With a eye to the future. I decided to do a quick head count on the number of first party game development studios that both Microsoft and Sony currently have. That are likely to develop exclusively for their console brands, and I was surprised to see that they both now have thirteen studios. I am not counting teams mind you, or studios that are unclear about their purpose, or studios that will develop for other platforms, or even service provider studios. In a nutshell I am just going to list off studios that I think are console brand game oriented.
I gathered the list of Microsofts game studios from their own web page, and they are as follows Big Park, Rare, Victoria, Skybox, Lionshead, Soho, Black Tusk, 343, Turn 10, Kids and Lifestyle, Connected Experience, Good Science, Redmond. I gathered Sony's list from Wikipedia, and they are as follows Japan, London, Polyphony, Naughty Dog, Bend, Foster City, Sucker Punch, Santa Monica, San Diego, Guerilla, Cambridge, Evolution, Media Molecule. Honestly I think it is both fair and concise.
That now being out of the way, and I sincerely hope that nobody argues the point. Despite what anybody might think I am not sandbagging Sony. If anything I am giving Microsoft the short end of the stick. It occurs to me that unlike the beginning of the previous generation. Microsoft is now in a position to match Sony first party title for first party title. That means things we took for granted during the previous generation won't be so cut and dry for the generation that will be coming in. This is going to have profound consequences, and I wonder what kind of consequences this community expects to see, because of these very big changes.
The first change that occurs to me would have to be the dispersal of titles throughout the year. While I could still see Microsoft saving three big titles for the last third of the year. With this many studios they should be able to easily produce six or seven titles annually, and that should mean more in sales outside of the traditional peak months for their platform. So what are your thoughts. What changes spring to you mind. Other then it will make for great theater.
