| twintail said: Contracts are legally binding documents. MS cant just come in and nullify it on a whim. Them buying a company doesn't negate a contract said company already had, and no one is going to sign a contract that allows one party to drop out whenever they feel like it. I am not saying that MS does not want these games on other platforms, but rather that these contracts existed before the acquisitions, and they are being honoured, so for the most part it doesn't really matter what MS wants. MS can't get NT out of their contract work on the Ocullus VR game, nor do I expect Occulus to allow that (depending on the scope of their contract work). Likewise, there is zero pull MS has on The Other Worlds since that is a Take 2 published game and Take 2 aren't going to let MS try to end that contract. And of course, all of this would have been negotiated before the acquisitions: NT wanting to honour their contract with QloC and 505 Games etc. would have to be terms MS would have to accept for the acquisition (hypothetical, but possible) That said, what MS owned IP has MS allowed their own devs to publish themselves? Even if they do, how exactly does that save MS money when said dev is on MS's payroll? |
Contracts are legally binding, however contracts can be terminated at a cost. Depends if its worth it. With MS's vision lately, its no surprise they allow these deals to happen. Its something they have been doing this gen and this isn't just with new studios or IPs they recently purchased, but even with there older IPs. They have been pushing for more multiplats this gen so letting NT continue with a Switch port of Hellblade is a no brainer. Also since NT is publishing there own game its very easy for MS to decide weather or not to allow the game or cancel it since there is no binding contracts with a 3rd party and MS own 100% of NT and all there properties. NT is working for MS now. This gives MS full control.
MS still hasn't pulled Minecraft from PS4 and they were the ones who pushed it to come out on Switch and so with Cuphead. Even if you are correct and MS have no choice because of a super duper contract that NT made with another, MS would have still most likely released Hellblade on Switch them selves. Its what they are doing lately. This type of effort needs to be praised not shutdown saying MS have no choice in the matter. Its something I support a lot of this gen and if Sony and Nintendo did the same thing they will get my praises as well.
MS have there own targets, goals and budgets, NT have there own targets, goals and budgets. NT still has there own pockets. Think of it like a Jar of money. Every time NT profits, that Jar fills up with money. Now lets say every quarter MS has a hand that takes from that Jar. So an example would be 15% of whatever NT make but that can vary depending on what MS wish to take etc, however NT still make there own money its just they are now bind to MS meaning they have to supply MS. This goes to all internal companies under a major umbrella. NT publishing there own game means the expense doesn't come out of MS's bank account but NTs which at the end of each quarter NT need to provide a income for MS.
Who said MS want to stop NT from making a VR game with Occlus? And why would MS stop releasing The Outer Worlds that Take 2 has offered to pay for the publishing rights? All MS care about is that money Jar that NT has. They don't care how they make the money, as long as NT feed MS's hand than there is no problem. The moment NT cannot provide MS's hand, than that's why we have closures like Lion Head Studios. Unable to pay there way for so long = gone.
Last edited by Azzanation - on 18 April 2019
