MS Aquires Obsidian Entertainment and InXile Entertainment

Sure the Microsoft at the time was making Gears of War a franchise. They were in the process of making Forza the console racing franchise. Not to mention it was Microsoft who put a ton of marketing into the original Mass Effect. Microsoft has put significant bets on many studios, but not everyone of them hits.

As for these two pickups, for Gamepass to really pickup steam they will need wide variety of games at different levels. For example I know the Mutant Year Zero coming to the service was not the biggest thing announced, but it was a game I had my eye on. To find out I can pick up the game for about 10 at launch is a bargain. Sometimes it takes one or two big games to subscribe or five little games that have a certain level of polish to get you over the hump.
 
getting Obsidian Entertainment was make up for their losses on Bioware.

I just picked this game up. It looks good where I can just play solo (YES, SINGLEPLAYER) and have fun.

it got a lot of praise for this title.

 
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Sure the Microsoft at the time was making Gears of War a franchise. They were in the process of making Forza the console racing franchise. Not to mention it was Microsoft who put a ton of marketing into the original Mass Effect. Microsoft has put significant bets on many studios, but not everyone of them hits.

As for these two pickups, for Gamepass to really pickup steam they will need wide variety of games at different levels. For example I know the Mutant Year Zero coming to the service was not the biggest thing announced, but it was a game I had my eye on. To find out I can pick up the game for about 10 at launch is a bargain. Sometimes it takes one or two big games to subscribe or five little games that have a certain level of polish to get you over the hump.

Microsoft having the ability to publish good games from independent studios doesn't negate their inability to manage their own studios. Their handling of their studios during the period up to recently was shaky at best. I think they have turned the corner but there is not much reason to believe Bioware would have flourished under them.
 
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Some quotes from the article Rollin linked, by Jason Schrirer:

"For Obsidian and Inxile, the deal was simple: Both studios have faced financial struggles over the years, and crowdfunding wasn’t enough to support the type of ambitious games they like to make. Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity 2, which came out earlier this year, was a commercial flop (and a good game overshadowed by the transcendent Divinity Original Sin 2). Inxile’s recently released Bard’s Tale IV earned mediocre reviews. Bouncing from crowdfunded project to crowdfunded project seemed unsustainable, and now, both Obsidian and Inxile have financial security for years to come (or at least until the next time Xbox changes bosses)."


"In 2011, Obsidian signed up to make a game called Stormlands that was planned to be a launch title for the Xbox One. It was an ambitious role-playing game that Microsoft canceled for a number of reasons—everyone involved agrees that both companies share culpability—but it was also one that suffered from Microsoft’s bloated nature at the time."


"The good news for people who just like to play games is that two talented mid-size studios that might not fit into the gaming industry on their own have a chance at long-term success thanks to Microsoft’s evolving ambition."
 
Couldn't help but laugh when i heard that. Obsidian is a good pickup, that we already knew of. But InXile Entertainment? Was expecting them to land a bigger fish than that. Talk about shooting your shot. What game have they made that can give us any hope that they'll deliver?

Microsoft could always throw money at them and surprise us with something AAA but that just doesn't seem to be the case here. Seems like they're going for a stable library of more AA games next gen. Oh well. As always, i'll believe it when i see it.
 
Couldn't help but laugh when i heard that. Obsidian is a good pickup, that we already knew of. But InXile Entertainment? Was expecting them to land a bigger fish than that. Talk about shooting your shot. What game have they made that can give us any hope that they'll deliver?

Wasteland 2 got a 9/10 on steam.

The Bard's Tale was well-received, praised for its story/characters (something MS is weak on).

Torment: Tides of Numeria was a sequel to one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. It got mixed reviews (76%) but was at least ambitious.
 
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What these 2 studios add is something MS and Xbox in generally was sorely missing, strong narrative based games. Lets be honest when you think of the xbox brand, RPGs don't come to mind. Hell the last notable MS funded RPG of note was during the 360 era.

Now while I wish one Japanese studio was purchased as well to even out their portfolio, these 2 arn't bad.
 
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I like that they're resurrecting the "AA" game.
 
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I like that they're resurrecting the "AA" game.

I hope they’re resurrecting them too. I miss the polished AA games with decent production values. Completely burned out on the open world AAA experience. Don’t want to spend 100 hours to experience the story. Even Red Dead 2 is burning me out right now. Can only chip away in little bits.

I just went back to these CRPGs and the biggest issues with them is production values. Lack of production values can take the gamer out of the experience. Story, characters, world building, and art is good. Gameplay is good. They just need to act out the stories better and make it so that you can view the environments from 3D perspectives. Little frustrating when you can hear characters just off screen within clear line of sight but can’t see who they are.
 
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I hope they move away from the isometric perspective. I have never been able to get into that (with one exception, Sacred on the Xbox 360).
 
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I like that they're resurrecting the "AA" game.

That was one of my bigger hang-ups about how they ran stuff before. It felt like it either had to be 'Massive over budget bloated game" or "indie", with no in between as if the s*** is impossible to do. Not everything needs ultra realistic graphics with perfect motion captured animation etc etc
 
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Agreed. Hoping they go 3rd/1st person for RPG's with open worlds.
Although there's a chance for them to do something akin to Diablo, with some cinematic camera work thrown in.

Like, think OG God of War, but from an isometric view. Would be a perfect way of including more tactile gameplay mechanics without reducing it to a cover shooter.
 
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‘Lots of projects’...nice.

Obsidian Entertainment working on unannounced project in Unreal Engine 4

There are a lot of projects on the horizon.

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A few days ago, we reported that inXile Entertainment was working on an unannounced project aside from Wasteland 3. It seems like inXile isn't the only recent Microsoft acquisition working on other projects. According to a report by The Inner Circle Games Network, Obsidian Entertainment is also developing another title with Unreal Engine 4. That's quite the departure from Unity to say the least.

This information was revealed during a talk Senior Programmer Roby Atadero gave at the University of California, Riverside. He discussed a variety of topics, like the acquisition, and what the future holds for the studio.
Before the acquisition, Obsidian developed games using their in-house Onyx Engine. The team would then move on to use Unity for Pillars of Eternity, and now have begun work on a new unannounced project using Unreal Engine 4. Roby Atadero did not divulge anything deeper on the topic.
It's great to see that Obsidian is working on another game in the powerful Unreal Engine 4. The Coalition pushed boundaries with Gears of War 4, so hopefully that team's expertise will serve Obsidian well. There is a lot of collaboration that goes on between Microsoft's various studios.

It's unclear what this project is or what the expected launch date is, but given the fact that Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, recently launched, it might be a few years away. Hopefully Microsoft will share more at E3 2019 or sooner.



https://www.windowscentral.com/obsid...nreal-engine-4
 
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inXile Entertainment working on original Wasteland remaster

This is Wasteland for a modern audience.

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The original Wasteland came out in 1988 and is regarded as a cult classic. The game takes place in 2087, 89 years after an all out nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union turned vast swaths of the Earth into a hellish wasteland. Survival is a daily struggle against thirst, hunger, radiation, raiders, and mutants. You step into the shoes of a "Desert Ranger," the remnants of the American Army who survived the nuclear holocaust by holing up in a maximum security prison. You're the only law around.

The game is currently available on platforms like GOG.com for $5.99 and looks like The Oregon Trail. It features basic visuals to say the least. Luckily, inXile Entertainment is working on a remaster of the original. It's unclear when it'll launch or how far long the title is, but we do know that it's in active development. This information was revealed in a somewhat casual tweet on Twitter.

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This is massive news to say the least. The original Wasteland inspired games like Fallout and is regarded by many as the godfather of the modern post-apocalyptic role-playing game. According to the developer, it was one of the first reactive and immersive worlds that delivered persistent consequences to player choices.

Hopefully inXile will reveal more about the project in the coming months. Maybe Microsoft will have a surprise for us at E3 2019. Who knows? The fact that it's in development is a reason to celebrate.



https://www.windowscentral.com/inxil...eland-remaster
 
Microsoft just bought inXile Entertainment, but who are they?

Microsoft is gearing up to tackle the next console generation with a bang, picking up studios left, right, and center in attempts to offset some of its biggest criticisms. Say hi to inXile Entertainment.

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Microsoft is setting its bets for the next console generation, as Redmond not only attempts to make up for lost ground against PlayStation, but sets up defences against potential moves from Google, Amazon, and other tech giants.

Microsoft is well placed on a technical level for the next console generation. The combined forces of the Xbox and Surface industrial engineering teams is a winning combo, and Microsoft's massive investment in regional data centers grants them a sizable advantage in live services, and their planned game streaming service, set to debut in 2019. One area Microsoft has arguably neglected in recent years is in its internal game stable. Both critics and customers have been fairly adamant that Microsoft can improve in this area, and Microsoft has responded in a big way.

Microsoft picked up several new studios this year, including Forza Horizon-aficionado Playground Games, RPG heavyweight Obsidian Entertainment, and State of Decay developer Undead Labs. When Microsoft announced the acquisition of inXile Entertainment, however, it came as a bit of a surprise.





inXile Entertainment, founded by the legendary Brian Fargo of Interplay fame, is known in recent times for classic-style crowd-funded RPGs Wasteland 2 and The Bard's Tale IV. Both games were well-received overall, but they launched missing some of the polish that you might have expected from a larger studio. I think it's fair to say the games also flew under the radar a bit, lacking the marketing reach Microsoft Studios games typically enjoy. As part of Microsoft, inXile should be able to push their ambitions to the next level, handing off business administration and marketing efforts to Microsoft corporate, and focusing entirely on their art.

Here's a brief history of inXile, and what to expect from this hugely promising studio.

Interplay and the early days

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Wasteland and Fallout from Interplay Productions.


Understanding the journey of inXile Entertainment, is at least in part, understanding the early days of game development and publishing from the 80s through to the 90s. Years before EA would truly explode into the massive corporate giant they are today, the little-known publisher was working with Brian Fargo's company, Interplay Productions, on a post-apocalyptic RPG known as Wasteland, which would go on to inspire and popularize the Fallout franchise. Wasteland was built for the Apple II and the Commodore 64, but can now be found on most systems, purchasable via GOG.com if you fancy a trip into history.

Both Wasteland and Fallout were big success stories in their heyday, and helped Interplay balloon to several hundred employees, publishing all sorts of titles. Both BioWare and Obsidian Entertainment share heritage with inXile through Interplay's Black Isle division, spawning legendary RPGs like Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, and Icewind Dale.

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Baldur's Gate 2.

Despite plenty of successes, the struggle to fully capitalize on the console market and increasing competition led Interplay towards bankruptcy. To avoid this, the company went public in the late 90s to raise capital, and was largely successful. Interplay found some hefty investment from European publisher Titus Software, but a collection of unpopular decisions not only led to Black Isle Studios being shut down (which led to the creation of Obsidian Entertainment), but also to Brian Fargo and several other key staff leaving Interplay. Titus eventually went bankrupt in its own right, leaving Interplay largely on life support. Notably, it was during this period Interplay sold the rights to the Fallout franchise to Bethesda.

Alongside Interplay veteran Matthew Findley, Fargo went on to found inXile Entertainment, "in exile" being a nod to the high-profile fall out at Interplay and Titus.

Classic RPGs rejuvenated

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inXile turned to Kickstarter to fund its game projects, free of investor money and influence. The studio re-acquired the rights to Wasteland after EA, and later Konami, let their respective ownerships of the trademark expire. Wasteland 2 was, at the time, one of the most funded Kickstarter projects, followed by successful campaigns for Torment: Tides of Numenera and The Bard's Tale IV.

We reviewed both Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera. inXile's dedication to classic RPG sensibilities really shines through in all of their recent titles, as studios increasingly forsake branching narratives, choice and consequence, and depth for transitory experiences that focus on spectacle. One thing typifies both games, however, and that is poor polish, and technology that feels as though it could fall to pieces at any moment. They are rough experiences by modern standards, which betrays the creativity and attention to narrative detail CRPGs are known for.





inXile announced Wasteland 3, which, from its trailer, looked like a far more technically ambitious project than Wasteland 3, with more detailed environments, improved animations, and modernized character work. Fargo also announced that he would be retiring following Wasteland 3's release. Until Microsoft stepped in, that is.

The future

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Scenes from the upcoming apocalyptic tactical RPG Wasteland 3.


Microsoft revealed its acquisition of inXile at its X018 event, adding yet another studio to its growing first party lineup. Fans of inXile and its focus on classic RPGs voiced concerns that the studio could get swallowed up in the corporate beast that is Microsoft, citing the closure of Lionhead, Ensemble Studios, and other game divisions at Redmond that struggled to thrive within the company. Fargo detailed his position on the acquisition in a compelling interview with Eurogamer, which outlines some of the business realities so-called "AA" studios like inXile often struggle with.
Either the public is going to shut you down by not buying your product or, theoretically, the company that buys you is going to shut you down if you don't do good products. But now I have more tools at my disposal to prevent that from happening than ever before. The deck is more stacked in our favour than it ever has been.
inXile is a studio with around 70 employees as of writing, and despite that, they managed to create large, sprawling RPGs in Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera, and The Bard's Tale IV.

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Speaking to Eurogamer, Fargo noted that Microsoft has been pretty clear that they have no intentions to dictate the types of games inXile can make, nor will it block the appearance of The Bard's Tale IV or Wasteland 3 on PlayStation 4. Under Microsoft, some of the business-administration aspects of running a self-publishing game developer move entirely to Redmond. No more having to search for funding, no more having to market their own games. In-house testing and optimization, with the resources to grow and really improve on the polish and quality that held Wasteland 2 and some of inXile's other titles back. Fargo also noted that what the industry considers "AA" has become more expensive over time, and might have forced inXile to look for alternative sources of funding, including taking work contracts from other publishers.
I would just add, as an ending, I can honestly say I have a renewed sense of enthusiasm I haven't had for a long time. I am super-excited about this. […] In some ways we've had one hand tied behind our back, and now, no longer.
Fargo has also cancelled his plans for retirement, owing to the team up with Microsoft. In addition to Wasteland 3, inXile is working on another unannounced title, with plans to grow by around 30 per cent to accommodate its pursuit of improved polish and tuning.

inXile really typifies the feisty middle-ground studio filled with creative vision and talent, held back by the increasingly competitive gaming landscape. Under Microsoft, hopefully, inXile will reach new heights.




https://www.windowscentral.com/micro...o-who-are-they
 
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Probably not an Xbox specific announcement, but: