Official Thread Scalebound

[Kvally]

Microsoft's Shannon Loftis On The Xbox One X Future, Minecraft Exclusivity, And Scalebound

[....]
If it’s to be a success, Shannon Loftis will be one of the people most responsible. In her role as general manager of Microsoft’s Global Games Publishing, she partners with development studios and publishers across the world to bring their titles to Xbox. We caught up at Gamescom to talk about the cancellation of Scalebound, the Play Anywhere program, the impending launch of the Xbox One X, and if Microsoft has enough exclusives to stand tall with the competition.

Excerpts:

Game Informer: You work closely with numerous studios. Is there a particular trend at the moment that developers are excited by? Looking towards the future, is there one thing that stands out to you?

Shannon Loftis: I think there are several things. First, and probably most obvious to me, is we started the raw distribution of the Xbox One X development kit, and the development community is just in love with these kits. [....]

The One X is many times more powerful than the One S. Why did you tether it to the One S and not just start a new console cycle free from any lingering baggage?

We have a huge vibrant community on S and not everybody in gaming right now is ready to make that 4K leap. It can be quite expensive to buy the television. The prices have come down amazingly, but it still is a major investment. I haven’t convinced my own husband yet to let me buy one.

Is there the danger that by tying the X to the S you’re holding developers back from what they want to do with this powerful new console?

I would say that we have yet to scratch the surface of unlocking what all the power of Xbox One S can do. [...]

Do you think this is a strong enough line-up to launch a console with?

I think it’s an incredibly strong line-up, especially when you take into account the fact that all of the 100 plus enhancements that we’ve already seen are free to gamers that already own the games, and the backward compatibility program, the continuing exclusives, and the fact that all the blockbusters, like Destiny and Star Wars Battlefront 2, are just going to run way better on Xbox One.

How close to being completed was Scalebound when the decision to cancel it was made?

We’re not really talking about the state of the game. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make to discontinue it. Platinum is an amazing, incredibly talented developer.

When we make game decisions, we ask ourselves: Is this the right game? Is it the right experience? Is it the right time? And unless we can answer yes to all three, we won’t continue on with a development cycle.

Remedy exclusively made Xbox games for 10 years, but recently Sam Lake revealed that his studio is now working on multi-platform games. What does that mean for Microsoft and Alan Wake and Quantum Break?

We have a great partnership with Remedy. I support any studio’s growth and change. I think this is an incredibly healthy thing for Remedy to do, and we still talk to them all the time. We have two really great products in the market with them with Quantum Break and Alan Wake.

....

And we have a few IPs that my team brought to the table over the last [generation] – I think Quantum Break is a really good example of a world and a phenomenon where there’s still a lot of story that we can tell.

Announcing ReCore: Definitive Edition was a little bit of a signal to people that got into the world of Far Eden and fell in love with these characters that we believe that that’s an IP with a lot of legs.

I think that the key to developing these IPs into something really special and something really monumental is sticking with them.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/featu...ure-minecraft-exclusivity-and-scalebound.aspx


Some answers were fine, but a lot of her answers sound like typical admin-talk, very political. Doesn't really end up saying much.

Her last answer was weak. Remedy is gone multiplat, and they didn't stick with Scalebound.

Not a damn bit of good conversation there Though it sounded like she is confirming that the Xbox version of Star Wars and Destiny will be the best.

 

[The Wolf King]

Remedy was never exclusive they just made 3 games for Xbox which are also on pc.

People need to stop acting like MS lost an exclusive partner.

 

[Kvally]

Remedy was never exclusive they just made 3 games for Xbox which are also on pc.

People need to stop acting like MS lost an exclusive partner.

I see Remedy similar to Insomniac.

 

[The Wolf King]

Also the 10 years is because both Alan Wake and Quantum Break saw several delays so the 10 years feels a bit of a exaggeration. They also remade Death Rally and worked with R* on Max Payne 3

 

[wshowers]

[....]
If it’s to be a success, Shannon Loftis will be one of the people most responsible. In her role as general manager of Microsoft’s Global Games Publishing, she partners with development studios and publishers across the world to bring their titles to Xbox.

If that is her job, then IMO she needs to be reassigned or needs some help. Too many games are hitting PC, PS4 and/or Switch and outright skipping the X1.

 

[Andy]

If that is her job, then IMO she needs to be reassigned or needs some help. Too many games are hitting PC, PS4 and/or Switch and outright skipping the X1.

She sounded kind of clueless to me.

 

[yankeessuck]

Remedy was never exclusive they just made 3 games for Xbox which are also on pc.

People need to stop acting like MS lost an exclusive partner.

They were console exclusives. I don't see what difference it makes that Microsoft decided to release the games on PC. Still lost a partner.

 

[Mcmasters]

I knewed it! Recore is a franchise. As far as everything else, yeah. She sounds like a politician. Vague answers, words with not much substance.

 

[The Wolf King]

First game will be windows only the next windows, Xbox and PS4.

MS will no doubt partner with them again down the line.

 

[Andy]

Who, Remedy? Yeah, probably.

They didn't perform all that well, though. I doubt MS is in a hurry.

 

[Andy]

I knewed it! Recore is a franchise. As far as everything else, yeah. She sounds like a politician. Vague answers, words with not much substance.

Yeah, that's the only news here: Recore is a franchise. At least it sounds like it.

 

[Edge BC]

I'm getting an: everything is fine - and I'm content with the games and developer projects you already know we have vibe. Most Xbox gamers aren't that content and would like to know if some of the games they've been requesting could be coming. The only thing I liked was that she seems to believe in Quantum Break and Recore as franchises.

 

[Andy]

Not a damn bit of good conversation there Though it sounded like she is confirming that the Xbox version of Star Wars and Destiny will be the best.

Yeah, she said they'd be "way better." We'll see.

 

[Andy]

If that is her job, then IMO she needs to be reassigned or needs some help. Too many games are hitting PC, PS4 and/or Switch and outright skipping the X1.

You're right.

 

[Kvally]

How did MS lose a partner? When did Remedy say they wouldn't make exclusive games for MS?

 

[pravus]

Shannon Loftis is good people.

Odd interview though.

 

[Sasquatch Montana]

Not much to glean other then them basically confirming ReCore 2

If that is her job, then IMO she needs to be reassigned or needs some help. Too many games are hitting PC, PS4 and/or Switch and outright skipping the X1.

Her job is handling first party content from external studios like Ori 2 and PUBG

 

[D-V-ANT]

Microsoft's Shannon Loftis On The Xbox One X Future, Minecraft Exclusivity, And Scalebound

[....]
If it’s to be a success, Shannon Loftis will be one of the people most responsible. In her role as general manager of Microsoft’s Global Games Publishing, she partners with development studios and publishers across the world to bring their titles to Xbox. We caught up at Gamescom to talk about the cancellation of Scalebound, the Play Anywhere program, the impending launch of the Xbox One X, and if Microsoft has enough exclusives to stand tall with the competition.

Excerpts:

Game Informer: You work closely with numerous studios. Is there a particular trend at the moment that developers are excited by? Looking towards the future, is there one thing that stands out to you?

Shannon Loftis: I think there are several things. First, and probably most obvious to me, is we started the raw distribution of the Xbox One X development kit, and the development community is just in love with these kits. [....]

The One X is many times more powerful than the One S. Why did you tether it to the One S and not just start a new console cycle free from any lingering baggage?

We have a huge vibrant community on S and not everybody in gaming right now is ready to make that 4K leap. It can be quite expensive to buy the television. The prices have come down amazingly, but it still is a major investment. I haven’t convinced my own husband yet to let me buy one.

Is there the danger that by tying the X to the S you’re holding developers back from what they want to do with this powerful new console?

I would say that we have yet to scratch the surface of unlocking what all the power of Xbox One S can do. [...]

Do you think this is a strong enough line-up to launch a console with?

I think it’s an incredibly strong line-up, especially when you take into account the fact that all of the 100 plus enhancements that we’ve already seen are free to gamers that already own the games, and the backward compatibility program, the continuing exclusives, and the fact that all the blockbusters, like Destiny and Star Wars Battlefront 2, are just going to run way better on Xbox One.

How close to being completed was Scalebound when the decision to cancel it was made?

We’re not really talking about the state of the game. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make to discontinue it. Platinum is an amazing, incredibly talented developer.

When we make game decisions, we ask ourselves: Is this the right game? Is it the right experience? Is it the right time? And unless we can answer yes to all three, we won’t continue on with a development cycle.

Remedy exclusively made Xbox games for 10 years, but recently Sam Lake revealed that his studio is now working on multi-platform games. What does that mean for Microsoft and Alan Wake and Quantum Break?

We have a great partnership with Remedy. I support any studio’s growth and change. I think this is an incredibly healthy thing for Remedy to do, and we still talk to them all the time. We have two really great products in the market with them with Quantum Break and Alan Wake.

....

And we have a few IPs that my team brought to the table over the last [generation] – I think Quantum Break is a really good example of a world and a phenomenon where there’s still a lot of story that we can tell.

Announcing ReCore: Definitive Edition was a little bit of a signal to people that got into the world of Far Eden and fell in love with these characters that we believe that that’s an IP with a lot of legs.

I think that the key to developing these IPs into something really special and something really monumental is sticking with them.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/featu...ure-minecraft-exclusivity-and-scalebound.aspx


Some answers were fine, but a lot of her answers sound like typical admin-talk, very political. Doesn't really end up saying much.

Her last answer was weak. Remedy is gone multiplat, and they didn't stick with Scalebound.

Thats a master class lesson in bullsh!t answering. I'm impressed. There are probably legal restrictions to talking about Scalebound but the rest... wow... she's a real bullsh1t ninja.

 

[wshowers]

Not much to glean other then them basically confirming ReCore 2



Her job is handling first party content from external studios like Ori 2 and PUBG

Then my critique still stands. In fact, I think that's even worse. Microsoft and everyone else is well aware their 1st part deficit when compared to other platform holders. From the outside looking in, it doesn't seem like many external studios are jumping at the chance to make games for Microsoft using MS owned IPs. If she's in charge of getting developers and deals in place to get first party or second party games moving along, she's truly been asleep at the wheel.

 

[Rollins]

Yup, she’s corporate...reminds me of that stereotypical female corporate character they always use in the Simpsons.

I’m still hearing SB might not be totally dead. Yet.

 

[pravus]

Then my critique still stands. In fact, I think that's even worse. Microsoft and everyone else is well aware their 1st part deficit when compared to other platform holders. From the outside looking in, it doesn't seem like many external studios are jumping at the chance to make games for Microsoft using MS owned IPs. If she's in charge of getting developers and deals in place to get first party or second party games moving along, she's truly been asleep at the wheel.

That's not her job either.

To embellish, she's in on decision making for greenlighting and cancelling games but it isn't one person.

Yup, she’s corporate...reminds me of that stereotypical female corporate character they always use in the Simpsons.

I’m still hearing SB might not be totally dead. Yet.

She's OG Xbox, what are you guys talking about? She was a producer, not corporate and now leads a team of dev's that assist partnered development studios.

Like when you hear about MS sending devs to studios to help with partnered games; it's likely someone under her wing I would assume.

 

[Sasquatch Montana]

Then my critique still stands. In fact, I think that's even worse. Microsoft and everyone else is well aware their 1st part deficit when compared to other platform holders. From the outside looking in, it doesn't seem like many external studios are jumping at the chance to make games for Microsoft using MS owned IPs. If she's in charge of getting developers and deals in place to get first party or second party games moving along, she's truly been asleep at the wheel.

Your original critique was that there were some games hitting switch, PS4 and PC and not Xbox is third party relations, not Loftis job, so it doesn't stand. Plus I see at least 700 games (so far) on Xbox One that aren't appearing on those systems. If its a numbers game, sadly (or gleefully depending on you pov) there are systems in place now that makes it very difficult for anything but the PC or Cellphone to catch Xbox in term of 'games not on insert devices'

You have a different critique now.

On your revised critique. Microsoft's first party games by external studios is basically tied with Sony's this gen. Forza Horizon 3 and Bloodborne critically...and the former sold better and the sequels out next year. Will there ever be a Bloodborne 2? Who can say? I'm told if the sequel never happens it flopped right?

As for Nintendo the only game I can think of is Mario x Rabbids. The high bar? Do you have any other examples?

Bayonetta 2 I guess on WiiU. But no one would call that a successful game...and Sega owns the Ip...and Ubisoft owns Rabbids

 

[Andy]

That's not her job either.

To embellish, she's in on decision making for greenlighting and cancelling games but it isn't one person.



She's OG Xbox, what are you guys talking about? She was a producer, not corporate and now leads a team of dev's that assist partnered development studios.

Like when you hear about MS sending devs to studios to help with partnered games; it's likely someone under her wing I would assume.

I don't know her. But she sounds like a corporate drone in this interview.

 

[Intellivision]

Never heard of her.

 

[D-V-ANT]

Yup, she’s corporate...reminds me of that stereotypical female corporate character they always use in the Simpsons.
.

 

[The Living Tribunal]

That definitely was NOT a good interview IMHO.

Her and Phil couldn't sound more different.

 

[pravus]

I don't know her. But she sounds like a corporate drone in this interview.

I don't disagree with that. Pretty uneventful questions and answers.

Probably should've tailored the questions more towards her role and what she could actually answer. It feels like he had these questions penned for Phil Spencer and then just lobbed them at her instead.

 

[wshowers]

That's not her job either.

To embellish, she's in on decision making for greenlighting and cancelling games but it isn't one person.



She's OG Xbox, what are you guys talking about? She was a producer, not corporate and now leads a team of dev's that assist partnered development studios.

Like when you hear about MS sending devs to studios to help with partnered games; it's likely someone under her wing I would assume.

You are correct. Had to dig up an older interview where she described her job in her words. That's the gist of it.

 

[wshowers]

Your original critique was that there were some games hitting switch, PS4 and PC and not Xbox is third party relations, not Loftis job, so it doesn't stand. Plus I see at least 700 games (so far) on Xbox One that aren't appearing on those systems. If its a numbers game, sadly (or gleefully depending on you pov) there are systems in place now that makes it very difficult for anything but the PC or Cellphone to catch Xbox in term of 'games not on insert devices'

You have a different critique now.

On your revised critique. Microsoft's first party games by external studios is basically tied with Sony's this gen. Forza Horizon 3 and Bloodborne critically...and the former sold better and the sequels out next year. Will there ever be a Bloodborne 2? Who can say? I'm told if the sequel never happens it flopped right?

As for Nintendo the only game I can think of is Mario x Rabbids. The high bar? Do you have any other examples?

Bayonetta 2 I guess on WiiU. But no one would call that a successful game...and Sega owns the Ip...and Ubisoft owns Rabbids

Feels pointless to argue with you since I'm arguing a position she doesn't hold/do. Point and game to you sir.

 

[pravus]

You are correct. Had to dig up an older interview where she described her job in her words. That's the gist of it.

I think we also still have to take into consideration that she probably has a couple layers above her that call the shots. Even Mattricks and Spencer both had another shot caller who superceded both of them within the Xbox division that impacts all decision making... I'm not even sure if Phil's latest promotion totally changes that.

Too many chief's.

I agree with your overall sentiment though; ball is being dropped hard somewhere along the lines.