMMING TO PLAYSTATION

bluefox7551755d ago

@Obscure Not anywhere near that explicit, it sounds like they're not ruling it out at the very least.

IRetrouk1755d ago (Edited 1755d ago )

we asked Booty whether Microsoft would be open to Double Fine releasing more multiplatform games after Psychonauts 2.

“Yeah, I think we would,” says Booty. “I think that the question is less binary about ‘Should it be on Switch? Should it be on PlayStation?’ And more ‘Does it make sense for the franchise?’ In other words, is it a kind of game where it would benefit from the network effect of being on a bunch of different platforms? Or is it a game where we can best support it by putting resources [into it] and making sure that our platforms, things like xCloud, Game Pass, and Xbox Live are really leaning in to support the game.”

Not just talking sequels to Psychonauts from what i can read.

1755d ago
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fr0sty1755d ago

It's a sound strategy, if they do not pull ahead in the hardware game (this is the third generation in a row they failed to capture the top spot, and with all the billions the Xbox brand has lost, the system itself hasn't proven to be profitable (though the services it supports have). So, should their shareholders say "that's it, you're out of the hardware game", they own a plethora of good studios they can start cranking out PC and console multiplats from and keep making money in the gaming industry without having to compete in the hardware game. Software has always been their strong point, after all, it would make sense to put the eggs in that basket just in case.

When Sega stopped making hardware, they didn't have that advantage. They had their games for the most part, and that's why they're not as big as say, EA or Activision. If Microsoft went software only, they could easily compete with the big boys, especially if they keep acquiring top studios.

XiNatsuDragnel1755d ago

True, xbox as a software company would be better

Spurg1755d ago

Yeah, having watched the interview it clear that Matt was trying to humble with his answers. This is clear throughout the whole interview he didn't always give a clear answer. He use Minecraft as an example with was already on other platforms. If its a big game like Minecraft then it would make sense to be multiplatform but smaller so game like psychonauts, the other world and other will in the future be exclusive to xbox.

porkChop1755d ago

Likely Xbox, PC, and Nintendo.

Sciurus_vulgaris1755d ago

Gears 5, 480p undocked and 560p docked at 25-30 fps on Nintendo Switch.

porkChop1755d ago

What does Gears have to do with Double Fine? DF isn't known for graphically intensive games.

Sciurus_vulgaris1755d ago

I was joking. However, I think Matt Booty is referring to keeping potential The Outer Worlds and Psyconauts multiplatform

Obscure_Observer1755d ago

Only Psyconauts. The Outer Worlds will become exclusive Xbox franchise goin foward.

Silly gameAr1755d ago

@Obscure_Observer

Which would be a pretty dumb idea. If the game does well multiplatform, do you honestly think MS would restrict the game to just their systems? If that's the case, they might as well make it exclusive now.

Obscure_Observer1755d ago

@Silly gameAr

"Which would be a pretty dumb idea. If the game does well multiplatform, do you honestly think MS would restrict the game to just their systems?"

Yes. The Outer Worlds is a AAA SP Only game that would attract Playstation gamers to Xbox.

Simply strategy

Ricegum1755d ago

I can see Outer World's future installments staying multiplatform, we may be beginning to see a different approach from Microsoft. From a business standpoint this could be huge for them to release their games on competitor's hardware.

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Abnor_Mal1755d ago

So third party publisher like many were saying.

TheGamez1001755d ago (Edited 1755d ago )

Mcsfts been very ok with their studios making games on other platforms which is good but pretty much has me thinking that theyre just getting ready for a consoleless future for them. Theyll still make xbox as long as theres still the demand and will just keep up with playstations hardware. If xbox ever dies and fails, theyll be prepared to go third party I guess. They just be playing it safe. Just a theory of mine and will stay that way until they make great quality singleplayer games exclusive to xbox....but pretty much all their games are on windows so....

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100°

PlayStation Has Bend Studio in “Evolving, Multi-Genre” Category for In-Development Project

While Sony hasn’t revealed what some of its first-party studios like Housemarque is cooking currently, the company has revealed what focus they’re aiming for at the very least.

senorfartcushion28m ago

If it's live service it's a "no" from me. I'll take a Days Gone sequel though...

Cacabunga24m ago

It’s confirmed Bend Studio next game is gaas… what a shame!

And why Returnal thumbnail?

cthulhucultist23m ago(Edited 23m ago)

According to this article
https://wccftech.com/playst...

QUOTE

"In today's Business Segment Meeting 2024 for its Game & Network Services Segment, Sony confirmed the names of the seven studios focusing on single-player games with a narrative focus - Asobi, Insomniac Games, Santa Monica Studio, Sucker Punch, Naughty Dog, Firesprite and Housemarque, and the nine working on pure live service games or hybrid titles - Bungie, San Diego Studio, Firewalk, Haven and Neon Koi for pure live service games and Guerrilla Games, Polyphony, Media Molecule and Bend Studio. "

UNQUOTE

it seems that Bend was placed in the live service game category

Psychonaut8512m ago

Glad Housemarque isn’t doing live service. And Guerrilla is doing a hybrid title? Wonder what that’s gunna look like. Makes me nervous

-Foxtrot0m ago

Seven for single player but nine for GaaS

Come on Sony…sigh

-Foxtrot2m ago

The funny thing is the cancelled sequel to Days Gone sounded like they were pitching this online co-op focused game which just didn’t sound appealing to me at all

I loved the first game despite its flaws but the sequel needed work yet they wanted to jump to online and co-op…that’s a massive red flag. Sort your main issues first before trying to do more complicated things.

270°

Sony Says The PS5 Is Its “Most Profitable Generation To-Date"

During Sony’s recent business segment meeting and investor presentation regarding its game and network services, the PlayStation company revealed that PlayStation 5 is the company’s “most profitable generation to-date.”

It’s the top slide of the presentation, showing that in its first four years, the PS5 generation has already hit $106 billion in sales, having almost caught up to the PS4’s total $107 billion generated.

Operating income for the PS5 generation has also already surpassed that of the PS4, having now reached $10 billion.

ApocalypseShadow13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

I wouldn't doubt it. They released a high quality system. A lot of high quality games from themselves and their support of 3rd party developers and indies. They released many high quality remakes and remasters. They released a high quality GaaS game going against the naysayers thinking Sony would abandon single player games. And they most likely are profiting a lot more than PS1, PS2 PS4 and the loss leading PS3 that drained all their profits.

Now, I'll wait to see what's cooking tomorrow. But can you use some of those profits to better support your high quality VR headset? Because, by supporting it, you can sell more games and more systems and make more profits?

jznrpg12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

I want RPGs for PSVR2! Good ones of course

shinoff218311h ago

If it had some rpgs I would buy right fking now. It looks dope and alot of fun, but it's biggest game resident evil 4(maybe) I've got no interest in. I'm not a fan of racing games, even with that metro game coming i was never much into that series. Rpgs would be fantastic.

MrNinosan9h ago

Lemme know if ya wanna play some Zenith 🙌
Bought it at release, but haven't played it more than 1-2 hours but for sure on my "todo list".

Cacabunga8h ago

Normal when they released mostly cross gen games so far. That’s a lot of money saved..
We haven’t seen what PS5 can do yet. 4years in and PS4 games still look great to me. The gen leap isn’t quite there yet.

--Onilink--10h ago

The interesting metric for me is the $106billion in operating income/profit (not sales as mentioned in the article) reaching the same as the PS4 did with only half the consoles sold.

In particular because they all are supposed to be making the most per hardware sold after a few years when manufacturing costs are down.

So even putting inflation aside(and the higher console price), it is interesting that they could reach PS4 $ with just half the consoles sold.

Maybe there is more to the metric thats whats seen at face value, but they have clearly been making a lot more money than before on the software side (with also less games released I suppose, given its only been half the generation so far)

VersusDMC10h ago

The bulk of the money has to be coming from the 30% cut on all games and microtransactions. Especially on all the free to play juggernauts like genshin, apex, fortnight, etc.

--Onilink--7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

@Versus

They are definitely making a lot on that for sure (which the $70 price increase factors into as well), but its not like many of those games werent around for the PS4 too.

They might be counting the gen as a whole and not just PS5 itself (so extra profit from PC sales, whatever that may be)

PS+ price increase and different tiers probably amount to part of that too.

But in general, its still quite a surprising metric. Half the time, half the consoles sold, less first party games released so far and still already making more of a profit than last gen is quite something, and as mentioned, there is probably more to it that we dont know, after all, since we are talking about operating income, all the expenses they have also factor into it, so it is also possible that they have found ways to significantly reduce that + all the means of increased revenue that appear to be factoring into the equation

All in all, just an interesting situation from a business perspective

porkChop6h ago

It's for the whole generation, so it would likely be including PC. They also make much more profit on digital sales vs retail, and digital is far more prominent these days. The generation also started at the height of COVID when everyone was home, spending far more money on gaming/hobbies. It makes a lot of sense for this gen to be more profitable.

Abnor_Mal12h ago

This will surely shut up all the new trolling accounts trying to spread lies and non facts in other articles comment sections before this article is posted.

Hofstaderman11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Obscurely, those trolls or troll will not show in these articles as the truth is contradictory to his or their orchard-sized daily dose of copium and hopium.

Tacoboto10h ago

Or... They're intentionally trolling you guys specifically. Because they know it upsets you so easily.

Name-dropping Orchard, after this many months? How long has it been and he's still in your thoughts?

Elda10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

I'm quite sure the individual is reading these positive comments downvoting & seething at the same time. Edit: It just downvoted my comment...lol!!

Hofstaderman10h ago

No I'm entertained by this individual. I love unhinged people, they are so interesting lol.

repsahj11h ago

Wow! I am super impressed that in just 4 years, ps5 already caught up to the PS4's. Congratulations.

sagapo11h ago

Not really surprised as Sony barely has any competition at the moment.

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80°

Zotac To Reveal Their Portable Gaming PC At COMPUTEX 2024

This sounds like a very interesting mobile gaming PC. ZOTAC returns to COMPUTEX 2024 to showcase its biggest push yet into brand-new product categories from Handheld Gaming.

smashman9816h ago

My last 2 gpus have both been zotac. No issues. I'm interested.

Garethvk14h ago

It will be interesting to see what they have to offer