Game News 2.0

sniper_samurai · 31-01-2022 7:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561332#Comment_118561332

A lot more difficult than with MS/Activision to do so. Can't see it happening myself unless they scupper Destiny 2 for a third game.

EoinMcLovin · 31-01-2022 7:19pm

Sony Interactive Entertainment today announced a deal to acquire Bungie for $3.6 billion, the latest in a string of big-ticket consolidation deals in the games industry.

After the deal closes, Bungie will be "an independent subsidiary" of SIE run by a board of directors consisting of current CEO and chairman Pete Parsons and the rest of the studio's current management team.

Sony has said Bungie will remain a multiplatform studio, with the option "to self-publish and reach players wherever they choose to play."

At present, the studio is working on maintaining Destiny 2, expanding the Destiny franchise, and working on new IP.

"We've had a strong partnership with Bungie since the inception of the Destiny franchise, and I couldn't be more thrilled to officially welcome the studio to the PlayStation family," said SIE president and CEO Jim Ryan.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-31-sony-buying-bungie-for-usd3-6-billion

Retr0gamer · 31-01-2022 7:22pm

3.6 billion is kind of outrageous.

I mean what ip have they got, destiny, myth, marathon path ways to darkness and fecking oni....

31-01-2022 7:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561345#Comment_118561345

I'm not so sure. If you think about it, they've reached full growth. COD has been the same COD for years/decades. Destiny has been the same old destiny since it started. I'm not sure the studios can continue to grow and that's why we are seeing this. If it means I've to buy both an Xbox and a PS then so what. Or if GPU's ever become available and affordable again switch to PC where I can play everything. We know Destiny will be console exclusive but I wonder will they remove it from PC, or have Bungie secured PC releases as part of the deal?

sniper_samurai · 31-01-2022 7:23pm

Game is staying multi platform and they retain the right to self publish content. Tbh, this isn't a bad deal for Bungie giving them financial stability a essentially a second party developer.

https://twitter.com/DestinyTheGame/status/1488212326838796294

31-01-2022 7:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561387#Comment_118561387

That's possitive, but I'd like to see the small print. I mean what's in it for Sony? Maybe the Movie rights LOLZ :-D

CatInABox · 31-01-2022 7:26pm

Does "multiplatform" include Xbox, or are they just referring to PC there. Who knows? Until the deal closes, it's all just smoke and mirrors, same as with the Bethesda and Activision deals.

As I said in the Activision thread, I'd like this wave of consolidation to stop now, please. Sadly, I have the feeling that this is not the end.

CatInABox · 31-01-2022 7:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561387#Comment_118561387

Wonder how it'll go long term. Bungie didn't like being in under MS, forced there way, then they didn't like being close to Activision, cut that deal short, now bought out by Sony.

super_furry · 31-01-2022 7:44pm

Think if Sony pulled Destiny from Xbox it could start a tit-for-tat fight that I think Sony would suffer more in.

Interesting move and a statement from Sony. Really thought that buying Square-Enix would be their first big move, but if Bungie are valued at $3.6billion, then Square might be too pricey.

pixelburp · 31-01-2022 7:51pm

It is getting quite similar to non digital capitalism where basically any major, household brand is owned by about 10 companies.

Penn · 31-01-2022 7:53pm

Really not sure this is a smart move by Sony. Obviously not done in response to MS buying ActivisionBlizzard, given how long such deals take to agree, but Bungie? For that price? And not take them exclusive?

Don't get me wrong, hugely talented studio, and Destiny is a great game once there's enough content released rather than what the games are like at launch. But I really don't see the huge benefit to this deal.

Either way, I really dislike the growing shift to studio acquisitions. At this point I'm on the lookout for a Series X so it won't affect me regardless, but it's just getting dirty.

I don't mind buying smaller, talented studios and help to build them up, but buying bigger studios just feels wrong.

Grumpypants · 31-01-2022 7:58pm

We won't see the benefits of all these acquisitions for another 2-3 years.

In about 6 months all the top leaders in these studios will be "leaving to work on passion projects". They will bring with them the top skilled individuals from those studios as they set up new studios.

Then we will get loads of new IP just as Gen 5 hits it's stride in 2024-25

It will be great.

31-01-2022 7:59pm

There's still indie games to give us some variety against the major publishers.

super_furry · 31-01-2022 8:02pm

I'd be interested in seeing what Bungie could do Sony's IP - might even be able to get a good Killzone or Resistance.

johnny_ultimate · 31-01-2022 8:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561382#Comment_118561382

The ‘full growth’ part is the problem, albeit a feature of capitalism. It’s depressing to me that a studio can’t just comfortably maintain a hugely popular game - there shouldn’t be a need to be constantly growing profits, just enough to sustain the studio and support staff at a comfortable level.

Maybe the financial reality is this makes sense for Bungie. But big name and esteemed studios are being bought up at alarming rates now, and I can’t help but think of what’s happened at Disney (creatively speaking) as an example of the consequences of such rapid consolidation.

31-01-2022 8:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561606#Comment_118561606

I think to compare video games to movies and TV is a fallacy, tbh.

To create a movie or TV show to a "AAA" level requires enormous resources, meaning only the largest production companies can attempt them.

The barrier to entry for video games is not only a lot lower, but that bar seems to continue downwards as technology improves.

Indie movies and TV shows don't stand a chance against the big studios. But indie video games can and do achieve great sales.

31-01-2022 8:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561606#Comment_118561606

I wouldn't compare it to Disney. Disney have a very strict family, child friendly business model that is at the core of everything they do. Xbox and Playstation just want to make profits in the game business, I don't think they have any morals in that regard. Personally I'd favour Xbox over PS for allowing creative expression and freedom in their studios. If Sony have any strict rules it would be around AAA big budget "playable Movie" games.

J Mysterio · 31-01-2022 8:35pm

XCOM2 Art Director has opened a new studio - Bit Reactor - that hopes to usher in the 'golden age for turn based games'.

https://www.pcgamer.com/xcom-2-art-directors-new-studio-aims-to-spark-a-golden-age-of-turn-based-games/

J Mysterio · 31-01-2022 8:36pm

Crusader Kings 3 coming to PS5 and XBox end of March.

https://www.polygon.com/22901556/crusader-kings-3-console-release-date-ps5-xbox-series-x

sniper_samurai · 31-01-2022 8:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561759#Comment_118561759

And going straight into Game Pass on Xbox.

31-01-2022 8:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118561779#Comment_118561779

I wonder if it will play well on a phone. Could be a good one for on the move.

Retr0gamer · 31-01-2022 9:33pm

Maybe Sony can finally have a halo killer instead of pretending that killzone is one.

Potential-Monke · 31-01-2022 9:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118562080#Comment_118562080

I wasn't a massive fan of either, but Killzone was better than Halo imo. Could never get the love for Halo. I can do without either!

Varik · 31-01-2022 9:50pm

Loved the hits on Killzone, you'd get a beep kinda sound when you'd hit an enemy and then a kinda chirp with a kill and the game has some great physics for using the guns and getting hit/killed by them. Shotguns would lift people.

EoinMcLovin · 31-01-2022 10:44pm

https://twitter.com/Wario64/status/1488265418284290053?t=TWny2GzPCCa4DNMcC1IIWA&s=19

___

https://twitter.com/powerlanguish/status/1488263944309731329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1488263944309731329%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=

Exclamation Marc · 31-01-2022 10:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118562464#Comment_118562464

And it'll die off entirely when they try to charge for it.

Zero-Cool · 31-01-2022 11:05pm

Goddamn i love Wordle, really gets my brain going before work in the morning. Can definitely see you needing a NYT sub to play it.

johnny_ultimate · 31-01-2022 11:06pm

And yet of all the industry deals of the last fortnight, the Wordle one is the only one my siblings and parents would be able to give an opinion on 😂

(Said as a loyal Wordle fan)

Penn · 31-01-2022 11:10pm

Fair play to the guy who made it. He struck absolute gold and made the right decision to just cash out with the right offer. Thoroughly deserves a big cheque.

EoinMcLovin · 31-01-2022 11:21pm

There is also lewdle which reached 1 million players last week

https://www.lewdlegame.com/

Markitron · 31-01-2022 11:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118562080#Comment_118562080

IIRC Sony and Guerrilla hated that label, it was saddled with that by games media. Also Killzone 2 is twice as good as any Halo game and anyone that says otherwise is incorrect.

Treppen · 31-01-2022 11:31pm

I like the textures of Rebellion games. Nearly a comic feel to it, rather than trying to be ultra real like COD or Battlefield.

Coming to Gamepass too !

https://youtu.be/Kvl80YnxLgE

Retr0gamer · 01-02-2022 2:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118562734#Comment_118562734

Really did not get the love for Killzone 2. Played it when the circle jerk over the graphics calmed down and it was a very boring shooter which felt dated in terms of design. The graphics might have looked nice but the art direction was boring, performance was pants and the lag on controls horrendous since they hadn't quite figured out deferred rendering yet. The boss battles as well felt like something from 1998. It just seemed like graphical fidelity over gameplay. Halo 3's battles were so much more fun and organic in how you could approach them.

I heard Killzone 2 had great multiplayer and can't comment on that.

Sony were definitely piling on the Halo killer hype for the very first Killzone which was a real stinker.

pixelburp · 01-02-2022 7:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118562464#Comment_118562464

I still don't know what Wordle is. Came about so fast I've yet to take the 30 seconds to absorb the existence of the thing.

01-02-2022 8:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118562738#Comment_118562738

Interesting how Game Pass is a platform logo separate to xbox.

CatInABox · 01-02-2022 10:38am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118563490#Comment_118563490

Yeah, they've said before that they'd bring game pass to other platforms if they're allowed. An impossibility in my opinion, the discussion over how to split earnings would be too difficult.

As great as the Series X is, it's very clear to me that MS see this as a subscription business, rather than a hardware business. So far it's worked out very well for me as a player, but I've no idea how this will turn out in the long run.

Stone Deaf 4evr · 01-02-2022 12:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118563874#Comment_118563874

There was talks a while back of integrating game pass onto samsung tvs, and on mobile devices, you dont launch Xcloud, its the game pass app. It probably also has to do with instances where games might appear on PC game pass, but not console or cloud.

Retr0gamer · 01-02-2022 1:09pm

Sony released a statement saying to expect more acquisitions.

01-02-2022 1:54pm

Eventually I see the console becoming a thin client to cloud gaming like the nvidia shield. But we are still in an age where the majority do not have decent broadband, so the xbox console is here to stay for sure. And nVidia Shield is not that much cheaper than a series s.

Remember there were plans to split processing on cloud servers, Crackdown 3 was supposed to do that but it didn't work out. That hybrid model would make sense, especially if they could have the server do some graphical processing. Allowing us all to play 4k60fps on something as powerful as the series s or less.

J. Marston · 01-02-2022 2:11pm

...

Retr0gamer · 01-02-2022 2:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118564964#Comment_118564964

Please don't joke about that :(

johnny_ultimate · 01-02-2022 2:26pm

I’ve only heard this talked about by others, but my limited understanding is that Japanese competition and takeover law is quite a bit stricter, especially when western companies are involved. Might explain why few if any Japan-based developers have been bought up in the recent acquisition spree, although Sony might have a slight advantage if it does come down to that since they’re a Japanese company.

Jordan 199 · 01-02-2022 2:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118564611#Comment_118564611

I wonder would Sony try and get their hands on Ubisoft.

recyclops · 01-02-2022 2:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118565118#Comment_118565118

Be a good acquisition as fair amount of their exclusives are just open world ubisoft clones anyway

Retr0gamer · 01-02-2022 2:49pm

Ubisoft is a funny one though as a large amount of the shares are held by the founders of the company that want to stay independent and fought tooth and nail against the last buy out attempt a few years ago. It would probably be too expensive to convince a majority of shareholders in the company to sell their shares compared to ubisofts worth.

It might surprise people but there is a smidgeon of actual integrity in ubisoft in comparison to the usual sociopathic majority shareholders in it for the money.

Penn · 01-02-2022 3:11pm

Don't think Ubisoft would be of much benefit to Sony. It really is the Japanese companies I'm sure Sony would love to acquire, or at least tie in to strong deals to stop them going to Microsoft.

Stone Deaf 4evr · 01-02-2022 4:20pm

ubisoft would put software out on a smartwatch if they thought it'd earn them a cent. I cant see them looking to tie themselves to a single platform.

quokula · 01-02-2022 4:32pm

Apparently Ubisoft's market cap is "only" $6.9 billion. If the Guillemots could be convinced that would surely be far better value than any of the other big acquisitions seen recently, though the asking price would no doubt be well above that valuation. Personally I'd put Ubisoft well above Activision in terms of the number of big franchises they have that are actually worth playing and are not in terminal decline. They're probably the only big AAA publisher outside of Japan that consistently put out major releases that are well regarded every single year too.

Bungee don't seem like a great fit for Sony at all. Though I guess you could argue they fill a gap as Sony don't do generic FPS games or live service games loaded with microtransactions so I guess it's an area where they can try to catch up on Microsoft. An absolutely crazy amount of money for one studio with effectively one game though.

Penn · 01-02-2022 4:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566071#Comment_118566071

From reading an interview Jim Ryan did yesterday, it's definitely Bungie's experience with Live Service and Multiplayer gaming that Sony wants, rather than Destiny. Hence why there are no plans to bring Destiny or future Destiny content to PS exclusively.

Insomniac and Sucker Punch have recently been hiring for multiplayer projects. It's possible Sony are looking to create live service games using some of their existing franchises. Multiplayer games set in the worlds of Horizon, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, plus older franchises like Killzone & Resistance.... Could be huge if done right.

A lot of live service games have failed. Both Destiny games have done reasonably well (despite rocky starts to both), plus they created Halo. Giving Bungie the freedom to keep doing whatever multiplatform stuff they want, while also having them help create/guide future new Sony multiplayer/live service games makes them more valuable than anything to do with Destiny.

Stone Deaf 4evr · 01-02-2022 4:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118566071#Comment_118566071

The one thing to Ubisofts credit, is they support their games, Division 1 & 2, For Honor, Siege, all received multi year support and found a loyal audience.

If it were EA or Activision in charge of Siege, it wouldn't have made it out of year 1.

Game News 2.0

Comments