Sherbytes: Industry News Megathread, v.1

[rikwebb]

Capcom has acquired CG Studio SwordCanes who have worked on FF26, SF6 and HI-FI Rush

https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/news/html/e230726c.html

Swordcanes strength lies in 3D computer graphics production technology in consumer home video game development and the studio has carried out work on major Capcom titles in the past. As such, Capcom decided to make the studio its wholly-owned subsidiary to sustainably bolster its developmental and technological capabilities.

Going forward, Capcom will continue to explore the acquisition of necessary technological capabilities in order to enhance its game development organization

 

[Valhoven]

I wonder how many Xbox guys switched to PC? With all their exclusives and Gamepass being on there i dont really get the point of the Xbox console anymore, other than ease of use. That might be a factor, along with Sonys strong first party presence and brand loyalty from last gen carrying over.

I get their mission statement is one of ecosystem so cutting out an access node like consoles wouldn't line up – but it does seem a bleeding limb at this point that they themselves made redundant; sever and thrive in cloud, stream, mobile. My two pence.

Immortals is like 10 or 12 bucks for a physical copy, I'm not sure it did very well.

I had to google this because I didn't know offhand but Ubi are on record in 2022-2023 saying they were impressed, pleased with Fenyx sales. A title now aged three years that was first in property as well as a publication of Ubi all add up to slashed pricing; I wouldn't infer too much from that.

My sleeper hit remark was, however, speaking more to cred, rep amongst gamerverse, where they've taken a big dent in recent years (and are in my eyes even relegated to AA status). PS3-era cinematics in 2023 and some of the worst QA processes in gaming. Real talk. No faith. These French brothers are running their legacy right down the loo with bad decision after bad decision. They're the McDonald's of gaming with how safe and allergic to innovation they've become. And that's why they cancel projects like Fenyx but have quite literally 4, 5, 6 (?) AC projects in the works. Gross. Look at Odyssey; not AC in the least but...money, marketability. F gamers. New bowl. Same old, leftover gruel.

Fenyx was one of the only games – if not the only one – in recent years that had some excitement and fresh writing attached to it despite signature repetition and map bloat. Whatevs. I'm convinced Ubi want to be acquired, actually, and even made an ambiguous statement recently that could corroborate that. Let's see what happens. Sad news for Fenyx fans though.

 

[rikwebb]

https://www.vgchartz.com/article/45...rty-in-latest-quarter-hardware-revenue-drops/

New report on Xbox performance. Game pass sees growth but hardware revenue is down. I think Xbox hardware revenue has been down the last 3 quarters now. I'm starting to wonder if sales will end up being lower than last gen at this point.

They upped the amount of hardware available just after the showcase by the looks of it so it'll probably pick back up in the next quarters figures

 

[method115]

I had to google this because I didn't know offhand but Ubi are on record in 2022-2023 saying they were impressed, pleased with Fenyx sales. A title now aged three years that was first in property as well as a publication of Ubi all add up to slashed pricing; I wouldn't infer too much from that.

Fenyx was one of the only games – if not the only one – in recent years that had some excitement and fresh writing attached to it despite signature repetition and map bloat. Whatevs. I'm convinced Ubi want to be acquired, actually, and even made an ambiguous statement recently that could corroborate that. Let's see what happens. Sad news for Fenyx fans though.

Yea the price drop doesn't mean much. Ubisoft is well known for slashing their prices pretty quickly and aggressively for all their titles. I regularly pickup their AC games for mid 20's and it doesn't feel like I have to wait that long.

I never played Fenyx but only heard good things about it. I think ubisoft at this point is more concerned with taking chances and wants guaranteed revenue. I also agree that I think they want to be acquired but I honestly feel it would be a waste for anyone to acquire them.

 

[Valhoven]

Yea the price drop doesn't mean much. Ubisoft is well known for slashing their prices pretty quickly and aggressively for all their titles. I regularly pickup their AC games for mid 20's and it doesn't feel like I have to wait that long.

I never played Fenyx but only heard good things about it. I think ubisoft at this point is more concerned with taking chances and wants guaranteed revenue. I also agree that I think they want to be acquired but I honestly feel it would be a waste for anyone to acquire them.

QFT. Ubi acquisition would possibly even (temporarily) damage acquirer brand equity, lol.

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

100% Ubi wants to be acquired after their CEO’s comments last week praising the Court’s decision in favour of Microsoft’s takeover of BlizzardActivision. Ubi is creatively bankrupt, they’re the definition of resting on one’s laurels for like… a decade? Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six. That’s all they’ve seemed capable of doing since like 2008?

 

[Valhoven]

Not the faintest what Musk was thinking revamping Twitter after his long-standing fascination with the letter x. Tweeting and the stylised blue bird were iconic at this point. Now it’s xing (?) and a big X. So little brandability there. RIP, Twitter.

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

Not the faintest what Musk was thinking revamping Twitter after his long-standing fascination with the letter x. Tweeting and the stylised blue bird were iconic at this point. Now it’s xing (?) and a big X. So little brandability there. RIP, Twitter.

If I didn’t know any better I’d say he’s bought up a bunch of Meta stock and is trying to give a boost to Threads.

 

[Valhoven]

If I didn’t know any better I’d say he’s bought up a bunch of Meta stock and is trying to give a boost to Threads.

 

[Jawth]

100% Ubi wants to be acquired after their CEO’s comments last week praising the Court’s decision in favour of Microsoft’s takeover of BlizzardActivision. Ubi is creatively bankrupt, they’re the definition of resting on one’s laurels for like… a decade? Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six. That’s all they’ve seemed capable of doing since like 2008?

If Sony got them cheap enough i could see it benefiting them. They dont have a current FPS single player exclusive, The big Witcher 3 esque AC games still do well, and stuff like Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia could make comebacks.

I dont think that its very likely they think themselves much more valuable than what Sony would be willing to pay though. Sony might be better off going after Endeavor.

 

[Valhoven]

Striking Distance announces a number of layoffs from top coordinator positions down; without it being said, Callisto Protocol sales were likely cause. Sad stuff. Can read more like staff farewells from VGC team here. (External)

 

[Valhoven]

Larian CEO Vincke says they'd been courted by bigboys for acquisition but refused, saying it would blunt studio creativity to chase profit. Respect.

Vincke reckons Larian's advantage is that final authority rests with him, not a distant corporate overlord, and he's "very invested in the gameplay" of the studio's projects. "We can do things in service of the games we’re making," said the CEO, rather than pursuing a project management style that prioritises efficiency and profit above all else.

The way Vincke tells it, Larian isn't yet sure what's next to it after BG3. Fair enough, given that project took six years and, I bet, an ungodly amount of energy from the dev team. Still, it sounds like Vincke is hoping to work on multiple projects rather than one massive one, and he has recently been chatting about returning to Original Sin some day.​

Read full write-up from PC Gamer team here on acquisition, BG3, and more.

 

[rikwebb]

Larian CEO Vincke says they'd been courted by bigboys for acquisition but refused, saying it would blunt studio creativity to chase profit. Respect.

Vincke reckons Larian's advantage is that final authority rests with him, not a distant corporate overlord, and he's "very invested in the gameplay" of the studio's projects. "We can do things in service of the games we’re making," said the CEO, rather than pursuing a project management style that prioritises efficiency and profit above all else.

The way Vincke tells it, Larian isn't yet sure what's next to it after BG3. Fair enough, given that project took six years and, I bet, an ungodly amount of energy from the dev team. Still, it sounds like Vincke is hoping to work on multiple projects rather than one massive one, and he has recently been chatting about returning to Original Sin some day.​

Read full write-up from PC Gamer team here on acquisition, BG3, and more.

Doesn't help Tencent holds a 30% stake in them either

 

[Valhoven]

Doesn't help Tencent holds a 30% stake in them either

Did not know that. Thanks.

 

[rikwebb]

Red Dead Redemption (including Undead Nightmare) is heading to Switch and PS4 digitally August 17th, will be a physical edition on October 13th

 

[rikwebb]

Bit of info on Project Dragon and 007 from IOI

https://www.gamereactor.eu/iois-007...y-not-confirmed-to-be-xbox-exclusive-1292303/

when asked what could they tell us about the game being platform specific or exclusive. "This is also [something where] there's nothing clear for us, so I don't think any word came out about any specifics about this, so we cannot comment on it".

"Yeah, [it's an] online multiplayer RPG", confirms senior technical executive producer Cris Vega, "and likely will be like any other IOI game, probably will be on console and PC, but nothing is confirmed, it's still some years until it will release, so yeah".

"007 is under development, it's looking very cool", Vega adds in terms of the game about the secret agent, which seems way more developed at this point. "It's going to tell the story of the first Bond and how it becomes the secret agent that he is, but that's what we can comment on."

 

[Jawth]

Red Dead Redemption (including Undead Nightmare) is heading to Switch and PS4 digitally August 17th, will be a physical edition on October 13th

I was interested until I saw the $50 pricetag.

Ridiculous. Might pick it up once it goes on deep sale.

 

[rikwebb]

Some Sales Figures updates from Take 2

 

[SwamiLeoni]

Crowsworn Kickstarter Anniversary Trailer

 

[Valhoven]

Crowsworn Kickstarter Anniversary Trailer

I remember this!