MS "Considering" Acquiring IO Interactive

JinCA said:
Strong studios are also less likely to be available to be acquired, most of them are independent and like it that way and don't want to become part of a corporate culture.
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Right.

And to clarify my "bargain shopping" comment, it's the same as talking about the basic rule of investment, which is buy low, sell high. "Bargain shopping" is buying low -- looking for properties that, for one reason or another, are undervalued. Buying Insomniac would be buying high, and they'd have to be high to do it.
 
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JinCA said:
Strong studios are also less likely to be available to be acquired, most of them are independent and like it that way and don't want to become part of a corporate culture.
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Isn’t Platinum Games living of off contract to contract?

Would you say studios Platinum or Insomniac are strong studios but only by the games they develop that are there own?
 
karmakid said:
Isn’t Platinum Games living of off contract to contract?

Would you say studios Platinum or Insomniac are strong studios but only by the games they develop that are there own?
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Platinum is a Japanese company and that complicates any kind of take over doesn't it? Insomniac seems to be doing pretty well being that Spider-Man is one of the best selling games of the year and is part of a PS4 bundle that's flying off of the shelves this holiday. They may not own Spider-Man but they just got a huge boost in price if someone was to try to take them over. Sadly for them most of their successful IP's are owned by other companies, they seem to be doing just fine right now as an independent developer who makes exclusives from time to time. Hopefully for them they are able to make a new Multiplatform IP that hits it big, they certainly have the talent for it.
 
karmakid said:
Isn’t Platinum Games living of off contract to contract?

Would you say studios Platinum or Insomniac are strong studios but only by the games they develop that are there own?
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After Scalebound the chances are probably -1000


Think all the cheap cash ins and Starfox harmed their name a little.
 
The Wolf King said:
After Scalebound the chances are probably -1000


Think all the cheap cash ins and Starfox harmed their name a little.
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Well they put out a highly acclaimed and successful game last year so they are fine but doubt Microsoft would want them
 
Andy said:
Right.

And to clarify my "bargain shopping" comment, it's the same as talking about the basic rule of investment, which is buy low, sell high. "Bargain shopping" is buying low -- looking for properties that, for one reason or another, are undervalued. Buying Insomniac would be buying high, and they'd have to be high to do it.
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If they buy Insomniac, then I could maybe get Resistance 4 on my Xbox! :) I love that series.
 
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Dno69 said:
Buy Starbreeze and have them start work on Enclave 2 immediately.
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Unfortunately a lot of Starbreeze talent already went to Mchine Games. In their prime, they were an underrated studio. Most of the devs responsible for Enclave, Riddick and The Darkness are gone. It’s also a Swedish studio. Area Microsoft doesn’t have strong developer relations so I think they’d have a hard time recruiting unlike North America and the UK.

Obsidian had an exodus but they still have a decent sized staff, some key leaders from Fallout New Vegas and they’re in a territory where Microsoft can build them back up. There are times where it’ll make sense to buy a shell of the studio and build them back up but Microsoft still looks for leaders who can run themselves without hand holding and be in territories they can poach.
 
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Looks like IO doesn't even own the Hitman IP as many keep saying, they were just given a license to keep making the game so picking them up doesn't mean owning the IP.
 
JinCA said:
Looks like IO doesn't even own the Hitman IP as many keep saying, they were just given a license to keep making the game so picking them up doesn't mean owning the IP.
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https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/16/15816232/io-interactive-hitman


IO Interactive’s CEO, Hakan Abrak, published a letter on IO’s website to fans of the Hitman franchise, explaining what this means for the franchise. Abrak confirmed that after finishing negotiations with Square Enix, the two companies agreed to a management buyout, allowing the development team to continue working on more Hitman games.

“Crucially, we will keep all of the rights to the Hitman IP,” Abrak wrote. “This is a watershed moment for IOI. As of today, we have complete control over the direction for our studio and the Hitman IP — we’re about to forge our own future and it’s incredibly exciting.”
 
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karmakid said:
https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/16/15816232/io-interactive-hitman


IO Interactive’s CEO, Hakan Abrak, published a letter on IO’s website to fans of the Hitman franchise, explaining what this means for the franchise. Abrak confirmed that after finishing negotiations with Square Enix, the two companies agreed to a management buyout, allowing the development team to continue working on more Hitman games.

“Crucially, we will keep all of the rights to the Hitman IP,” Abrak wrote. “This is a watershed moment for IOI. As of today, we have complete control over the direction for our studio and the Hitman IP — we’re about to forge our own future and it’s incredibly exciting.”
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The rights yes they were given the exclusive license to keep making Hitman games but they don't own it, SE still owns it.
 
JinCA said:
The rights yes they were given the exclusive license to keep making Hitman games but they don't own it, SE still owns it.
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Mcmasters said:
IO owns the IP. Management buyout. Thats ownership, breh...
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*stares at McMasters* I concur, it’s even in the title of said link i posted... or


https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/hitman-ip-is-now-fully-owned-by-io-interactive-2952080

The Hitman IP is now entirely owned by IO Interactive, the now independent studio has announced.

*edit to fix/correct double paste*
 
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Matt over at resetera says they were granted the license but not given the IP, he's been pretty insistent about that. That's where I got it from, if that's incorrect info so be it but he's generally spot on with his stuff.
 
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....out-io-why-square-enix-set-the-franchise-free

I'll take the word of President and CEO Yosuke Matsuda over some guy named Matt.


This brings up an interesting twist in the tale: Square Enix allowing IO Interactive to keep the Hitman IP. Most other companies would have retained the rights to the franchise and later sourced another developer to reboot it, as and when it saw fit. Instead, we saw a best-case-scenario develop where IO Interactive is now already hard at work on season two and even made its first retail release with Hitman: Game of the Year Edition earlier this month. Why hands over the reigns to a still-valuable IP?

"It's because I believe it wouldn't be Hitman unless it was Hitman made by IO," says Matsuda. "I love the game, and I believe the fans of Hitman think it's only Hitman if it's made by IO. So I thought that was the best way for the game to continue, and that's why we were supportive of the MBO and of course didn't mind if they continued to use the IP."
 
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The Wolf King said:
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www....out-io-why-square-enix-set-the-franchise-free

I'll take the word of President and CEO Yosuke Matsuda over some guy named Matt.


This brings up an interesting twist in the tale: Square Enix allowing IO Interactive to keep the Hitman IP. Most other companies would have retained the rights to the franchise and later sourced another developer to reboot it, as and when it saw fit. Instead, we saw a best-case-scenario develop where IO Interactive is now already hard at work on season two and even made its first retail release with Hitman: Game of the Year Edition earlier this month. Why hands over the reigns to a still-valuable IP?

"It's because I believe it wouldn't be Hitman unless it was Hitman made by IO," says Matsuda. "I love the game, and I believe the fans of Hitman think it's only Hitman if it's made by IO. So I thought that was the best way for the game to continue, and that's why we were supportive of the MBO and of course didn't mind if they continued to use the IP."
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But that's not what Matt said.
 
Matt has usually been spot on with this stuff. Sometimes the press releases don’t contain the fine print. It’s completely possible that Square owns the IP however IO owns rights to the games. There’s multiple reasons to do this. IPs have value and completely relinquishing any and all rights to a license doesn’t make business sense without getting something in return. Most likely Square retakes the IP if IO folds. It could be a gamble that IO keeps the IP relevant and then if they fold, Square can assign an IP that would’ve otherwise been left dormant to another developer when the time came. If they get bought out, who knows how that works.

Like I’ve said, I think IO is talented. There are not many developers who can create single player sandboxes like them. I think the Hitman license is boring though. Gameplay excellent. Setting and story boring as hell. A better setting and story could get IO the recognition they deserve. Would be great if Square held onto the IP if IO gets purchased. They’d be my #1 pick to take over the Perfect Dark license.
 
So you think it's possible they own it despite saying they don't? And if they did they let IO make it and get WB to publish it?
 
I haven’t played the latest hitman game but does squaresenix appear anywhere in the advertising and credits for the game? I’m sure it would be stated there as in other movies and games.

*edit to correct word*
 
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I have it and they aren't listed.

IO, WB, Sumo Digital, Design Works, Autodesk, Human IK, Autodesk Scaleform and Wwise are the ones listed on the box.

But again SE themselves have said they don't own the ip anymore.
 
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