Phantom Dust could work as a Souls-like game with a rebooted CCG system. The world/universe has that isolation feeling that i've pretty much got during my playthrough of DS3. Ofcourse i'm pretty much biased since i just love PD and i'm still hopeful in a future installment for the series.
I would much prefer a new Phantom Dust to play like a Ninja Gaiden game than a Souls game.
The only dated part of PD is the lack of mobility.
Espers should be faster, evasive and have some platforming abilities to create much more dynamic fights.
I want it. I need it. If this doesnt happen, I will remember this
I feel very strongly that's what it'll be based on Phil often lamenting not having a first party action game like Uncharted.
Not to call them copy cats, but it seems like Microsoft are back to learning from their competition.
Horizon: Zero Dawn is what pushed the inevitable reboot of Fable up sooner, and now we have arguably the best managers AAA studio in the business taking over.
Naughty Dog set the world on fire with TLOU and Uncharted, and now we have Initiative.
And it's not just other platform holders.
I think Compulsion were bought because Phil sees potential in a studio formed by former Arkane staff. They are the first analogue to Irrational.
Undead Labs are basically filling the void of Dead Rising and then some.
Between Obsidian and inXile, Microsoft have essentially scooped up what remains of Black Isle. They have visionaries and directors across those two studios that, with a budget, can essentially direct first party analogues to Fallout, Elder Scrolls and Mass Effect.
This all too much of a coincidence to not be strategic on Microsoft's part.
I agree that Ashen is looking really good, but I'm also realistic in that if Aurora44 wants to create an AAA soulslike game they'll have to expand a lot and that will only be possible with MS money, if they were to invest a lot into them, like they did playground's second team, they might just think it's better to acquire them outright (again that's only if the plan is to fully materialize AAA soulslike games, if they are to remain indie, their current agreement is fine).
The way I look at it is like is this: if Microsoft's #1 priority is exclusive content for Game Pass, then maintaining good relationships with developers is crucial, and if they can do that then they don't need to acquire whoever is available. It's not necessary or healthy for the industry.
Ashen looks great, and I'm sure it'll do numbers, especially on Game Pass, but unless it just makes sense for both parties long term, they don't have pull out the cheque book.
The thing that's crazy about it is only 2 of that games are from a Microsoft owned studio (Gears 5, Minecraft Dungeons). Each of the other titles is from a partner and in the case of Battletoads, it's actually Rare overseeing the production by Dlala Studios and not Microsoft Studios.
That means there are 12(!) other studios with projects in development that are wholly owned, or soon to be, by MS without a project announced with a timeframe. Halo Infinite, Gears POP and Tactics were never given a year.
This is the reason why I'm so giddy about the future of MGS and Game Pass in particular.
And there may be more on the way before long.
Obsidian is around 190 so it just depends. Bungie-level (700) will never happen, but I can see up to 250. It honestly just depends on what the developer brings to Microsoft with their talent if the amount is worth the acquisition. A studio that has multiple teams and is big is going to be worth more than one that is big but only has one or two teams.
Obsidian is the kind of storied and experienced studio that doesn't just get acquired for one project at a time.
Just look at BioWare for example.
What made Obsidian desirable is not their assets, because they don't have much of note. It's the talent already there, waiting for the opportunity to really cut loose.
Between Cain, Boyarsky, Sawyer and Heins that's 4 potential projects or 2 really big ones if they pair them up.
Whether Sawyer and Heins work on AAA is likely more of a choice up to them than not, because if that's what they want to do and can't, then they might just see the acquisition as a good jump off point.
The bigger question here for me is why wouldn't Phil/Matt allow them to work on the kind of games they want? They'll be selling on multiple platforms and they're going to need the content for Game Pass.
I think the floor for Obsidian is 400.
250 sounds more accurate for inXile, imo.
