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[nial]

I have a vague but distinct feeling that some studio (BluePoint IIRC) denied purchase by Sony (probably after that famous gaffe) but ended up purchased anyway. Anyone 'members?

I think it was Insomniac?

 

[FalsettoVibe]

So if a platform holder moneyhats a developer's games for years, and THEN acquires them, it's organic. Got it!

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this probably sounded smarter in your head.

 

[ResilientBanana]

Why Hell Divers 2 looks incredible.

It uses an old outdated and unsupported Autodesk Engine that doesn't exist anymore. It does look great though, but Decima might be the move for Helldivers 3.

They already own the IP.

Oh, nice.

 

[JaksGhost]

Magicka, maybe? It was a great game, very creative and fun. But they've made 5 games total, Helldivers 2 being their biggest hit. It's probably a better purchase than Bungie, but still. Doesn't seem worth it. I could see Sony wanting to purchase Helldivers as an IP, but not the studio.



Sure, but seems out of the realm of possibility considering Helldivers 1 wasn't even a blip on the radar.

Sony already owns the Helldivers IP.

HELLDIVERS Trademark of SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC - Registration Number 4756623 - Serial Number 86042209 :: Justia Trademarks

Computer game software; Video game software

trademarks.justia.com

 

[Krieger]

Sony: Acquires the studio which released one of the most popular multiplayer games this year
Meanwhile Microsoft:

 

[Puscifer]

I love me some DRG, and I'd say this is the most fun co-op game I've played since then. It's not really doing anything super special by any means, but it just does a bunch of things pretty well. Guns feel great to shoot, animations are awesome, once you get to 6-9 difficulties, the chaos is really challenging, it always manages to have this skin-of-your-teeth extractions. I dunno, I think it's great, but I don't think I'd enjoy it as much if I couldn't or didn't play it with my friends or acquaintances. If none of the people I know are online to play it, I'll just continue on with my Half-Life series replay as of right now. I've not had a bad time with random groups, but it's not nearly on the same level as playing with regular people.

Are you embracing the social aspect at all? Using your mic? Planning out stratagems?

If you're up for Co op DM me, I'd be willing to give it a go with someone who really knows

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

It uses an old outdated and unsupported Autodesk Engine that doesn't exist anymore. It does look great though, but Decima might be the move for Helldivers 3.


Oh, nice.

You need good performance for HD 2 like games so I dunno.

 

[midnightAI]

Imagine being so greedy you let yourself get acquired by a publisher that just shut down a studio and laid off half the people at another one they had acquired a year ago.

the owner just wanted a fat check. these people dont really want to make games.

Honestly, you should not be allowed to buy new studios after laying off close to a thousand people and shutting down other studios. There should be laws against treating people like cattle. If you cant afford to buy something, you cant go around selling your kids, so why are employees fair game?

Bit of a knee jerk reaction to a rumour isnt it?

 

[Katatonic]

Why can’t Microsoft grow organically like Sony does?

Meh who cares. MS lost the console war so they're irrelevant.

 

[Fake]

Sony is on firing people.

 

[adamsapple]

Sony is on firing people.

 

[skit_data]

Would be pretty bizarre if the Haven game bombs big time and they end up owning them and not Arrowhead who delivered big time.

 

[clarky]

You need good performance for HD 2 like games so I dunno.

For once we argee, i think. Helldivers need total chaos on screen, not some flash looking ginger bird and her mates.

 

[Skifi28]

Honestly, you should not be allowed to buy new studios after laying off close to a thousand people and shutting down other studios.

This is actually an interesting point worth discussing.

 

[nowhat]

Sony: Acquires the studio which released one of the most popular multiplayer games this year
Meanwhile Microsoft:

NGL. While I don't disagree with you, if this wasn't $700 I just may get it for the sake of it. Because Spongebob. I mean, that design rocks.

 

[Represent.]

For once we argee, i think. Helldivers need total chaos on screen, not some flash looking ginger bird and her mates.

This post makes no sense. Aloys design has literally less than nothing to do with the Decima engine.

 

[clarky]

This post makes no sense. Aloys design has literally less than nothing to do with the Decima engine.

Twas a joke mate. Jesus lighten up.

Aloys design was literally born in the decima engine btw, so it has everything to do with it.

 

[reinking]

Honestly, you should not be allowed to buy new studios after laying off close to a thousand people and shutting down other studios. There should be laws against treating people like cattle. If you cant afford to buy something, you cant go around selling your kids, so why are employees fair game?

Have you been looking at the current environment? If this was the case, nobody could buy a privately owned company right now. This also assumes that any company being purchased can afford to stay open without the help. I am not saying that would be the case here, but if you have this law you have to apply it equally.

 

[Neofire]

Arrowhead > Bungie.


UUhhhh those companies had been partners with Sony for years.

Not only that but also those companies were nowhere near as popular as they are now, back then.

 

[Solidus_T]

They were basically already a part of Sony, so hopefully not much changes.

 

[Hudo]

Sony: Acquires the studio which released one of the most popular multiplayer games this year
Meanwhile Microsoft:

I know this is a jab at Microsoft but this looks legitimately better than the PS5.

 

[Pelta88]

So if a platform holder moneyhats a developer's games for years, and THEN acquires them, it's organic. Got it!

Are we talking purchasing a publisher that generates 2-4 Billion annually for 68 Billion?

Or purchasing a studio you have a long established working relationship with, currently working on your IP?

I mean, there’s clearly levels to this.

 

[Zathalus]

Good purchase if true. Being in Sweden it will also be peanuts to run vs the Sony California studios.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Logical move. More organic growth. We love to see it. Bravo

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I'm skeptical as acquisitions are very rarely leaked like this, but I guess we'll be finding out tomorrow anyway.

Oh, looks like the tweet has since been deleted.

 

[intheinbetween]

Why can’t Microsoft grow organically like Sony does?

Can’t wait for Microsoft to organically grow by acquiring Pocket Pair

 

[Aenima]

Makes much more sense than the overpriced Bungie aquisition.

 

[ChoosableOne]

That Halo Forge project has now become even more important. Come on Falcons!

 

[UniformDeliverance]

Why can’t Microsoft grow organically like Sony does?

I'm not sure what to make of this comment. Loads of Activision and Bethesda games have come on Microsoft platforms, especially with mod support in some bethesda titles. Is that not organic?

Or are we saying Microsoft should have made loads of exclusive contracts with these publishers before moving into acquisition?

Like it sounds good, what you said, I just don't at all understand what would actually need to be done for a massive publisher acquisition to feel 'organic'

 

[Embearded]

I have a vague but distinct feeling that some studio (BluePoint IIRC) denied purchase by Sony (probably after that famous gaffe) but ended up purchased anyway. Anyone 'members?

Yes that's exactly how it went.

 

[Clintizzle]

Probably not real.

In my stupid brain's opinion, I don't know if it would be a good purchase. Sony already owns the Helldivers IP and would only buy the studio's talent. I have been enjoying Helldivers II but won't say it does anything that makes me go "Only Arrowhead could have pulled this off". Arrowhead has made 3 smallish games since 2014 and would need to show Sony some really cool things in the pipeline to be even considered for aquizition.

 

[Kenneth Haight]

 

[diffusionx]

I know. Imagine if Sony acquired their biggest studios like Naughty Dog, Guerilla, and Insomniac...

Not sure if he was being sarcastic, but isn't the idea that Sony is acquiring devs that they have worked with, in some cases over many years, as opposed to MS just buying studios out there like they are at Costco?

The only notable exception to this is Bungie, and, well, that's going... Well it's going.

 

[Topher]

How do you make "difficult" decisions to lay off people and buy studios at the same time? If true......just looks bad.

Eh....I just wish more studios would stay independent.

 

[rhodesianshepard]

Friendly microtransactions going to end sooner rather than later if Sony owned.

But I'll be a little surprised if this rumor is true. Unless Sony overpaid them like crazy, I just don't see much of a reason why Arrowhead wouldn't wait for HD2 to peak in a few years rather than grab a bag now. Maybe Sony owning the IP gives Arrowhead much less leverage in this situation. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony already gets 70%+ of all profits by financing HD2

 

[TheInfamousKira]

Better than acquiring the shaft, m I rite bow bros?

 

[laynelane]

This is actually an interesting point worth discussing.

I think so too, although this may not be the topic for it. It would be different if this was confirmed, but it's just a rumour with no backing to it whatsoever.

 

[kyussman]

There was a time aquisitions were interesting but I'm kind of sick of them now,lol......don't know what these guys do and I can't even be bothered to google them to find out.

 

[rhodesianshepard]

I'm not sure what to make of this comment. Loads of Activision and Bethesda games have come on Microsoft platforms, especially with mod support in some bethesda titles. Is that not organic?

Or are we saying Microsoft should have made loads of exclusive contracts with these publishers before moving into acquisition?

Like it sounds good, what you said, I just don't at all understand what would actually need to be done for a massive publisher acquisition to feel 'organic'

No, it is not organic. Sony directly worked with most of their studios by financing, publishing, or co-developing before acquiring any of them. Sony has a much better idea of how the studio functions within their studio pipeline compared to what Microsoft is doing, which is just buying publishers wholesale

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Sony: Acquires the studio which released one of the most popular multiplayer games this year
Meanwhile Microsoft:

always one step ahead.

 

[Ansphn]

You do understand that Arrowhead has been working with Sony for the last 10 years, its a relative small studio and cannot be compared with Bethesda or Activision right?

Don't matter. According to some, 15 person studio is the same as 5000 person studio.

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

Friendly microtransactions going to end sooner rather than later if Sony owned?

Does Sony have a history of predatory MTX policies?

Also, it’s really tough to figure out who is being genuine and who thinks they’re being ironic when they talk about this (potential) acquisition as an example of “organic growth”.

I just don't at all understand what would actually need to be done for a massive publisher acquisition to feel 'organic'

It can’t be done. That’s the point. “Organic”, to me - and I’m happy to hear other people’s views here - suggests that the company grows significantly with the guidance or support of the acquiring company. In the case of a massive publisher like Activision or Bethesda (etc.), they’re cashing in on the success they have earned for themselves. In the case of Arrowhead (and Naughty Dog, Insomniac, etc.) Sony are reaping the rewards of their investments - investments that they made with no obligations to purchase and thus minimal risk on their part, and so they now need to pay for. Other companies that received similar support without that same level of success can then be, if you like, “organically” pruned.

 

[Aenima]

I think it was Insomniac?

If my memory is not failing me, it was Bluepoint when the japanese playstation twitter leaked the aquisition in a screenshot, a Bluepoint dev responded that they are independent, just to be anounced some months later that they indeed had been aquired by Sony.

 

[MikeM]

So if a platform holder moneyhats a developer's games for years, and THEN acquires them, it's organic. Got it!

Helldivers IP is owner by Sony.

 

[ShadowkillXNA]

Sony: Acquires the studio which released one of the most popular multiplayer games this year
Meanwhile Microsoft:

 

[bitbydeath]

Tweet is already deleted.
While it could happen in future Twitter is rarely ever right when it comes to rumours.

 

[Interfectum]

Sony: Acquires the studio which released one of the most popular multiplayer games this year
Meanwhile Microsoft:

 

[TVexperto]

Why can’t Microsoft grow organically like Sony does?

Sony's like that kid who aces every test, rocks out in a band, and throws the sickest parties.

they are diversified, dude! Music, movies, electronics – they're everywhere, spreading their bets and potentially softening any blows. Meanwhile, Microsoft's been grinding away in the library, acing those software and hardware exams, especially for the big corporations. Don't get me wrong, that's a sweet gig, but it ain't exactly the recipe for the next killer exclusive, right? Then there's the whole "buy it instead of build it" thing. Microsoft's known for scooping up companies like shiny new loot, which can be a quick way to level up, but some argue it leaves them lacking that homegrown talent and that special spark of innovation that makes gamers go "whoa, dude!" But hey, that's just my noob take! What do you think? Maybe Microsoft just needs to find its own unique quest, something that sets them apart from the Sony juggernaut. Let's hear your epic theories in the comments below! We might just crack the code and unlock the secrets of Xbox domination!

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

Why would they even want that? Other than the obvious fat payout, staying independent has a lot of perks.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Makes sense. Their current in house made gaas have been a trainwreck of cancellations. And bungie has been going down the tubes. With the money they save axing 900 people I’m sure buying arrowhead doesn’t cost that much. Consider it an asset swap of people.