Support NeoGAF

[Keiji84]

Personally, I hope it’s Housemarque.

That's definitly my bet.

 

[Pantz]

How about Supermassive Games?

They've been mostly with Sony and a few Windows releases until The Dark Pictures Anthology, being their first Xbox release. Right about that time for a 10 year contract to run out.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Ready At Dawn, Housemarque immediately jumped to mind. I would be stunned if it were Insomniac, given that Sony has clearly made overtures to them in the past and passing on the chance to iterate on the monumental success of Spider-Man would be dubious.

What’s the status of Supermassive? They and QD both come to mind but the latter seems a bad idea and not in line with how MS wants to operate (they want domestic studios, trying to manage a studio overseas is immensely tricky - and yes, I recognize the irony in thinking MS might consider buying Housemarque).

 

[AudioEppa]

As long as it’s not QD or Supermassive, I’m good. I liked The Order, But I won’t miss RaD. If their next game looks good, I always have option playing on PC. But I really only see this “rumor” as a way to generate interest about what Microsoft is doing because the last few weeks have been about Sony.

 

[Dabaus]

Maybe Sony will retaliate by buying Studio MHDR. You think Sony will just sit back and watch MS scoop up all these studios and do nothing?

Apparently that's what sony is doing. Sitting back and watching the competition gobble up studios.

 

[Snake29]

I think people forget just how much money MS has.

You think? Yet..most of their products mostly fail. I doesn't really matter how much money you have, if you still can't produce quality games with your studios.

What i want to say is that all those studio purchased doesn't give you automatically quality games. Let's see how they are able to manage them first.

 

[Tbone3336]

I am not sure what fruit any of these acquisitions might bear, but MS are definitely putting money where Phil's mouth was over the past several years. I was one who watched him constantly say, we are going to do this and do that in relation to games, first party in general, and while it took a while on the software side and still will, they are backing up his words with actual money, more than I expected.

On console gaming side of things, I feel, might not be backed by facts, but it seems like there are more quality, diverse, small to mid-size games and genre's now hitting console that we did not have up to several years ago, so MS having game pass and many different types of games on offer for it has me excited for them moving forward.

 

[Yoshi]

Just like how Sony tried to make their own Forza, their own Halo, Gears? Failed with each attempt too.

To be fair, Forza could well be seen as Microsoft's Gran Tourismo. Microsoft has done many things with Xbox though and hav enot consistently been trying to one-up what Sony does.

 

[Osukaa]

It’s either Housemarque or Ready at Dawn.

I bet on this as well .. leaning towards Ready at Dawn.
I was one of the people who really enjoyed The Order 1886 so if they can get back to doing big projects again (and if the talent is still there) id love to see them back in form.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

Don't think it's ready at dawn - theyve worked more than "a bit" with Sony. 6/8 of their games are on sony machines and only 1 wasn't exclusive.

possibly QD as they would want it for the facial tech and Cage storytelling, less so the gameplay or IPs.

still i think its gonna be a smaller studio though.

 

[Jigsaah]

They’re building up their current studios and strengthening the talent there. They aren’t doing nothing.

As far as this rumor, doesn’t surprise me. Microsoft has been a “Sony too” company since the original Xbox. They’ve always made their own version of whatever’s popular on PlayStation.

Microsoft....copies...Sony? PSNow would like to see you in it's office...

And since the original Xbox? That's quite a claim you got there. Mind sharing some examples?

 

[bitbydeath]

Bluepoint isn't "TOO" successful. They've basically done more ports than anything and, they are a mid-sized studio who has historically done work with Playstation "a bit". I wouldnt count them out...AT ALL.

Also, MGS is expanding in Asia with an HQ. The sole purpose is to close deals with developers and such. Wouldnt be surprised to hear of a Japanese dev house joining the ranks w/MGS.

BluePoint haven’t worked with Playstation ‘a bit’. All but one of their games are Playstation exclusive.

 

[Keiji84]

Don't think it's ready at dawn - theyve worked more than "a bit" with Sony. 6/8 of their games are on sony machines and only 1 wasn't exclusive.

Didn't think of that. Microsoft is ready to buy another "not interesting" studio.

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

Bluepoint is another option

 

[Blam]

To be fair, Forza could well be seen as Microsoft's Gran Tourismo. Microsoft has done many things with Xbox though and hav enot consistently been trying to one-up what Sony does.

I feel like PGR was their first GT, and then Turn10/Playgrounds sorta cemented themselves as the true GT competitor being Forza. Oh I know they're not consistently trying to do that.

 

[SaturnSaturn]

Atlus wold be a MEGATON, but what are the chances of a Japanese studio selling out to Microsoft?

No chance, sega owns atlus.

Maybe it is thatgamecompany?

 

[GeoramA]

There have a been a ton of mid-size devs that have worked with Sony. Ms just bought one in Ninja Theory.

Sumo Digital worked on LittleBigPlanet 3. Could be them?

 

[Fox Mulder]

RIP to whoever being purchased

MS is known to ruin their purchases

RIP rare, RIP lion head , RIP Nokia

People have been saying MS needed to beef up their first party for like a decade. Now they're doing it by buying smaller independent studios.

We'll have to see how the fruit looks in 3+ years or whatever first.

 

[Gavin Stevens]

I can’t say too much on the subject but my sources tell me it’s actualy Sony. MS are buying Sony and will be releasing the Microsoft Sony PlayStation 5, to compete with their own product, the Microsoft xbox 17.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Sony should buy Larian Studios.

 

[Rogas]

Hopefully it's Ready at Dawn and not Quantic Dream.

 

[12Dannu123]

The traditional approach is just to poach talent, because although IP can be owned, the people behind them are free-agents and can always be tempted by a better deal. That's the thing about buying studios, its more than a bill of goods.

Buying the people and not the IP doesn't work on a Game Pass Netflix Era. You can have all thr talent but you have no IPs to leverage, it leaves you with nothing really. Similar to patents.

 

[Keiji84]

Hopefully it's Ready at Dawn and not Quantic Dream.

Don't worry it's not Quantic Dream. They did 3 PlayStation exclusives. We talk about a studio who worked a bit with PlayStation.

I can’t say too much on the subject but my sources tell me it’s actualy Sony. MS are buying Sony and will be releasing the Microsoft Sony PlayStation 5, to compete with their own product, the Microsoft xbox 17.

I laughed so hard.

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

Supergiant is another that seems to fit the bill.

 

[Fulcizombie]

People have been saying MS needed to beef up their first party for like a decade. Now they're doing it by buying smaller independent studios.

We'll have to see how the fruit looks in 3+ years or whatever first.

People will never be happy with MS because most of the people whining at MS want MS to exit the console business. MS taking gaming more seriously is bad news for most anti-MS people .

 

[Xenon]

That Game Company would be an interesting pick up.

 

[Afro Republican]

I feel like PGR was their first GT, and then Turn10/Playgrounds sorta cemented themselves as the true GT competitor being Forza. Oh I know they're not consistently trying to do that.

You though an Urban arcade racer was microsoft's first GT??

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

100% won't be Quantic Dream

Microsoft won't touch that toxic workplace with a 10 foot pole

 

[Blam]

You though an Urban arcade racer was microsoft's first GT??

Well it's not like Microsoft was going to push the exact same game at the time?

 

[ThatStupidLion]

Drinkbox?

 

[TeamGhobad]

Why would the developers exit? They don’t like money. Why would they care? They get paid to make games do you think they are extreme Sony fanboys. I mean they already make PC games.

happened many times before. studio head sells company and leaves with the best devs and starts a new company.

 

[Interfectum]

I'm still going with Ready at Dawn. Seems like the most obvious choice, IMO.

 

[prinz_valium]

100% won't be Quantic Dream

Microsoft won't touch that toxic workplace with a 10 foot pole

If not Quantic Drams and also not Insomniac, what else is left?

 

[Fulcizombie]

If not Quantic Drams and also not Insomniac, what else is left?

It’s ready at dawn. I doubt MS would actually want QD and insomniac wont become a first party studio after the success of spider man.

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

If not Quantic Drams and also not Insomniac, what else is left?

Housemarque?
Supergiant?
Supermassive?
Ready at Dawn?
thatgamecompany?
Bluepoint?

Still a few options.

 

[Keiji84]

If not Quantic Drams and also not Insomniac, what else is left?

Uninteresting studios.

 

[Afro Republican]

Well it's not like Microsoft was going to push the exact same game at the time?

I mean the first Forza came out on Xbox 1 so.

 

[Sosokrates]

Going by there recent purchases, RAD seems the most likely.
That would be a great get for MS.
Despite the order being underwhelming, they have a lot of talent.

 

[Interfectum]

Uninteresting studios.

Hey now, Housemarque is working on an original title where you are dropped on an island and have to be the last man standing as the play field shrinks.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

Housemarque?
Supergiant?
Supermassive?
Ready at Dawn?
thatgamecompany?
Bluepoint?

Still a few options.

arent most of these owned by/work exclusively with sony or another publisher

only RAD makes sense out of those i think.

 

[TGO]

Tequila Works is my guess.

 

[Afro Republican]

You think? Yet..most of their products mostly fail. .

Xbox, Surfacebook Surface tabs, Server Hardware, all successes.

 

[VAL0R]

Phil drinking Kaz's milkshake and he ain't even to the bottom of the billfold yet. Satya, hold your boy back some.

 

[Keiji84]

Hey now, Housemarque is working on an original title where you are dropped on an island and have to be the last man standing as the play field shrinks.

Okay I take that back.

 

[DigitalScrap]

ready at dawn went belly up with their dumb ball game. 1886 was a total failure sony's first this gen, it would not be a good purchase imo.

While the Order sucked and rightfully flopped, they didn’t go belly up - in fact they just expanded last month and opened a satellite studio in Portland.

It will be interesting to see who it turns out to be.

 

[Raitoningu]

I think people forget just how much money MS has.

Must be why they can afford only the shitties tiny studios instead of the big boys out there

 

[Gavon West]

Betting its a couple of studios, like 2 or 3.

 

[Gavon West]

Must be why they can afford only the shitties tiny studios instead of the big boys out there

Stay on top of those sodium levels breh! Salt will KILL YA!! lololol

 

[Interfectum]

Must be why they can afford only the shitties tiny studios instead of the big boys out there

Many smaller studios with potential vs one or two giant studios where you have to cut off half their revenue (no PS4/PS5) cause you own them now.

I think they are smart playing the long game trying to build up studios tbh.

 

[JokerMM]

I can’t say too much on the subject but my sources tell me it’s actualy Sony. MS are buying Sony and will be releasing the Microsoft Sony PlayStation 5, to compete with their own product, the Microsoft xbox 17.

this makes a lot of sense actually