450°

Ain’t no party like an Xbox party – Aaron Greenberg clarifies exclusivity stance

In the run-up to this year’s Gamescom, two publishing announcements from Microsoft caught the eye: Gears 5 made a surprisingly late move onto Steam, just a few weeks before its release, while Microsoft also stated it was bringing 2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest to Nintendo Switch. First-party titles such as these rarely stray from their creator’s platforms and stores, so just what do these announcements mean for Xbox’s publishing strategy as a whole?

1706d ago
Abnor_Mal1706d ago

Honest question here, if after all contractual obligations for the newly acquired studios are completed everything else going forward will be exclusive. Then what is the deal with Minecraft Dungeons being multiplatform? Is there some kind of contract that keeps Minecraft multiplatform beyond the base game?

Kribwalker1706d ago

it’s called being one of the biggest selling games ever. Why not keep letting it print money for you everywhere

Abnor_Mal1706d ago

I get that but it kind if goes against what Greenburg was saying.

Going by what you're saying then why not continue to bring more games to other platforms and truly go third party and have money printing from more IPs? If Gears and Hali are such juggernauts as people say, then it stands to reason that either game could print money.

Not saying I want any of them, i just noticed Micecraft was left out of the article. Possibly because it is not a more recent acquisition like the others i would guess.

1706d ago
rob-GP1706d ago

Microsoft has what nobody else in the entire world has - The sales figures for their games.

If they see that the franchise is selling best on a competitor's platform, they'll release the spin-offs and sequels on that platform. It's easier to tell die-hard fans of the Xbox that "it's only Minecraft and that's already there anyway" than "the IPs we bought are going to always be on the best selling platforms".

Abnor_Mal1706d ago

If that is truly the case, why not just he up front with it and says our exclusives sell better on the competitions platforms than ours. With that being the case after taking a hard long look at the numbers were concluded that going forward XBox Games Studios will now be releasing our games on all platforms after a short stint on our own platforms. Better yet day and date just like Gamepass.

VenomUK1706d ago

What will be interesting is with an Microsoft published game that is for sale on other formats like The Outer Worlds. If it turns out to be really good it could sell well on the PlayStation 4, as most Xbox users will be getting it 'free' with Xbox Game Pass it means the PS4 edition will probably outsell the Xbox One edition. Obviously the XBO will increase Game Pass subscriptions and might lead to brand loyalty and Xbox Scarlett sales. However, there will likely be a point where MS have to ask whether they should make the sequel available on other platforms.

rob-GP1706d ago

@abnor_Mal - they can't say that because the fanbase for their console would feel betrayed and upset. When Phil first announced that there would be no more exclusives, as all games are going to the Windows Store on launch, there was a lot of outcry on Social media from certain people. Then, when the games were announced to be on Steam on launch day, there was another outcry of people feeling 'betrayed'.

The same thing happened when they were all celebrating about all the studios MS bought out only to find that the Multiplatform games which are in development are still going to be multiplatform. Not to mention the constant moaning when Cuphead and Ori went to switch and when ever an Xbox 'exclusive' of the past now appears on PS4 or another platform.

The 'hardcore' Xbox fanbase are very fickle, they'll get upset at anything which puts another nail in their chosen console's coffin. We all know they are basically going the direction SEGA went, but they can't afford to lose the small number of loyal fans they still have in their corner - an announcement like you stated wouldn't go down well at all.

badz1491706d ago

@VenomUK

"...Microsoft published game that is for sale on other formats like The Outer Worlds. If it turns out to be really good it could sell well on the PlayStation 4,..."

"could sell well"?? why is this even questioned anymore? at this point in time, any multiplat will sell best on the PS4. Gamepass or not, The Outer World will sell better on PS4 and even MS knows this

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1706d ago Replies(2)
DaDrunkenJester1706d ago

No contract. The sole reason for that is because there is such a MASSIVE community across all platforms that it would be absolutely financially stupid for MS to pull that.

Abnor_Mal1706d ago

But Dungeons is a stand alone game and does not required Minecraft to play. Also I wouldn't think that people would automatically think they're suppose to get every game with Minecraft slapped on it. Then again people are very demanding and self entitled these days.

King_Noctis1706d ago (Edited 1706d ago )

“But Dungeons is a stand alone game and does not required Minecraft to play.”

But it is still a Minecraft game at its core, hence the name “Minecraft Dungeon”. Let just be happy that everyone gets to play this game and that MS is not just limiting it to their platforms.

DaDrunkenJester1706d ago

I guess you can say that, but when you have over 120million player base, you gotta figure that people and children are going to assume when they see a Minecraft game that they'll be able to keep playing it on all the other platforms. Plus, that install base is way too much to just throw away for some fanboy exclusivity points.

Abnor_Mal1706d ago

Yeah, I came to that same conclusion that people see the name and just assume that they will be able to play.

My question did not have anything to so with fanboying for console wars or anything. Not saying you were inferring that, just both of just being clear. It just seemed strange not to include it, but I get yours and everyone else's reasons.

Not to beat a dead horse on things I've said before, but what happens when/if The Outer Worlds sells extremely well on PS4, will MS continue to say the sequel (if any) will now be exclusive? Or will they see how much of an install base it has amassed and reverse their stance and make the sequel (if any) multiplatform. Thus going back on what Greenburg said in this article.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the years to come.

DaDrunkenJester1706d ago

Not calling you a fanboy, but you know how some get when it comes to exclusivity haha I don't think The Outer Worlds will sell quite like what Minecraft has, and that is IF they make The Outer Worlds a full series with a sequel. Obsidian already posted on linkedIn just last week they are hiring more people for a new AAA RPG IP. So this could be a one and done game and they will move on to their next new idea.

So while Obsidian's contract holds them to a multiplat release for The Outer Worlds... this new AAA RPG IP will be a Xbox/PC game.

Abnor_Mal1706d ago

I didn't think you were calling me a fanboy, but I just wanted to clear up what I was saying wasn't meant to be fanboyish. As I said it was an honest question looking for an answer.

Oh, I know The Outer Worlds will never sell like Minecraft, to think so is a bit absurd. Not everybody likes RPGs, but damn near everybody and their mommas like Minecraft with it's easy to pick up and play formula.

:Obsidian already posted on linkedIn just last week they are hiring more people for a new AAA RPG IP. So this could be a one and done game and they will move on to their next new idea."

Interesting, will this be an all new IP, or just hiring for a possible sequel, after all ..."this 'could' be a one and done game...". Which I seriously doubt it will be.

1706d ago
darthv721706d ago

to answer your question. Minecraft is simply a MS property and was already an established IP at the time Ms acquired it. They could just easily cut off all other platforms but they dont want to. It is popular and it helps pay the bills. That is not the same case as the newly acquired studios. Their projects were not released at the time of their acquisition but in keeping with contractual obligations, they will be finished and released as intended: multiplatform.

The new projects moving forward will be the sole property of MS studios for distribution on xbox and windows PC. And your example of Mc Dungeons is no different than minecraft itself. It is a game in the minecraft franchise and as such is released to appeal to the wide demographic of the minecraft fans. It was never intended to be only for one set of those fans.

Abnor_Mal1706d ago

Okay, I get what you are saying. Similar to what I said about a stipulation in place for Minecraft to remain multi regardless of new game or update as long as it is in the same Minecraft universe. Although we will never truly know what was agreed on between the two parties.

Thank you and everyone else for taking the time to explain. Hope both games do well when released. I'm finished with the topic now.

Good day.

DaDrunkenJester1706d ago

They said It's a new AAA RPG IP that will use the unreal engine 4, have a full night/day cycle, focus on melee and long range combat.

Doesn't mean they can't work on both, or swap between IP's like ND was doing with Uncharted and TLoU.

Atom6661706d ago

I think they'd be crazy not to keep all things Minecraft multi plat. Lets be realistic, they know that Minecraft dungeons isn't going to sell Xbox consoles.

It will help to continue to grow the brand, though. That property is too big to limit at this point imo.

343_Guilty_Spark1706d ago

Minecraft is without a doubt one of top 3 franchises in all of gaming. They'd be idiots to stop having Minecraft on everything.

AngelicIceDiamond1706d ago

MS would look like jerks if they pulled the plug on other platforms. Especially since it was on PC first then naturally expanded to other platforms before MS bought them.

GtPawnSacrifices1706d ago

Simple answer: MS bought Minecraft for their Hololens AR headset, it’s killer app if you will.
Far as i know, the Hololens has found its niche in R&D sectors & is no longer focused on a full on public release.
That said, it cost MS $4billion so yeah.
Probably just getting their money back.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 1706d ago
Thundercat771706d ago

Microsoft can do better if they go multiplatform. The problem there is that they don't have many high quality games but would be better than their current position.

TheScotsman1706d ago

Agreed no point go multiplat if there's nothing to go multiplat with

King_Noctis1706d ago

“Microsoft can do better if they go multiplatform.“

Huh why is that? Does going multiplatform magically make them become better than now?

1706d ago Replies(2)
Silly gameAr1706d ago

If this was the 360 days, Greenburg would be smug and boastful. I guess being served humble pie does make some people evolve.

NarutoFox1706d ago (Edited 1706d ago )

Lol 😂😂

1706d ago
DaDrunkenJester1706d ago

Looks like he ate an entire bakery of humble pie... I kid I kid

Show all comments (90)
250°

Neil Druckmann clarifies true intent of new Naughty Dog game comments

Following a recent interview with Sony, Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann claims the original intent was “unfortunately lost” in the process.

just_looken2d ago

He can take dog shit put it in a oven with seasoning then call it waistland cookies the sony fans will pay $40 a cookie give them a medal of cooking.

No mater what trash this sobs puts out/talks about it will sell.

The true fact in the 8 years sense uncharted 4 his first time in the main seat to a point all this "amazing" team did was get 2 dudes to fuck in a van then destroy a franchise they never created.

But being a port studio they are decent at they should keep in there lane at being just that a glorified port studio.

fr0sty2d ago

Salty Bots... gotta love it.

just_looken2d ago

@frosty

Over what? naught dog under his command is a glorified port team tlou2 was mostly tlou 1 asset's with the same game play loop but forced a trans down your throat.

I would gladly help pay for this blight and his team to get removed from gaming in general.

fr0sty2d ago

Seeing a LGBT person exist in a work of fiction isn't "forcing them down your throat". Nobody is forcing you to play it. Nobody is forcing you to agree with it. If you think that just seeing a LGBT person exist is "force", it sounds like they make you very uncomfortable, and maybe you need to be doing some serious reflecting on exactly why... looks to me like you're suppressing something with all that fear.

just_looken2d ago

@fro

When i think of the last of us i think of a group of survivors crossing the apocalypse wasteland with a growing bond between 2 people that end up with Joel making ellie his new daughter.

Then you fire up the 2nd one bang joel is dead oh that comic series? bang dead

Oh you want to continue all that we grew in the first one? na f that toss it in the trash

Now here is a trans woman so strong superboy would blush go out there kill all what made tlou1 then halfway get a forced sex scene that you can not skip between 2 dudes.

The gameplay? just like the first game the combat/backpack system crafting sytem? 0 changes/improvements.

I could go on but lets face it they copy pasted that tlou 1 assets bin a shit ton of times.

There is nothing on the box or the ads or anything before the game that said you would going to spend most of the game controlling a new trans character that has no ties to anything of the first game the only existence was to kill what the first game made.

Oh but hey there is a mp mode coming out before 2022 wait what is that? oh we made it its own game then cancelled it now go but the game again as we port it a few times.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

mkis0071d 23h ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

What has Straley or Henig released since they left ND? Not a thing! stop scapegoating! Which of them is credited with co-writing a majorly successful show?

just_looken1d 22h ago

@mkis007

You bring up Bruce Straley really? someone that gave us 4 generations of amazing games and was there in the creation of 4 legendary franchises but was tossed in the trash for the pos niel druckmann not 7? years ago

So yeah in those 7? years you right all he has done is get 2 awards one is a game award for a puzzle game he made oh boy right like for fuck sake's all niel has done is one game that was a overhyped fan boy orgasm underneath all that ps jizz was just a typical 5/10 game.

Then you drag Amy Hennig that poor woman was also kicked out then became this century's Brendan Fraser with her sexual misconduct information coming out.

We all know how horrible people are treated behind the scenes she might have been sexual attacked groped or something.

So yeah all she did after was battlefield hardline forspoken now that new marvel 1945 game but hey Brendan Fraser was a great actor till he also said he was sexually attacked just now he is allowed back in no doubt she also had to take a leave of absence out and or was forced out on ice.

Man there are way to many out there that look at niel at the new gaming jesus when all he had done is some work on uncharted 4 then tlou2

Oh also the tvhshow? for real all they did was use stuff from the 2013 game its like saying GOT was a 10/10 but never watching past season 3

-Foxtrot1d 19h ago

@mkis007

That's highly unfair to them both

Amy Hennig got messed around working on projects that got cancelled by the publishers (EA) and then ended up on a awful game (Forspoken) where you had 4 other writers working on it which is just a recipe for disaster. She is now working on Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. Not her fault she was pushed out of NaughtyDog, something both Nolan North and Richard McGonagle have both said in interviews.

Bruce Straley left after burn out, the rest of the story we don't know and will never know just like what happened with Amy Hennig. He decided to take a break and wasn't sure if he wanted to come back to gaming however he had an idea he wanted to make so he founded Wildflower Interactive, a smaller studio where they are currently working on a new game.

Tacoboto1d 18h ago

@the obvious stain of a commenter

The trans character wasn't Abby. Try playing Part 2 instead of gatekeeping what you think Part 1 was about and meant.

Maybe try watching the show while you're at it, because you're terribly off with your opinion on that too

MajorLazer1d 16h ago

Naughty Dog is better than all the MS studios put together.

derek1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

@just he has been behind 2 of the greatest games ever made. Tlou2 was easily the best non-vr game made last gen. Losers just can't get over Joel's death, mixed with the usual console war nonsense. The fact that you so casually call him a sob shows how deranged some gamers have become about Drunkmann.

derek1d 15h ago

@frosty, for people like Just, including anyone that can be categorized as being a minority in any kind of media is "forcing it down his throat " lol. I to don't care for poor "checking box" inclusion for inclusion sake but that was not the case with tlou2.

fr0sty1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

The pathetic part about it is, you can tell just_looken never even played TLOU, because that was the game where Ellie's sexuality was first brought to light... No "that was forced down our throats" to be said about that.

Only terrified folks in the closet that use their hatred as cover from outing themselves fear LGBT people that much. They exist. They will exist in all aspects of life, including popular media. Get over it.

just_looken1d 7h ago

@all

Once again you drag out something like its a big win

Here is my old channel a clip of me playing TLOU on ps3
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Search my channel for more clips

Proof its my channel? look at this profiles banner that is 7yrs old then look at other vids on that channel like my bf3 clips to see my psn id. But knowing this group that is way to much work.

Also elle being a lesbian is another trump card? one dlc is all we got of that a dlc that took over a year to be tossed out.

Rainbowcookie1d 5h ago

Hey at least we have cookies to eat 😄

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 1d 5h ago
Rangerman12082d ago

Glad he clarified it but i'm still somewhat skeptical. Plus, his comments about how Ai will revolutionize storytelling were still pretty iffy.

anast2d ago

No need to bow down, Stan your ground. The AI comments were gross though.

S2Killinit2d ago

Pretty excited as I read these. I just cant wait to see what ND is up to.

Export2d ago

put a chick in it and make her gay !

shadowknight2032d ago

Next they need a diverse couple, and perhaps some climate activists

StormSnooper1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

I would love that if only to piss off all the lunatics. Lol

Show all comments (26)
170°

Naughty Dog Boss Neil Druckmann Says AI Will 'Revolutionize' Development

Druckmann claims the tech could 'push the boundaries of storytelling in games.'

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gamedeveloper.com
Jin_Sakai4d ago

I’m more interested in what else he said.

“Neil Druckmann says new Naughty Dog title could ‘redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming’

4d ago Replies(6)
H94d ago

It will be something like "we erased gameplay all together it's just a movie now"

purple1013d ago

every time naughty dog make a game, you play it and get the feeling "this is not possible'

from the boulder running towards you in crash, on ps1,
to the massive open world of jak and daxter, on ps2,
to the QuickTime events sequences of uncharted on ps3/4

and now we will see what they do with ps5,

H93d ago

Press X for doubt at "PS5"

-Foxtrot3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Arrogant asshole who sniffs his own farts bigs up next game…sounds like typical PR to me

You know what I find interesting? Almost every site reporting this as the main title where the REAL interesting bit of the interview is Neil praising AI and saying it will be used to help push story, characters, dialogue and more.

It’s super shitty to big up AI especially when it comes to story telling and other creative elements.

senorfartcushion3d ago

Just because someone says this type of stuff, it doesn't mean that it's guaranteed to be good news.

You can say this about microtransactions. MXTs revolutionised the gaming industry.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
Levii_923d ago

Geez how full of themselves are these guys.

Einhander19723d ago

He also said it has "ethical issues we need to address" but of course that doesn't get the clicks.

CrimsonWing693d ago

I’m all for it. Cuts the time to make a game. Look, Hellblade 2 took 5 years to make, if AI can do that in half the time, as a consumer, I support it.

Chard3d ago

Things will get far sloppier brother

Show all comments (24)
70°

The Witcher 3 REDkit Q&A - CDPR & Yigsoft Confirm Steam Workshop Support; Further Changes Planned

CD Projekt RED and Yigsoft have launched The Witcher 3 REDkit on PC. We interviewed both studios to discuss the release of these mod tools.

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wccftech.com