Valid points.
I'm pretty sure thatgamecompany was part of the 3 game contract, so they fulfilled their end of the bargain with Flow, Flower, and Journey. I don't think anyone could look back at that situation and say it wasn't a successful contract for both parties. Sony got some great exclusive titles and thatgamecompany got financial support, developmental assistance, exposure, and a steady gig that helped them become one of the most sought after indie developers. They're in a position to gain their independence because of that deal, and are poised for success with 'thatnextgame.'
Whether it is more second party deals like that, or pure first party support, I still think there is a market there, even considering the amount of indie games, developers, and publishers. Having a diverse portfolio is never a bad thing, so I think Sony should still have its own indie division. They need to be looking for talent to acquire or partner with to fill the void left by thatgamecompany.
Sony is pretty stubborn on the IP issue. I can't fault anyone who says no because they want to retain their IP.
Still I think there are a lot of great indie games and developers who get lost in the mix or don't have the resources to fully realize their visions. Prime examples: I recently played
Mekazoo on PS4. It's a brilliant concept, but it runs terribly and is very rough mechanically. Had it been given proper resources for success, it could have been just as amazing as its Donkey Kong and Sonic influences. Also, I've been interested in
Source since 2014, but it doesn't seem to have the manpower or moneypower to make much progress towards a release. It looks like something that would find an easy home on PlayStation and mesh well with the likes of Journey and Abzu.
Backing from someone big like Sony could help. As a longtime follower of Cuphead, I was elated when Microsoft partnered with Studio MDHR. Sure it's taking forever to release, but we are getting a game with a much larger scope and scale than was originally planned. It's basically the game they wanted to make but wouldn't have been able to without the help.
I can't complain with the amount of indie games we do see. New publishers are appearing all the time. I just think Sony, and the other console manufacturers should have their own smaller projects just as they have their own AAA products.
(And you are correct, FelipeMGM, with your Thumper avatar assumption. It's probably my favorite indie since the Velocity - coincidentally two games with ties to Sony's indie presence which is why I care so much. They tend to cater to my interests.)
