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The Initiative is likely making a Uncharted/Tomb Raider type game, imo. Phil stated that he wanted an Uncharted equivalent for Xbox, so it's not a surprise they picked Darell Gallagher to be the head, who was director for Tomb Raider reboot.

If that wasn't enough, The Initiative is picking up a lot of other former Crystal Dynamics devs as well:
https://www.vg247.com/2018/08/14/the-initiative-hires-red-dead-redemption-god-of-war-staff/

In that they also picked up the lead writer for the first Red Dead Redemption.

And just today, they picked up a former tecnical director for Rockstar: https://www.windowscentral.com/rockstar-games-technical-director-tom-shepherd-joins-microsofts-initiative-studio

Though the fact that they are still hiring say their game is not coming until 2022 at the very least, probably even further.



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.

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shikamaru317 said:
AngryLittleAlchemist said:

I'll admit I'm not as caught up with "rumors" and "leaks" as you may be ... however, you also responded with a lot of stuff that I don't fundamentally disagree with. My bad perhaps, for giving such a bare-bone reply to work with. 

-I'm assuming this is the release schedule for Next Box given that it starts at 2020, right? So why would a Ninja Theory game be the exclusive to launch a console? That's a huge risk, and really the only way I see that being a viable strategy is if Ninja Theory is using practically all it's staff to make something really impressive ... the kind of thing that wouldn't be that far off from a Santa Monica production, for example. Unless I'm mistaken and that's actually just a release before the Next Box ... which would be kind of odd given the rest of the titles are Next Box centric (though Halo Infinite will probably be on Xbox One). But ok, let's say even then it was just a release list and that wasn't necessarily the release of the Next Box. Why would they release a Ninja Theory game onto the Xbox One right before the next console comes out? Ok, sure, Xbox has done that before (as have all console manufacturers). But that just seems like a waste of potential, even if it gets a Next Box port/remaster. I think Microsoft knows they really need to play their cards well ... whereas you could throw a Halo or Gears onto 360 before Xbox One's release (which even then wasn't wise to do considering they had a lack of development studios) because those were established franchises, Ninja Theory's entire audience is waiting - holding their breath to see if Microsoft uses them properly. It's not something you should just throw on there. It's a collaboration that has to prove itself. 

-Ninja Theory releasing a game every year is incredibly unrealistic. Though this is not even a point made by I LOVE GIGGS. Granted a 2019 exclusive actually makes some sense - they were definitely working on something almost immediately after Hellblade, which is true for most studios after releasing a title. But I really doubt that Ninja Theory would be able to make a new title every year.  The earliest would probably be one title every 1.5 years. Which would be 4 games for one console generation at the absolute most, but even that is doubtful.

-Yeah, two exclusives at launch is incredibly likely. I agree. Wouldn't even be surprised by three if they convince an indie studio to make a title. 

-A "big game" every quarter is too much. Playstation and Nintendo can not even handle that. Even if Microsoft ends up having more studios than Playstation, that does not give enough time for most of their studios (which would be working on AAA titles, unlike what supposedly Ninja Theory is doing) to make games. Now, a big game every quarter in 2020/2021 makes a little sense. But every year?  Absolutely no way. Unless we're changing our definition of "big game". That kind of strategy just isn't viable to be honest. It also wouldn't help Microsoft. I mean, if you come out of the gate swinging in the first year or two, people can look past a few months of no exclusives. Happened with the Switch. Releasing titles that are rushed to market for some arbitrary "we need a big game every quarter" goal is nonsensical, and could potentially do harm to the brand. In addition, Xbox and Playstation live in large part on third parties. Of course, Xbox can't do that forever, but when you consider than Xbox One has some third parties for Game Pass ... that's already a motive given to consumers to buy an Xbox and subscribe. 

Anyways to finish off, what I was mostly disagreeing with was just the "big game" every quarter thing. The rest, take it or leave it. Most of the predictions sound reasonable. But I wouldn't think Microsoft would "blow their load" that quickly. That's half their high profile titles in the first year. 

 

-I assume he was just making a generic release list, next Xbox isn't likely to release until Holiday 2020, unless Sony releases earlier (we've heard rumors that MS has multiple prototypes for next gen, a 2019 version and a 2020 version basically, so that they're prepared for whatever Sony does). I could see a Ninja Theory game as a late Xbox One exclusive, followed by a next gen port of it for the holiday.

-We've heard rumors that they plan to staff up to 120 devs, which they will split into three 40 man teams. Ninja Theory claims to have tech that makes AAA development possible with smaller teams. Hellblade was the first game made with such tech, it was developed by just 20 people in 3 years. Having three 40 man teams with yearly releases would give each team the same 3 years that the Hellblade team had, but with double the team size. 

-A big game every quarter won't happen, I agree with that. MS is purposefully buying AA studios instead of AAA, their goal is to have a steady stream of AA and AAA titles throughout the year in order to encourage people to stay subbed to Gamepass permanently, rather than only buying a 1 month sub when a big AAA exclusive releases on Gamepass. The AAA games, which will be coming from 343 (Halo), The Coalition (Gears), Turn 10 (Forza Motorsport), Playground Studio 1 (Forza Horizon), Playground Studio 2 (Fable), The Initiative (unknown, but possibly a Perfect Dark reboot), and possibly Obsidian, will be spaced out more evenly I'm sure, probably 2-3 AAA's per year with a heavy focus on Q3-Q4.

Hm... honestly doesn't seem like we disagree on much overall then. Since I was mostly talking about a "big game" every quarter. I still think Ninja Theory would, at best, do 1 game every 1.5 years, but 1 every 2 years is more likely. I think using a studio as a platform for diminishing returns is bad. Microsoft already has a method to keep subs, they have some of the biggest GAAS titles. If there is any acquisition Microsoft should give creative control to it's Ninja Theory and Obsidian. Not saying creative control means slow turn around times but ... yikes ... once a year. 



I hope its not perfect dark. Give me something new and let another dev make perfect dark.



jason1637 said:
I hope its not perfect dark. Give me something new and let another dev make perfect dark.

I agree. 



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.

shikamaru317 said:
jason1637 said:
I hope its not perfect dark. Give me something new and let another dev make perfect dark.

What other dev, that meets requirements (AAA, 1st party or independent 2nd/3rd party) has the experience necessary to make a story driven, Tomb Raider style Perfect Dark reboot like Ken Lobb mentioned though? I can't think of any, almost all AAA studios are owned by other publishers now, and the few that aren't, don't make that style of games. 

Personally I'd rather have a Perfect Dark reboot made in the style of the Tomb Raider reboots, rather than a new IP Uncharted/Tomb Raider clone. Since I already play both of those series, a 3rd would feel like overkill for me, over-saturation. 

Have an independent studio make it with help from the coalition. 



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@shikamaru137
I know they have creative control, but I just meant they should be given time to roast. Like I said, they have way more potential than AA. Btw, Hazelight would be a good studio for yearly AA games, if they have or get enough staff.



If Perfect Dark is being developed right now then sadly I think that Sumo Digital might be the ones doing it since i believe that they are working on a unannounced AAA project the only other option would probably be Dontnod.



shikamaru317 said:
EspadaGrim said:
If Perfect Dark is being developed right now then sadly I think that Sumo Digital might be the ones doing it since i believe that they are working on a unannounced AAA project the only other option would probably be Dontnod.

Hmmm, I would be surprised if they have been doing 2 games for MS at the same time. Also, I am impressed by how many games Sumo manages to develop at once, right now they are doing Crackdown 3 singleplayer, Team Sonic Racing, Dead Island 2, and the unannounced AAA at the same time. I know they have 500 devs, but still that is an impressive number of games in development at once. 

Yeah they are massive and do work for hire, MS would be wise to keep a strong relationship with them even if Crackdown turns out to be a meh game since alot of the development problems were not their fault.



There are rumblings at Resetera that Microsoft is going to acquire a texas based studio.

And Playful denied any acquisition rumors:



These are some Texas based studios that are independent:
Certain Affinity
Armature
Gearbox
Stoic
robot entertainment
Bluepoint games

Let's break it down
Stoic: studio of just 13 people founded by former bioware guys, makers of the crpg banner saga series. but now that MS all but confirmed to get obsidian, there is absolutely no need. Not gonna happen.
Gearbox: Not happening either. MS is doing just fine on the multiplayer front. Besides, this gen they have been hit or miss as a developer (mostly a miss). Just get the marketing right for Borderlands 3 and call it a day.
Robot Entertainement: Fairly small team, formed from some former Ensemble employees. They worked with Microsoft in the past for Age of Empires Online, as well as handled Halo Wars servers for a while. The team recently had layoffs too, so seems like they could use financial backing. There is a small chance MS does it, to get these devs back for Age of Empires 4 development, but I would still give it only a very small chance still.
Bluepoint Games: Another one with only a miniscule chance. Sony has a great relationship with them, and I doubt that that will change anytime soon.
Certain Affinity: I see them being thrown around a lot, but does MS really need them? They are a support studio, that specializes in multiplayer portions of games. They have been a support studio for microsoft in the past (CE anniversary, Halo 4, MCC), but werent involved for Halo 5 or Infinite. Let's say, even if MS was interested in getting a support studio, I find Skybox Labs in Vancouver a much more likely candidate.

That leaves Armature (devs of Recore), the Texas based studio I think is most likely to be bought by Microsoft. I'm not gonna be paticularly thrilled if this happens though. There are much better choices out there than this.



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.

I will still be happy if it's Armature personally since I would prefer them over Playful, Certain Affinity is not likely since Leyou Technologies has a has a 20% stake in Certain Affinity with the future option of full control and they are developing two GAS Games right now one of them being a Transformers Game. http://www.siliconhillsnews.com/2017/10/17/austin-game-maker-certain-affinity-lands-10-million-investment-hong-kong-firm/

I wish that MS would have been faster since they were on my wish list of devs for them to buy.

Last edited by EspadaGrim - on 16 October 2018