Captain Toad
Banned
It seems we are hearing every month about Microsoft or Sony acquiring a third-party studio. But, they appear to be for very different reasons.
Microsoft has been spending big bucks and buying big name developers and publishers with big IPs. Sony, on the other hand, has been buying studios that have shown a ton of talent, but own few, if any, big IPs.
For example, Sony purchased Insomniac. Sure, they were already known for their work in Ratchet and Clank, Spyro the Dragon and Spider-Man, but didn't actually own any of those IPs. In fact, Sony already owned two of three without Insomniac.
Microsoft meanwhile has been acquiring huge IPs such as Elder Scrolls, Minecraft and attempted to get Call of Duty, even as much of the talent that created those franchises already left or transitions away during and after the acquisitions.
Sony has been buying studios that recently formed and haven't even released their first game, because the people who formed those studios have proven track records from working on other games at other studios.
The one big IP Sony did aquire was Destiny with the purchase of Bungie. But, it's clear Destiny was not the focus of the acquisition. Sony believes no developer has more talent in their field of live service games and acquired them for that end. Knowing that these acquisitions often end up in a high turn over, Sony put a ton of money into bonuses for current Bungie employees in order to keep them aboard.
As to which ends up being the right choice - focusing on talent or focusing on brands - has yet to be determined.
Microsoft has been spending big bucks and buying big name developers and publishers with big IPs. Sony, on the other hand, has been buying studios that have shown a ton of talent, but own few, if any, big IPs.
For example, Sony purchased Insomniac. Sure, they were already known for their work in Ratchet and Clank, Spyro the Dragon and Spider-Man, but didn't actually own any of those IPs. In fact, Sony already owned two of three without Insomniac.
Microsoft meanwhile has been acquiring huge IPs such as Elder Scrolls, Minecraft and attempted to get Call of Duty, even as much of the talent that created those franchises already left or transitions away during and after the acquisitions.
Sony has been buying studios that recently formed and haven't even released their first game, because the people who formed those studios have proven track records from working on other games at other studios.
The one big IP Sony did aquire was Destiny with the purchase of Bungie. But, it's clear Destiny was not the focus of the acquisition. Sony believes no developer has more talent in their field of live service games and acquired them for that end. Knowing that these acquisitions often end up in a high turn over, Sony put a ton of money into bonuses for current Bungie employees in order to keep them aboard.
As to which ends up being the right choice - focusing on talent or focusing on brands - has yet to be determined.
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