I was observing the trajectory of the great intellectual properties under the umbrella of Microsoft / Xbox Studios and I ended up realizing how most of the IPs that we identified as part of the Xbox were acquired from third parties, either with the purchase of the studio or with the rights of the IP fixed in the production . I cite examples:
- Halo, created by Bungie.
- Gears of War, created by Epic.
- Fable, created by Lionhead.
- Banjo, created by Rare (at the time of the partnership with Nintendo).
- Minecraft, created by Mojang.
- Alan Wake, created by Remedy.
- Crackdown, created by Realtime Worlds.
- Killer Instinct, created by Rare.
- State of Decay, created by Undead Labs.
- Quantum Break, created by Remedy.
- Cuphead, creation of StudioMDHR.
- Hellblade, created by Ninja Theory.
- Sunset overdrive, created by Insomniac.
- Ori, creation of Moon Studios.
- Flight Simulator, acquired in the 80's.
- Age of Empires, creation of Ensemble Studios.
We can mention as new IPs produced by studios already part of the body of Microsoft:
- Sea of Thieves, by Rare.
- Forza, on Turn 10.
- Everwild, by Rare.
I'm possibly forgetting titles on both lists. But I think the point is clear. It seems to me that Microsoft needs to go through the same transformation that Sony went through during the PlayStation 3 era, more than a decade ago and start to trust its studios, produce new ideas at home and give the spotlight.
I am not sure that continuing to chase other people's IPs is a sustainable path.
What do you think?
- Halo, created by Bungie.
- Gears of War, created by Epic.
- Fable, created by Lionhead.
- Banjo, created by Rare (at the time of the partnership with Nintendo).
- Minecraft, created by Mojang.
- Alan Wake, created by Remedy.
- Crackdown, created by Realtime Worlds.
- Killer Instinct, created by Rare.
- State of Decay, created by Undead Labs.
- Quantum Break, created by Remedy.
- Cuphead, creation of StudioMDHR.
- Hellblade, created by Ninja Theory.
- Sunset overdrive, created by Insomniac.
- Ori, creation of Moon Studios.
- Flight Simulator, acquired in the 80's.
- Age of Empires, creation of Ensemble Studios.
We can mention as new IPs produced by studios already part of the body of Microsoft:
- Sea of Thieves, by Rare.
- Forza, on Turn 10.
- Everwild, by Rare.
I'm possibly forgetting titles on both lists. But I think the point is clear. It seems to me that Microsoft needs to go through the same transformation that Sony went through during the PlayStation 3 era, more than a decade ago and start to trust its studios, produce new ideas at home and give the spotlight.
I am not sure that continuing to chase other people's IPs is a sustainable path.
What do you think?