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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Rumor: Microsoft Acquiring Playground Games and other Unknown Studios

Puppyroach on 05 June 2018

Playground Games, Moon studios and MDHR studios are my favorite developers outside of 343i this generation so I hope MS can get them all and most of all, give them great artistic freedom.



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V-r0cK on 05 June 2018

I wonder if this has anything to do with the Halo situation. Correct me if I'm wrong but Bungie didn't want to keep making Halo games but MS kept wanting them to so Bungie dipped which was a good thing that Bungie wasn't bought by MS.

So if MS buys Playground Games then they'd probably want to ensure they'll make Forza games forever. It's fine if Playground Games only wants to make only Forza games, but if down the road they want to try to make something different then they could be screwed.



V-r0cK on 05 June 2018
Bandorr said:
V-r0cK said:
I wonder if this has anything to do with the Halo situation. Correct me if I'm wrong but Bungie didn't want to keep making Halo games but MS kept wanting them to so Bungie dipped which was a good thing that Bungie wasn't bought by MS.

So if MS buys Playground Games then they'd probably want to ensure they'll make Forza games forever. It's fine if Playground Games only wants to make only Forza games, but if down the road they want to try to make something different then they could be screwed.

They made 343 to just make Halo.  Coalition to just make Gears.  And I'm guessing this just to make Forza.

It would be interesting to find out if Playground was pulling a Bungie though.  Would explain why they have to buy the studio to get the games they have already been getting.

I can definitely see MS's point of view for wanting to secure Forza, but I think we all felt they're on great terms that there'd be no reason they wouldn't continue making that game while pursuing other games.

We see how great of a relationship Insomniac is with Sony making great games while still able to expand and make Sunset Overdrive for XB1.

I guess if MS just wants to start owning a bunch of developers for the sake of ensuring 1st party games keeps getting pushed out for their future console then I guess this would be a step in the right direction.



Kerotan on 05 June 2018
Bristow9091 said:
Honestly, I thought they were owned by Microsoft already anyway...

Add me to this list of people. I'm very surprised they didn't own them already. 



DirtyP2002 on 05 June 2018
Bandorr said:
So they are basically buying the Forza Studio.. so no one else can have them make a game?

So instead of going out and getting new studio and new games.. they are just buying lifetime access to games they are already getting?
This is basically like the Coalition then. The studio that makes gears of war?

Or like Santa Monica making God of war?
or like Polyphony Digital making Gran Turismo?
or like Nintendo doing 95% of their games related to their existing mascots?

Bioware made Xbox exclusives and look what happened.
You are trying way too hard to hate, bro.

 

 



Imagine not having GamePass on your console...

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DonFerrari on 05 June 2018
LiquorandGunFun said:

makes sense.

some just hate cant resist to hate, because Microsoft. its an obvious good move.

You mean Azzanation and Ludicrous Speed hates Microsoft and that is why they don't see a need to buy Playground Games?

DirtyP2002 said:
Bandorr said:
So they are basically buying the Forza Studio.. so no one else can have them make a game?

So instead of going out and getting new studio and new games.. they are just buying lifetime access to games they are already getting?
This is basically like the Coalition then. The studio that makes gears of war?

Or like Santa Monica making God of war?
or like Polyphony Digital making Gran Turismo?
or like Nintendo doing 95% of their games related to their existing mascots?

Bioware made Xbox exclusives and look what happened.
You are trying way too hard to hate, bro.

SSM besides supporting external games also were requested by Sony to do a game that wasn't GoW. Cory Barlong himself defended and pitched GoW on PS4 and got greenlit (similar story to ND who also decides what they are going to develop and they decided to make 4 UC+LL and 2 TLoU+DLC).

PD was created because Kaz wanted to make GT, he also helped LoD, made a bike game and a very obscure one. He is the one also deciding to keep doing GT.

All these 3 (and effectively others) are free to decide what they want to make.

About Nintendo you can go and complain to them, even if the head of the studio was the creator of the franchises and probably the one that is more passionate to keep doing those franchises.



duduspace11 "Well, since we are estimating costs, Pokemon Red/Blue did cost Nintendo about $50m to make back in 1996"

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=8808363

Mr Puggsly: "Hehe, I said good profit. You said big profit. Frankly, not losing money is what I meant by good. Don't get hung up on semantics"

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=9008994

Azzanation: "PS5 wouldn't sold out at launch without scalpers."

DonFerrari on 05 June 2018
CGI-Quality said:
Bandorr said:


And i'd consider the purchasing of Quantic dream to also be fairly foolish without reason. You are already getting the games, with no competition. So why spend time/money/effort on getting something you've already gotten.

Feels like there is a "reason" missing. Why now? Did they want to stop making Forza games (IE bungie). Did they want to go third party (like Remedy). Did another Company offer them something?

Then again what is the name of the studio that makes the other Forza games? Is that first party, or third party? Maybe Microsoft wants to combine them.

There is a reason - and without that reason I think it appears foolish.

Not foolish at all. Growing your Team Base makes a lot of sense when the company and its properties are synonymous with your brand. We can speculate on the reason, but that's pointless. There's currently not outward negative apparent to it. Playground already makes games for Microsoft, as you noted. The acquisition is the next logical step.

To me it would make sense only if they invest a lot in the studio to increase it and the output, otherwise perhaps a 5 year contract would be better.



duduspace11 "Well, since we are estimating costs, Pokemon Red/Blue did cost Nintendo about $50m to make back in 1996"

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=8808363

Mr Puggsly: "Hehe, I said good profit. You said big profit. Frankly, not losing money is what I meant by good. Don't get hung up on semantics"

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=9008994

Azzanation: "PS5 wouldn't sold out at launch without scalpers."

flashfire926 on 05 June 2018
Bandorr said:
CGI-Quality said:

Eh, nah. This is a logical acquisition. Very similar to the idea of Sony acquiring Quantic Dream. Of course they could strengthen the teams they already have, but I prefer this method of business over spending money on timed exclusive content. With it, we can get full IPs only for their brand (Xbox/Windows). 


And i'd consider the purchasing of Quantic dream to also be fairly foolish without reason. You are already getting the games, with no competition. So why spend time/money/effort on getting something you've already gotten.

Feels like there is a "reason" missing. Why now? Did they want to stop making Forza games (IE bungie). Did they want to go third party (like Remedy). Did another Company offer them something?

Then again what is the name of the studio that makes the other Forza games? Is that first party, or third party? Maybe Microsoft wants to combine them.

There is a reason - and without that reason I think it appears foolish.

Actually, the purchasing of quantic dream would be great. Sony would get to keep their advanced CG Tech for themselves.

Also, Sony and Quantic Dream had a three-game deal, which ends with Detroit. We don't even know if Quantic Dream will even make another PS exclusive.

And Playground recently opened a new studio to make an AAA RPG, something that Microsoft could really use to bolster their lineup.

edit- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-11-23-playground-games-hires-gta-v-metal-gear-solid-and-hellblade-devs-for-open-world-action-rpg

they also acquired some devs from various places just recently. It's not just about racing games now.



Bet with Intrinsic:

The Switch will outsell 3DS (based on VGchartz numbers), according to me, while Intrinsic thinks the opposite will hold true. One month avatar control for the loser's avatar.

RJ_Sizzle on 05 June 2018

This move makes sense if true. They made Xbox's highest rated game this gen. I'd think they would try to keep them close to their chest.



Snoopy on 05 June 2018

Playground games are not only making Forza horizon, but they are making fable as well. Microsoft should've bought respawn back in the day because Titan Fall could've been something.