mejin
Member
I can understand this, but market decides in the end. That's why I think its best to focus on facts, not on personal opinions since sometimes our opinion does not reflect reality.
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Microsoft Studio Acquisitions
- Thread starter Strife In a Teacup
- Start date
I can understand this, but market decides in the end. That's why I think its best to focus on facts, not on personal opinions since sometimes our opinion does not reflect reality.
michaelius
Banned
That was sarcasm right ?
IncognitoPanda
Member
People seem to forget that MS said they were looking for 50-100 man teams that make "AA" titles on a 2-3 year cycle to put on gamepass.
I think MS is wary of the difficulties and pitfalls of making a AAA studio, and felt it was enough with one (The Initiative). Don't get the AAA conspiracy theories here. GamePass is their big focus now, and bringing people into their ecosystem. Like netflix, they focus more on original content and quantity than the one next big game. GamePass is in many ways their biggest new IP, and they want to keep people there.
I think MS is wary of the difficulties and pitfalls of making a AAA studio, and felt it was enough with one (The Initiative). Don't get the AAA conspiracy theories here. GamePass is their big focus now, and bringing people into their ecosystem. Like netflix, they focus more on original content and quantity than the one next big game. GamePass is in many ways their biggest new IP, and they want to keep people there.
TeamGhobad
Banned
all these acquisitions. no games announced...
Ar¢tos
Member
They might have learned from the Scalebound mistake. I don't see them putting these new studios making games with forced MP or shooting mechanics.
joe_zazen
Member
I'd be surprised if there was freedom. Xbox has been given money because MS sees the division as being able to push their hybrid computing initiative. That initiative is a seamless computing experience that is part cloud and part local hardware, and customers will pay for it on an ongoing basis; this is true from the OS division to the cloud to the office to the gaming. It is bullshit to think that xbox has been given money because Nadella and the board of billionaires are gamers (fucking LOOOOOOOOL) and all they care about is giving developers freedom. No, they want xbox to be a driver of hybrid subscription computing.
Eery studio will have to push in that direction. What kind of games will help push in that direction?
- they must be streamable, so games that are fine with 125-150ms of latency. which means loose controls but you can play them on very low end hardware
- must be able to be run locally so that they look good, thus keeping the enthusiasts engaged. I believe MS won't have any problem having a $600 or even a $700 machine to go along with their $100 to $150 base box if Sony releases a $500 machine. So the big games at least, will always look best on MS' top end box.
- MS Studios is THE gamepass driver, and since MS is all about recurring revenue and subs for ALL their products, they will not make games that do not drive gamepass sales. Every game will be Gaas.
- There must be revenue from ingame transactions, and in 2019 and beyond this means cosmetics. Cosmetic transactions only work in a social setting, because humans are only motivated in a social context by that kind of thing. Nobody dresses up, puts on jewelry, applies makeup etc to eat dinner by themselves in their home. So, you are looking at multiplayer as core to everything.
Now this doesn't mean everything will be 100% that way. Rockstar has shown that having a premier single player experience in gtaV can create enormous GaaS success in what is essentially separate multiplayer game. So, I don't think something like the next Halo will be only multiplayer. But, I feel confident in saying that every studio will be GaaS centric, and their focus will be on always online multiplayer, and single player will only be important insofar as it helps with that.
This very well might be a winning strategy. The most successful games with the most passionate communities are exactly these kinds of games. The biggest money earners are League of Legends, WoW, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Minecraft, GTAO, PokemonGO, Call of Duty, PUBG, Fortnite, Monster Stike, Clash of Clans, Destiny, FiFa, Madden, etc.
The other two platform holders have nothing like the above (pokemongo is not a Switch game), iirc. So, this really could be a winning strategy for microsoft. In fact, if it works out, they might even use it to restart their mobile division. There are many people who would buy a phone if it was a place to play their favorite GaaS game. Apple's gaming strategy is strait up garbage as they literally invest nothing in gaming and just skim money off microtransactions in exploitative games from other companies. And if the hybrid experience extends to having full featured cloud versions of desktop apps that integrate seamlessly with people's PCs, it could make a microsoft phone super useful versus Apple's frustrating anit-productivity ios environment.
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Pallas
Member
You expect games from the newly acquired studios already? Lol
Lot of speculation there.
1. I highly doubt you’ll see another launch console anytime soon to be over $499, everyone learned from a mistake made by Sony’s PS3 launch. I can potentially see an enthusiastic console for the small niche market of power users, that may be over that price but it would more than likely be a transitional/midway gap console and not a launch console.
2. Won’t every game on gamepass by default drive gamepass? Its giving players to basically test drive games, some games that they never really intended to try or buy will be playable to them. Hundreds of games. I don’t think every game will have to mandatorily be Gaas as well to be on gamepass, just my opinion. Plus gamepass has been shown to boost sales, which could help those games that are often times not as well advertised or overshadow by bigger developers.
3. Perhaps, I don’t see every game having this though and cosmetic loot boxes aren’t nearly as bad as those that give an advantage, so I’m pretty ok with cosmetic loot boxes myself and as for multiplayer being part of everything, if anything Sony has done this generation that benefitted Microsoft its to show them that single player games can and will sell if they are made well.
TeamGhobad
Banned
they acquired a few studios a while back. maybe one of them could have announced something, show something..
Pallas
Member
You mean the studios at E3? You probably won’t hear much until they get stuff together. Only thing we’ve heard really is Playground supposedly working on the next Fable.
joe_zazen
Member
They will simultaneouly have the the cheapest (hybrid streaming) box and the most powerful box for enthusiasts who want maximum performance. No one has done that before.
Sure all games will make gamepass more appealing, but we want to look at maximazation of return on investment. What kind of games earn the big money and where are the most players month after month? Would games like Spiderman, God of War, or Red Dead single player drive subs for microsoft long term? How do you maximize revenue in game?
Yes, for one month they sell well. But is that good enough?
Edit: and their focus on having all their products be sub based services that commit to hybrid computing is not speculation.
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Dr. Claus
Vincit qui se vincit
The fact that you said that shows that you a painfully ignorant troll. Please try again, maybe this time with some decent grammar.
thelastword
Banned
Well I can understand that, they like their freedom....so they lean...
As for the OP, Obsidian and Inxile's games have their following, but it was mostly on PC and even then, they never made super popular games or had a string of highly rated ones.....The other questions would be; Will they be making the same games? Will MS make them change focus or the type of games, because as I said, their games mainly catered to the PC crowd.....Of course, MS mostly bought them to bolster software on their console, so focus will have to change to what sells on consoles, especially what XBOX fans fans gravitate to, and I'm not sure they gravitate to too many isometric rpg's...….
Strife In a Teacup
Member
I have physical copies of Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2, and Torment on Xbox, and I've been telling them what I want on the MS surveys I've been getting.
So these acquisitions for me seems like Microsoft is listening to their fans, and I like that.
Now they just need to listen to my most requested item, FO:NV X Enhanced. MS already has a good relationship with Bethesda, and now that they own Obsidian I think it's quite likely it'll happen as a gesture of good will. Or at least that's my hope.
too much eslim
Member
Turn 10 and 343 we're designed for those games. Are you complaining about PD only making GT games? Playground was second party they have their own freedom to do whatever. They are about to have 3 teams now. So playground will do more than they pleased. The coalition I'm not sure what their freedom is because before MS bought the gears ip they were going to do something else. But they are allowing studios to do what they want within reason. Rare isn't going to just make SOT.
WaterAstro
Member
What freedom? Aside from Sea of Thieves, there has been nothing else.
CatLady
Selfishly plays on Xbox Purr-ies X
And Moon Studios
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
With the exception of Ninja Theory, every single studio that MS has acquired has released a game this year. We're probably not going to see anything from them for a couple years.
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Elenchus
Banned
Focus on doing what for PC exactly?
TeamGhobad
Banned
and that is worrisome, what are we playing next year, and the year after that? all their games are going to be 3-4years away.
EDMIX
Member
? Who is saying they bought them to shut them down? You just a bit too forceful with that post bud, no one is saying that at all. Fact of the matter is, MS bought teams.....MS closed down said teams, so we are not talking about something thats never happened. So no one is saying they are buying them for the sole purpose of closing them down, simply that MS has a history of using a team for its original IPs and then closing down when their down with that IP.
All that is being stated is we don't have much real proof that the company is done operating like this and we need to legit just wait til the end of next gen to see if they REALLY don't continue that practice.
EverydayBeast
thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
Huh? Games for Windows, Hololens, Surface for starters...
Ah, a glass half empty guy. Lovely.
Rhazer Fusion
Member
Porn? I don’t think they qualify as porn because there’s no frontal nudity or sex in them to my knowledge. If cellphone games are considered games, why not visual novels?
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Probably 2-3 years if you read what MS has been saying. These studios will put out mid level games every 2-3 years per 50-100 man team. These are meant to fill out gamepass with a diverse catalog. Next year is crackdown and gears 5 plus a few other games.
Both have done shitty things shutting down studios and leave it at that. I prefer to avoid list wars and this bring topic shutdown.
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
Well next year we absolutely know that we have Crackdown 3 and Gears 5. Perhaps the next iteration of Forza? After that there's Halo Infinite and we don't know when that's coming out but I'm guessing 2020. Like I said, Ninja Theory had been quiet since Hellblade so they may have something for us at the next E3. There's also the unannounced Playground game that is not Forza Horizon that we may see as well.
We know that inXile is working on Wasteland 3 for next year as they finish out their kickstarter and apparently Obsidian is working on an RPG for Take Two.
MS has stated in the past that they are looking at studios who put out games on a 2 to 3 year cadence so your 3-4 year assumption is misplaced imo.
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EDMIX
Member
Ah, logic...
Until they actually go thru those generations with those teams actually making new IP and staying open, we will not know for sure if they use them for 1 IP and close them down. In order to prove that, a lot of time needs to pass, ie they make a new IP, sequels and then another and stay open. The criticism was MS was closing down those studios after using them for 1 IP. Them making a new IP, then ANOTHER new IP and staying open would show MS has changed, which means this might take a while lol.
Sorry but we can't just wildly believe any company solely off of them saying so as its not as if MS at the start of this gen told everyone they would close down studios, cancel games and just give you Halo, Gears, Forza on repeat. JUST like we need to actually SEE EA delay games and actually REALLY give free DLC and remove lootboxes before they can really be trusted that its their real long term objective.
Many, many people asked if BFV would have free DLC and where doubtful even with TF2 and BF2 having free DLC, well guess what? It takes a very long time of doing the thing you are saying you are going to do, before the public actually really believe and trust that is what you are doing.
So of next gen, ALL EA ips have no loot boxes and free DLC, they can very much be known for doing that other then a test with TF2, BF2 and BFV. You just have to understand that we can't just SOLELY go on the world of the publisher because its not as if they've never promised to change before.
EDMIX
Member
I don't see it as shitty as its business. It must be done. The problem I have with MS is that they seem to do this after only making the team work on 1 IP. So its not saying don't close down studios as if its not working, its not working and they have to do what they have to do. Its saying stop buying such studios to ONLY have them work on one IP or the highway if they fail.
EDMIX
Member
Thats what I think the drive was for. If they make those games gamepass exclusive.... I'm just going to get the service for a month lol
FF:Enhanced_Reality
Member
I'd argue they've bought enough. If they want to continue expansion in this way then it does call for a reaction from Sony. I would snap up Konami and several other developers if I was Sony, and own a large portion of shares in Capcom, Namco, Square and SEGA if Microsoft continued an aggressive expansion plan.
EDMIX
Member
I'd say if Sony does anything with Konami they might just want to take the IPs as I just don't know how much those studios are really worth.
FF:Enhanced_Reality
Member
Their overall business could be very beneficial. Panchiko machines based on sony properties. The possibilities are endless.
Dr. Claus
Vincit qui se vincit
To them, implicit is the same as explicit - despite any second grader realizing they are two completely different things.
Rhazer Fusion
Member
Very true. When I saw people call doa5 a porno game, I immediately knew there was no hope for them.
Thiagosc777
Member
I thought this was funny. Another "insider" full of BS:
Actually i think MS could use a few more mid level studios. The goal for them should be around 10-12 of these mid level studios. That ensure with expected delays on some games they get a new first party content every few months to keep people subscribed to game pass monthly long term. The goal long term as gamepass gets more subscribers be enough teams to get on average 1 release a month to keep people engaged and subscribed like netflix who drop content left and right. Just not as realistic in gaming industry with a longer development times.
Im sure the budgets were cut until gamepass became a success and they could monetize through a new 10 dollar monthly subscription. Once the bean counters saw that they are giving Phil a chance to go for it. They have a real shot at the Netflix of gaming with gamepass and the upcoming streaming service.
Hendrick's
If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
They have enough studios. Time to start making games.
Louis Cyphre
Banned
End of next gen? Looks like you are skipping the next Xbox regardless. Funny how your seem to have a dog in this fight yet want to wait until the end of next gen to give them any credit. Even then it will be like pulling teeth to get you to say anything positive.
Pallas
Member
Well if Phil is to be believed, they will be making games that they want to make. So only time can tell.
Well games take time to be made, they won’t just magically appeared. I’m not sure why anyone would expect anything this early from these studios, it hasn’t even been a full year, hell not even a half year.
Mattyp
Gold Member
All their new studios are free to make what they wish, even Playground is being aloud to branch out and rumour is Coalition is working on a Perfect Dark reboot also. But I'm sure Bungie is happy having to pump out a Destiny and DLC constantly every couple of years with 0 choice, how many was it in their contract again?
343 is a studio created just for Halo, Its the premier exclusive FPS of the last 3 generations and will always have a stand alone studio behind it. The same with Turn10, who are also actually having a break next year.
See above, or better yet go watch all the youtube videos of every studio they have picked up.
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Elenchus
Banned
Not sure how Xbox diminishes any of that. You’ll never have enough PC gamers to support AAA Xbox exclusives anyway. Cost of entry is too high. So without the console you’d get the same sad games that are exclusive to PC now. There is a reason there are no AAA exclusives on PC. It’s a platform for playing console ports in higher quality but not much more.
I tend to believe the teams who got bought out. This is a different business model than the usual one. Phil and MS see this hence the diverse range of developers bought out. Gamepass needs diversity and these purchases show that. Every team so far had said they are free to pursue the games they wish.
Pallas
Member
Yeah I pretty much agree with this, it would be really bad to go back on their word and imagine it was probably one of the stipulations in these buy outs. Letting teams excercise creative freedom. Sony has done the same, this is why competition is great, you learn from your rivals but I imagine it also overall makes developers happier to have creative freedom, and happy developers = better overall product I imagine.