Sony Computer Entertainment will now be publishing Terminal Reality's Ghostbusters title in a surprise deal signed with Atari today, just one month before the game was set to ship, GamesIndustry.biz has learned.
The game is set for a June 19 release alongside the Sony Pictures film, but only on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 platforms, which will have a period of exclusivity lasting several months until the PlayStation Portable edition is launched.
It is unclear exactly what will happen to the Xbox 360 version of the game, although GamesIndustry.biz understands that Atari may look to publish that itself later on.
This will be the third publisher within a year for the Ghostbusters game, with the former Vivendi title being dropped by Activision in the merger last summer, before subsequently being picked up by Atari.
The troubling economic climate has hit Atari hard, with investors keen to see a quick return on investment - despite the company's core business plan relying on a more long-term view of a radical shift to online publishing.
The company accelerated the sale of its distribution business earlier this year in order to appease investors, and the Ghostbusters deal with Sony - so late in the day - will look to many like another sign of trouble.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/sony-picks-up-ghostbusters-from-atari
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Smart move to join this with the movie.
edit: judging by a post on VG247, it seems to be a timed exclusive with wii / xbox 360 / ds versions arriving later in 2009
MOD EDIT (Sqrl): - Since there was discussion in the thread about whether this was true or not I'm confirming it here for everyone. I'm looking at the press release right now and it reads in part as follows:
WHO YOU GONNA CALL? PLAYSTATION®!
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE TO PUBLISH 'GHOSTBUSTERS: THE VIDEO GAME' ON PLAYSTATION® 3, PLAYSTATION® 2 AND PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) IN EUROPE AND PAL REGIONS - Eagerly Anticipated Software Releasing Exclusively on Two PlayStation Platforms in June for the 25th Anniversary of Original Hit Movie – - Original Cast of the Hit Movie Come Back Together to Do Battle With the Supernatural on the Streets of Manhattan - - PSP Version Coming Autumn 2009 - |