I'm wondering if it isn't just simple outsourcing of the production of these releases so Sony can keep their in-house teams focused on new games. Let Bamco create them and keep a cut of the proceeds while beefing up the bottom line.
If that's all there is to it then fine I guess? Though, IMO it'd be creating more confusion of sorts in what's already been a murky multiplatform strategy for SIE this gen.
Like it's no secret at this point I don't agree with them porting most of their non-GAAS titles to Steam only halfway through the gen. People would say it's been good for the bottom line, but the ports have just done worst and worst in sales while causing more optics issues with SIE when it comes to the console and PC. Meanwhile them bringing legacy titles as ports to PC & even other consoles is something I'm a bit more supportive of, especially of more niche IP.
But that's with the caveat I'd prefer it lead to new installments or new games exclusive to their hardware after a couple years of such ports. That way you create a cycle getting people not on the console to get interested in the IP, then potentially draw them to the console for the new installments (& other exclusives already there). But if there's no cycle like that, you ruin the potential of that strategy.
It's also a bit odd that they license these re-releases out to a 3P; either SIE's getting more in returns through licensing than publishing directly themselves, or Bandai-Namco's getting something else out of this (like a marketing deal on some new release), or they are just very confident returns from sales of the games will be worth the cost of the license. Which if so, why wouldn't SIE see that same potential and choose to publish themselves? Are they afraid of pushback from having the PS Studios logo show up on yet more Steam & Nintendo releases? Because if they were afraid of that pushback, maybe they should've thought out the multiplatform strategy more thoroughly ahead of time.
Guess what I'm getting at is, I don't care if the suits are getting a fatter bottom line; they're already setting record-breaking revenue & profits. I care more about the value created for the console, and a lot of that's through the exclusives. If the multiplatform releases aren't feeding back into new exclusives, that's a net loss to the platform & (IMO) industry from a creativity POV.
It's a win all involved: Sony gets to revitalize (and maybe expand) these properties without taking on too much financial risk or adding a burden to their devs, and Bandai Namco can make inexpensive projects that have built-in appeal to existing fans.
Microsoft should be doing similar imo, I can see things like Lost Odyssey, Fusion Frenzy, Blinx and Blue Dragon getting ported to Switch and making decent money, maybe even pave the ground for sequels or spiritual follow-ups
I mean hopefully maybe it'll lead to a revitalization of the IP with new entries. That should be the goal. But we need to see it actually happen, first.
And once it happens...what then? Are these going to become multiplatform IP, or will the new entries be exclusive as ways to add value to their console and attract fans of the IP that way if they want the new installment? Or has SIE fallen for the "exclusives are anti-consumer" bullocks put out there by a certain other platform holder and their army of shills?
That's what I'm waiting to see. The "input" is fine; it's what's done with the output that I'm still concerned about. And TBH, part of that concern is due to what's happened with the ports of their AAA releases to PC/Steam, i.e that's kind of resulted in longer dev times for other SIE AAA games, some cancellations, and a slower clip of game releases from 1P generally speaking (increasing dev costs & time notwithstanding).
It's still slightly possible these types of releases on PC & Nintendo just leads to yet more such ports, no new installments, no new exclusives (attributable to the strategy) etc. Which would be a net negative to the platform, IMO.
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