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Organic growth, right?
Didn't the make Playroom for Sony, I assumed organic growth is developers they worked previously with. I don't see how this aquisation is different to Housemarque
AutumnLeaves
Member
Oh, are they going to close them too eventually done the line just like Liverpool. Pathetic.
MastaKiiLA
Member
Why does it look like an arms race when one company has always built/bought teams to bolster its first party offerings, and one company only recently started doing so? Sony's always had strong internal teams, and not all built from scratch. I'd say this is in keeping with how Sony has conducted business. Closing unproductive studios, and refreshing them with new ones they've either reassembled from salvaged parts, or acquired after long-term relationships. Other than Nixxis, I don't see any Zenimax-like purchases from Sony, where they go after a dev that they haven't had long-lasting ties with. Even Nixxis has probably worked closely with Sony in developing some of their ports, but that's about the most far-flung team they've scooped up recently. The rest have been considered 2nd party in the past due to how much they worked with Sony.Rofl
Didn't Hulst and Ryan said they are not in arms race with Microsoft few weeks ago?
Housemarque, Nixees, maybe Bluepoint and now Firespite
It sure as shit looks like arms race to me
With a finite operating budget each year, I don't think Sony can just go ham on buying studios. Their release pace is already quite strong. They don't need to fill a subscription catalog, so I think we'll see them stick to just fleshing out what they already do, without cannibalizing the budgets of their big money studios.
Bartski
Gold Member
PlayStation Studios is all about the “quality and the uniqueness of the gaming experiences”, says Hulst
PlayStation Studios head talks on the expansion of the development family
Salty Popsicle
Banned
In other words; "Sony has been buying studios for decades, so its ok for them" and "Microsoft only started making big purchases in the past few years, I don't like it."
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Oddvintagechap
Member
What is it with people and niche Wipeout. It moves no needle.
megreotsugua
Banned
I'm curious why did the original Studio Liverpool disband in the first place?
Kenneth Haight
Gold Member
Thanks, I was being facetious but this is good news in the grand scheme of things. 250 people is quite a big studio. Let’s see what they create.
Dr Bass
Member
None of us know what they are working on so I am not sure how you arrived at any of the opinions here. What exactly do you want (don't say for Jim Ryan to be canned)?
I don't know anything about the internals of what they are working on so I have no opinion. I don't see how anyone can say this is good or bad until we see results.
Though 250 people is a lot, so the studio is going to need to produce some good stuff.
MasterCornholio
Member
PlayStation Studios is all about the “quality and the uniqueness of the gaming experiences”, says Hulst
PlayStation Studios head talks on the expansion of the development familywww.gamesradar.com
I'm curious to see what they are working on.
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Bryank75
Banned
I agree that they could have some good things.
But we need something like From, Remedy, IOI or something on that level.
A fighter studio like Arc would be great.
Problem is, nobody really knows who Firesprite are and they have no IP's... so if the talent goes, what is left?
and why isn't Kojima first party, I wonder....
Just really frustrating details for me.
Spitfire098
Member
Why are you injecting your own insecurities into their post? He didn't state what MS is doing is bad.
AnotherDayAnotherDollar
Banned
What a horrible acquisition and waste of money. From the looks of it they are essentially spending capital to acquire talent that they let go a few years prior.
I'm expecting MS to have another big acquisition soonish. Satya Nadella and Phil Spence have hinted as much......and here we have Sony buying Firesprite (who?).
I'm expecting MS to have another big acquisition soonish. Satya Nadella and Phil Spence have hinted as much......and here we have Sony buying Firesprite (who?).
PropellerEar
Member
This acquisition came from the bushes don't know if I should be excited or not.
The games under development sound interesting enough.
The games under development sound interesting enough.
Dick Jones
Gold Member
Kadokawa's partnership with Sony means at worst all their games will be on PS, and likely with Sony marketing (I don't know if Elden Ring's marketing is with Xbox, but future games are PS)
I'm surprised Remedy wasn't bought by MS years ago after Alan Wake. Sony would be best to get them to make an exclusive to show how they would fit into the PS family if they were open to being purchased (Housemarque could work with them, both being Finnish). I'd like Sony to angle Marvel to get Dr Strange licence for Remedy.
IOI would be a great addition, would they be open to being bought. The same again with them, work with them on an exclusive and see if they mesh with PS.
Arc System Works would be a perfect fit, and if given a proper shot, make a fighting game with PS IP. Absolute money making machine.
IP wise there isn't much to pull from the above. Dark Souls? Sony has Demon Souls and Bloodborne. Sony have their own IP that they need to mine. IOI only own Hitman (I think) and Remedy's games are great but IP wise, Control and Alan Wake are it.
Personally I've always thought Sony should be releasing 5 or 6 big exclusives a year rather than the 2 or 3 we often got last gen, and I think - with third party deals and these recent acquisitions - they're at that point now.
Exclsuive games are generally better than third party ones, because to some extent they're subsidised by the platform holder. So if we're gonna get 12 or more a year across both platforms then that's great for everyone.
Exclsuive games are generally better than third party ones, because to some extent they're subsidised by the platform holder. So if we're gonna get 12 or more a year across both platforms then that's great for everyone.
I'd say the one thing Sony definitely doesn't need more of is IPs. They've probably got a dozen strong ones just sitting dormant.
They just need more quality development capacity. Whether this qualifies or not I'm not really sure.
BennyBlanco
aka IMurRIVAL69
because it's a fun game and not a 3rd person cinematic adventure where you spend 50% of the time in a forced slow walk and chat
and thats why sony will never bring it back
I agree IOI, Remedy, and From would he massive. Even Arc. But Kojima I disagree with, the appeal of that studio is Kojima which is only 1 man. What if Kojima gets ill, or moves on, they would have a studio called Kojima without Kojima. And that studio it seems he is the main man driving that studio so the studio would be worthless if that 1 person left. I prefer the rumour Sony are building a Japan studio with ex Capcom, Konami, Square Devs.
As for lack of IPs, I think Sony don't actually need IPs if it means they can pick talent for much cheaper so be it.
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michaelius
Banned
Microsoft was chasing microtransaction/GaaS money back then so they weren't interested in single player games anymore. Now it changed because subscriptions are current corporate fad in Redmont HQ so they need gamepass fodder.
Mercenary09
Member
They did the Playroom not Astrobot. They had nothing to do with Rescue Mission or Astro's Playroom. Team Asobi is handling that.
phil_t98
#SonyToo
Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
This.
Giving a team with more than 20 employees the task of creating a new Wipeout is a money loser. I swear some people would run these companies into the ground.
GymWolf
Member
Well tbf, 3-4 small studios against fucking bethesda is not an arm race, it's more of a massacre...Rofl
Didn't Hulst and Ryan said they are not in arms race with Microsoft few weeks ago?
Housemarque, Nixees, maybe Bluepoint and now Firespite
It sure as shit looks like arms race to me
I don't think sony is really battling with M when it comes to acquisitions...
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Dick Jones
Gold Member
Hire Bungie to make the next Halo and get 343 binned. Don't need to be bought, make a partnership to make Halo and allow Bungie enough rope to make other projects. Win win.If only MS could buy Bungie back, Maybe if they beg hard enough
AnotherDayAnotherDollar
Banned
You mean devs they fired when they closed Liverpool Studio?
Whatever. I don't mind Sony buying a studio. But at least they should stop pretending that they are not in arms race.
Because they clearly are.
The did not acquire any studio from 2011 and then suddenly Insomniac in 2019, three studios in 2021 and potentially Bluepoint too.
Oh they most definitely are in an arms race, but Sony is buying 9s and .22s while MS is buying AKs and ARs.
Yes I know Sony doesn't have the wherewithal to compete head to head with MS, but they likely have the wherewithal to compete with the XBox division. Playstation is a bigger deal to Sony than XBox is to Microsoft at this point (this could change if Gamepass becomes huge).
Sony could and should do better with these acquisitions IMO.
Ass of Can Whooping
Banned
Take Media Turdecule of that fucking list and give me back Bend
SkylineRKR
Member
So Sony essentially bought Psygnosis back.
AnotherDayAnotherDollar
Banned
If only MS could buy Bungie back, Maybe if they beg hard enough
One major difference if MS buys Bungie back is that Bungie comes with a worthy IP (Destiny). People would be excited for a Bungie led Halo game as well.
Firesprite has no IPs, just a whole bunch of new capex for Sony as they now has to account for 200+ employees and contractors.
If that's the plan then the better option would be to either expand existing studios or open up a new studio.
M&A is the most expensive option.
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SaucyJack
Member
93xfan
Banned
Never played it, but it looks great! Owned a PS4 but never a PSVR. Would’ve been a game I got if I did get PSVR
Dr Bass
Member
Being a Nintendo fan I got over being frustrated with not getting what I personally wanted ages ago.
I am now more than content to look at what's actually available out there and just pick what I want to play.I agree, no known IP, so if it's an acquihire that does seem odd, but again .. we don't know the internal details on this one. Could be smart. Could be dumb. We should wait and see. Kojima likely is too high a price to become first party, and he could easily leave a studio he create so what would that do to the "Kojima becomes first party" story after that occurred? That seems ripe for disaster if anyone tried to do that.
I think your interpretation of who is buying what is just wrong. MS is buying old IP that will never have the clout it once did. I know that will make a bunch of Xbox-only people "laugh" or upset but it's true. Zenimax had been trying to offload itself to someone for quite some time before the acquisition, and reports on Bethesda indicated a company that had been struggling. Buying up THAT group and then saying "hey we don't even want to put your software up for sale anymore" does not seem like a winning strategy but hey ... you can call that an AR/AK if you want.
Sony is buying smaller (well maybe not in Firesprite's case), more forward looking groups IMO. Returnal was one of the best games I've played in years. That was a smart purchase I think. Look to the future and at the quality and talent of the studios. Don't look to the past.
And again, as always, the results matter. If you are able to look at everything through this lens, it makes things pretty clear. Web articles, media narratives ... none of that matters and so many people here are fooled by those things. "Look at this website." "Look at this twitter post." None of those things matter at all because so many people have an agenda, and any of us can publish whatever drivel we wished was true, vs. what is actually true. You actually see a few posters on this site constantly engaging in that fashion. I'll just point my finger at the sales sheet. By that metric Sony and Nintendo are the ones with the big weaponry and MS is the one with the pea shooter. At least for now.
Excellent news about the two games in development.
Team is huge and made of talented people they have already worked with.
Classic situation Sony likes, getting the biggest return out of reasonable investement with people they trust or know.
Unknown?
Member
Andrew killed Liverpool and Jim brought them back. GAAS is Xbox future.
SaucyJack
Member
I believe it’s three games in development, a VR title too.
the two mentioned are meant to be in the later stages of development. Maybe one will get announced tomorrow.
They are expanding there current studios. Also why not both, and about opening up new studios it's harder than you think.
kyliethicc
Member
lol, Jim Ryans resurrects their old Liverpool studio that Andrew House killed.
This also explains why they shut down Manchester Studio. Kinda redundant to have 2 VR focused devs in north England.
And Manchester Studio was like 30 devs, while Firesprite is around 250 devs.
Hopefuully they make a new Wipeout game, for PS5 and PS5 VR both.
This also explains why they shut down Manchester Studio. Kinda redundant to have 2 VR focused devs in north England.
And Manchester Studio was like 30 devs, while Firesprite is around 250 devs.
Hopefuully they make a new Wipeout game, for PS5 and PS5 VR both.
Dream-Knife
Banned
So, are they just going to shut them down again?
Wipeout is awesome.
Wipeout is awesome.
CatLady
Selfishly plays on Xbox Purr-ies X
Just curious, is the Pound Store like the Dollar Stores here in the US?
Clear
CliffyB's Cock Holster
I laugh everytime I see people trotting out the Psygnosis logo, that place wasn't what you thought it was. Its success was almost entirely built off of the backs of the work of external contractors who had all set up their own studios long before Playstation (and Sony) entered the picture.
Was that true of Insomniac too? Cos from a casual glance that looks like one of the bargains of the decade.
Nothing in business is risk-free, but buying up asset-light service companies can be incredibly rewarding, financially. I know a couple of people who've got very rich doing just that here in the UK: what they buy on the face of it has very little value, but I tell you, you're often buying a HELL of a lot more than just some computer equipment. Strong company culture might not be tangible but it's often every bit as durable as a piece of plant, and can generate returns of 30%+ a year.
Dream-Knife
Banned
It's a fun game. I don't care for the weapon aspect, but we need more anti-grav racers. Nintendo also needs to bring back F-Zero.
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AnotherDayAnotherDollar
Banned
Being a Nintendo fan I got over being frustrated with not getting what I personally wanted ages ago.
I agree, no known IP, so if it's an acquihire that does seem odd, but again .. we don't know the internal details on this one. Could be smart. Could be dumb. We should wait and see. Kojima likely is too high a price to become first party, and he could easily leave a studio he create so what would that do to the "Kojima becomes first party" story after that occurred? That seems ripe for disaster if anyone tried to do that.
I think your interpretation of who is buying what is just wrong. MS is buying old IP that will never have the clout it once did. I know that will make a bunch of Xbox-only people "laugh" or upset but it's true. Zenimax had been trying to offload itself to someone for quite some time before the acquisition, and reports on Bethesda indicated a company that had been struggling. Buying up THAT group and then saying "hey we don't even want to put your software up for sale anymore" does not seem like a winning strategy but hey ... you can call that an AR/AK if you want.
Sony is buying smaller (well maybe not in Firesprite's case), more forward looking groups IMO. Returnal was one of the best games I've played in years. That was a smart purchase I think. Look to the future and at the quality and talent of the studios. Don't look to the past.
And again, as always, the results matter. If you are able to look at everything through this lens, it makes things pretty clear. Web articles, media narratives ... none of that matters and so many people here are fooled by those things. "Look at this website." "Look at this twitter post." None of those things matter at all because so many people have an agenda, and any of us can publish whatever drivel we wished was true, vs. what is actually true. You actually see a few posters on this site constantly engaging in that fashion. I'll just point my finger at the sales sheet. By that metric Sony and Nintendo are the ones with the big weaponry and MS is the one with the pea shooter. At least for now.
That's a hell of a take.
Returnal may be the best game ever in your opinion, but the next Elder Scroll (an old IP with no clout according to you) will outsell it on Day 1.
kyliethicc
Member
Their 14 studios now:
Bend Studio
Firesprite
Guerrilla Games
Housemarque
Insomniac Games
London Studio
Media Molecule
Naughty Dog
Pixelopus
Polyphony Digital
San Diego Studio
Santa Monica Studio
Sucker Punch Productions
Team Asobi
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