Microsoft has four unannounced IPs in the works

Microsoft is synonymous with franchises such as Halo, Gears of War, and Forza, but it sounds like the company is looking to expand its portfolio further.

[NYC_Gamer]

I hope these are legit quality games and not Kinect based

[Munky]

Amen, but at least of them is bound to be Kinect related. I'm guessing Ryse is one of the titles he was referring to even though it was announced awhile back ago, nobody has heard squat about it for sometime now.

[-Alpha]

Let's hope not.

This is Microsoft's chance to build up a gaming portfolio dedicated to core gamers for next gen.

I hope MS brings it, but I am more skeptical than anything else. MS clearly has unfinished business with Kinect, and while I enjoyed that full-room Kinect demo, I am concerned about what it means for more traditional matters.

[Munky]

Kinect 2.0 is a 100% certainty, so games will be developed.

But I, like you and a lot of 360 owners out there hope MS focuses on hardcore games as well. As much as I love Halo, Gears and Forza MS CAN'T expect to neglect the consumers who just want to play games... no gimmicks, no flashing lights, no flailing of the limbs, just straight up "controller in my hand" games.

[hazardman]

I think gamers are underestimating MS. But they have a good catalog of IPs that they can rehash for the next gen and also add new ips that will further help them. I just hope MS doesn't gimp on its efforts, I know that they're not blind, they notice all the buzz PS3 gets from their exclusives. Going into next gen they know they need to step it up in one way or another.

[Snookies12]

I just hope they're worthwhile for core gamers. I feel like Microsoft hasn't been doing enough for them lately. They really need to focus on getting some quality new games out there for people. Kinect games are fine and all, but it won't strike a chord with the old-school gamers out there.

[miyamoto]

I hope M$ repents puts its money on really making new games.

[ArmrdChaos]

I think MS is smart enough marketing wise they realize that first adopters are going to be composed almost entirely of your "core" players. They will continue to fish the casual audiences with big price drops for the 360. It will not be until they can get the price down on the new system before they can count on the casual audience to start generating larger sales with their new system.

[nirwanda]

@armrdchaos I think MS will launch aiming for all markets, if you look at the way apple sell to the casual market, MS will make it look like box that will do everything like apple does with its ads.
If they make it look cool and if it comes with kinect 2 change tv channel with voice/gesture, record tv, surf the net, apps, music, video, bluray.

Then sell it at a lowwer price than the wiiU expecting to make money back from live and apps/downloads then it may be aiming for the mainsteam from the start.

[tehpees3]

lol I was going to say the same thing. Its a good sign but not if they are casual focused.

[JohnApocalypse]

That's what I was gonna post

[AngelicIceDiamond]

I hope its not Kinect either.

Its funny to think N4G thought MS wasn't gonna release new Ips next gen. And said MS will continue to pump out Halo and Gears. Smh they are fanboys after all little to no intelligence.

But 4 brand new Ip's is quite a bit. That's pretty damn good. I'm guessing they are AAA status. That ISN"T Kinect.

[DigitalRaptor]

It's also funny to think that N4G said Blu-ray is useless and is doomed, PS3 is doomed and has no games, PS Vita has no games (after Killzone: Mercenary, Tearaway, Soul Sacrifice, PSO2..) etc, etc, etc.

These new IPs are a really, really great thing for MS and something that everyone should be praising them for, if true and if they are worthwhile. And if Kinect-based, then maybe not...

[Veneno]

If theyre shooters its nothing to get excited about either.

[WetN00dle69]

And hopefully they arent Poker based as well.

[IAMERROR]

Well we know 2 of them aren't for sure.

[Bigpappy]

I have Kinect and sure hope M$ continues to support it. There are many developer out there making great core games, and I know M$ will have some in-house core games also. But, I bought Kinect with the confidence that M$ will give it great support. They have done a goo job so far, but I know they have a lot more innovation to pursue with connect. With a more powerful system, built with Kinect in mind, I am really hoping that M$ makes it a major focus from the start. Most of the core IP's for Sony and M$ are really not worth the wait. MY favorite games usually come from 3rd party.

[JANF]

Im a huge fan of the Xbox, but IMHO Kinect is the one thing that could kill the brand. That and MS not releasing new exclusive IPs. MS needs to have a varied amount of new IPs for the core gamers or they will be last third next gen. scratch that, they'll be last fourth if we count Valve's new steam console.

[Aceman18]

for me Gears was the only franchise i liked out of the main four they have, and that is not enough reason to plunk down hundreds of $$$$$$ for their next system.

M$ better come correct next gen with variety, and not dumba$$ kinect crap if they want my hard earned $$$$$$.

Orbis/PS4 is a given day for me, and i'm already set on getting a Wii U later this year, and if they dont step up their game portfolio to more than the same four franchises they keep churning out i'll have no problems not getting their next system.

[miDnIghtEr20C_SfF]

Why would anyone think that MS wasn't going to have new games.

Ridiculous. They have the best 3d party games on any console this gen, and have some great exclusives as well. As far as I know, more 3rd party games come out.. way more, than exclusives.

RARE making a new water game. Get ready.

[Ritsujun]

Yeah play your fav water games, brat.

[xursz]

I haven't been into shooters for a while but I expect MS to show off something that might interest me.

[imdaboss1]

have the best 3rd party games? you mean games that also on the ps3 too? lol Sony murder the 36o with all their exclusive games and i expect them to do it again with the PS4

[Enemy]

How the hell did you get disagrees? There are people out there that would prefer Kinect titles? LMAO, wow.

[gamingmaster2013]

let me guess... halo, fable, forza and gears.

[Gamer1982]

The sad fact is one of them at least will be Kinect based I reckon the others will be Halo, Forza and eith another Kinect title (making it 2) or a new IP perhaps.

[DeadlyFire]

I expect 2 of them to be Kinect and one to be Kid like game with only 1 quality IP in the bunch, but I could be wrong.

[ThatGuy2]

OMGZ I CANT WAIT FOR MAH KINECT ANIMAILZ 3!!

[Munky]

Interesting, can't wait to see the lineup both MS and Sony launch with the new consoles. Things are definitely heating up on the next gen front!

[Cocozero]

No surprise MS now has more first party studios than Sony. They have multiple new studios for the next gen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[KiRBY3000]

your comment made me curious, so i checked your links. this is what came up.

these are what I'd count as legit "core games making" Microsoft Studios
1. 343 Industries (Halo series)
2. Turn 10 Studios (Forza Motorsport series)
3. Lionhead Studios (Fable series)

the rest is a bunch of "Untitled Project" which could be absolutely nothing. its been 4 years since Rare released a game that wasnt Kinect-based so i didnt count them.

who are these other phantom studios and what have they made so far? Gears is from Epic, Alan Wake is from Remedy. am i missing any big exclusive?

now for Sony
1. SCE Japan Studio (The Last Guardian, Puppeteer)
2. Polyphony Digital (Gran Turismo series)
3. Naughty Dog (Uncharted series, The Last of Us)
4. SCE Santa Monica Studio (God of War series)
5. Sucker Punch Productions (Infamous series)
6. Evolution Studios (MotorStorm series)
7. Guerrilla Games (Killzone series)
8. Media Molecule (LittleBigPlanet series)

I didnt count the Singstar crap, move-based and PSP/Vita stuff as well. didnt count Quantic Dream as they arent 1st party.

as of right now, there might might be more 1st party studios on MS wiki page, but we know next to nothing about them, what they've done, what they're up to. MS has spend almost the whole gen throwing cash on timed exclusive games and timed exclusive DLC, which worked very well for them. but at the end of the day (or gen) the one and only studio they created is 343 Industries, specificly for the halo franchise, cause the original developper is now a multiplatform one (Bungie).

Sony is still king of 1st party. and by the time MS gets things done with these "new" studios, sony could be buying new ones or expanding too.

PS: I always bought consoles for their exclusives. bought a Dreamcast for Shenmue which is a game so wonderful it was enough for me to justify the purchase of the console. bought a PS2 for the sequels of all the beloved exclusive franchises I started on PS1 (Silent Hill, MGS, FF, Team ICO games).

I got a 360 for 3 games, Alan Wake, Mass Effect 1 and Limbo. Alan Wake was a disappointment (dumbed down or not), Mass Effect ended up on PS3, same scenario for Limbo. now i dont need a game to be exclusive to enjoy it, cant wait for Bioshock Infinite and GTA 5, but when i buy a console because im told that the game im interested in is exclusive and then its not, i've been lied to. so as a consumer, i applaud MS for taking my money. they got me with their marketing strategies. but as a gamer, i despise these tactics and say to MS "Go F*ck Yourselves".

sorry, didnt expect to rant that much. heres a smiley for you. :P

[kickerz]

I bought a dreamcast too. Worked my ass off, $5 an hour stacking fruit onto shelves. (Was only 16 at the time). Finally got the machine (after like 100 freakin hours work) and it rocked best console, best games ever. Only to have Sony come along and release the PS2 and destroy Sega, my favorite company. So yeah after that I will never buy Sony. Call me crazy but it is what it is lol.

[Eyeco]

I like the old misconception that Sony destroyed Sega, they didn't, Sega destroyed themselves, there are countless reasons for Sega's demise some of them can even be attributed to the genesis add ons, but to name a few, piracy, tarnished image , lack of DVD, low attach rate, future consoles anticipation, online launched too late, the console itself was released far too early, poor business strategies in general the list goes on, I won't call you crazy just ignorant.

[kickerz]

@ eyeco
I do agree, there are other factors which I am slightly ignoring. Sega did make some poor decisions.
You have to admit though at the time kids would see a dreamcast on the shelf next to a ps2, and you can guess which one they bought. heck the Sony kids at school gave me sh*t for having a dreamcast. so later on I just became a pc gamer for a bit. C&C, Starcraft, league of legends. All were amazing, then got a 60inch tv and a 360.had many hours of fun. anyways now I'm boring everyone wit my life story lol. Have a good day.

[dubt72]

And yet of all the sony exclusives, there are maybe 2 that interest me. Uncharted and maybe Infamous, but I kind of lost the love for that one too, just like I did with God of War when 3 came out. It was the same ish. Could care less about gt, lbp, allstars, killzone (clunky and soulless), resistance (generic), ni no kuni (don't like jrpg's), ratchet (too kiddish). heavy Rain was alright for the 5 hour playble movie it was. So for someone like me, and I know many, the Sony exclusives don't really draw us to buy Sony products. Their off-putting arrogance at the beginning of this gen will always resonate with their name. Let the disagrees commence.

[Eyeco]

Thank you for your civil response, but another thing you need to take into consideration is that most of the people that bought a PS2 were PS1 owners, those kids that chose a PS2 over a dreamcast were more than likely PS1 owners, a console that was nearing the 100 million mark.
Its easy to point fingers at the PS2 but when you look into it clearly wasnt the case

[sonic989]

@ kickerz
i am a sega fan too i owned every sega system and now i support sony simply because i refuse to join nintendo.
and microsoft are just not my taste especially that they have zero platformers Sony are really that much better i hope you can see that sega died because of nintendo first.
sony was just doing us a favour taking the legacy from sega and moved on
LONG LIVE SONIC

[ALLWRONG]

@KiRBY3000 that's called "cherry picking" and "damage control" and your 4 hour post did nothing to help your cause.

[DeadlyFire]

Microsoft did open 1 legitimate new studio in the past year or so that wasn't Kinect related. Yet to see anything from it though. I don't expect more than 1 new IP from Microsoft that would even spark a little interest from me.

[Gamer1982]

@kickerz
Im sorry but that's just silly SEGA was to blame for dreamcast demise not Sony a great console will do well despite competition and its faults the 360 this generation proved it. I mean look at it, it survived RROD, Old technology in sticking in DVD, terrible sales in Japan and it had Sony at its heels. Just as SEGA did and it survived nicely because it was well supported and MS believed in it.

[DonFreezer]

I'm sorry my friend but if we count all the ps3 exclusives that has been lost at the start of this generation your comment would seem like nothing.Assassins Creed, Devil May Cry 4 and Final Fantasy XIII made a lot of my friends get a ps3 just because they were supposed to be exclusives.

[DonFreezer]

Sony destroyed the Dreamcast because the bleemcast emulator had better graphics on ps1 games than ps2 and Sony couldn't stand that.They were so afraid that with bleemcast noone would ever wanted the far inferior ps1.

[Silly gameAr]

Then if that's the case, where are the games? Sony's studios are releasing games. What are MS first party studios doing exactly?

[DOMination-]

That's the point. Most of them are new and have been working on next gen for a while.

[thebudgetgamer]

Then what are they doing, siesta?

[kenshiro100]

So where are the games from these studios?

-cricket chirp-

[Gamer1982]

Although MS only just beats Sony on first party some of them make only Arcade games and are engineering teams who work on apps and XBL (5 teams to be exact work only on XBL stuff like Skype and XBL). On top of that Sony has a ton of second party studios.

Then we go onto quality not quantity of first party. Although MS has a few top quality 1st party studios in turn 10, lionhead and 343 they lack the amount of quality studios Sony does. Sony hardly has a weak studio that nobody has heard of I mean on that link there is at least 7 studios that have never even released a game! e.g. Microsoft Studios – Los Angeles, Platform Next Studios, Playful Learning, Skybox Sports to name a few. They have only just opened these studios.

I hope for gamers sakes they are working on Hardcore titles and not Kinect titles as then it definitely gives gamers more choice when choosing there next console. As right now Sony seems to be sending out all the right vibes for nex-gen..

[southernbanana]

.

[southernbanana]

First people complain Microsoft doesn't have enough first party studios and brag about how many Sony has. Then when information is given showing Microsoft now has more studios than Sony they claim they are not quality studios. Seriously? I would also like to ask how you can judge new studios when all of their projects are for the next generation?

[iNathan]

CORE GAMES!

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I will echo others sentiments in that I want these IP to be legit core games. I personally wont care if they have some kind of Kinect feature but they MUST be good, quality core games.

[EffectO]

fake

[FarCryLover182]

Got proof of the invalidity?

[matrixman92]

and this is not including the numerous exclusive arcade titles in the works

[jakmckratos]

A game where you are part of an elite alien killing machismo army

A racing game

And 2 Kinect games where you frantically wave your arms at the screen like an idiot to make a ball fly and a fish swim respectively.

Microsoft is severely lacking in the fresh good idea department. I actually hope these are good.

[ayabrea93]

that's good, I'm hoping to see a lot of new franchises next gen

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Hopefully not Kinect titles. And each are a blockbuster series.

[Theyellowflash30]

Im not even trying to troll here but.....we all know at least 2 of these are kinect based. The other one is probably a shooter. Leaving one game that I might actually care about. I forgot Microsoft actually makes anything outside of Halo, forza, and Fable

[TechOne]

Kinect titles ;)

[jay2]

Kinect 2 games 100-1004.

[jacksheen0000]

I hope one of the 4 unannounced games is Killer Instinct.

[baldulf]

Microsoft has made the same mistake than Nintendo, focusing on casual crap and neglecting its first party core games.

Would MS be able to recover the lost time? We'll have to wait and see (I do hope they'll be back onto the traditional games track)

[khowat]

Why does everyone hate on kinect so much calling it a gimmicky piece of shit. Nothing is a gimmick it's just and idea that hasn't been used to it's full potential

[omi25p]

Because they are sony fanboys who have no one else to talk to. So they take to hiding in internet forums writing snide little comments about a piece of plastic that isnt there favorite piece of shiny plastic.

[2pacalypsenow]

I hope its not kinect games

@omi25p please Xbox fanboys bash sony because the Move is an updated wii mote so dont give me that crap that only sony fans do it.
And Ms just updates the Eye toy so Ms basically did the same thing sony did

[mayberry]

The thing for me about the article is, even if all 4 titles are going to be full 360 games, it won't stop my feelings that ms has abandoned the "hardcore" gamer for far too long. And would be in my eyes still make ms 'a day late and a dollar short'... And it bugs me that other gamers still have this, 'its coming, it's right around the corner, they better come with the games' thoughts. How many 'wait for the next E3' comments do I have to read! If they make a new hardcore ip, fine... Im not holding my breath though!

[PAYNEinc85]

Kinect is played out and Microsoft knows it. There may be a Kinect 2.0 but there won't be as much attention focused on it. I think it'll be more about games with Kinect support than games that are Kinect only.

[clintagious650]

You would think that with all the money MS has they wouldnt be afraid to create new IP's that attract the hardcore fans heck they can create a new gow/dmc/ng like franchise of their own for the 360 but u can tell with all the success the 360 has had its more about whatever gets them the most money then pleasing the real hardcore base that made the 360 as successful as it is today. I really hope that these 4 new IP's will be for the hardcore because they owe it to them. Oh & also a sequal to Lost Odissey would be also great.

[kupomogli]

Gears isn't Microsoft's, but who cares about four unnannounced IPs in the works. We know they're Kinect games. When is the last Microsoft developed new IP that isn't a Kinect game?

[clintagious650]

I think the problem is that their isnt enough demand from the hardcore base to persuade MS into doing so & a big reason why is because alot of the core gamers are on xbox live and their are plenty of games out there to keep gamers busy but wat about the core gamers who also enjoy single player experiences like games like fallout/lost odissey/heavy rain/alan wake/shenmue? They need more games like this to add to their portfolio that way us core gamers are satisfied & also gives us core gamers the feeling that our investment was worth it & that MS has our back.

[jetlian]

they will have new core ips thats a given. The ones that survive will get more games. Sony keeps trying on certain ips even if they not selling that well.

[OllieBoy]

Hope they're actual games.

[Clarence]

I'm guessing kinect titles.

[Jek_Porkins]

Not sure why this is a surprise, Microsoft has over 20 first party studios and most have been quiet over the last few years, obviously gearing up for the next generation. We also know Black Tusk is working on a huge core AAA title!

[thebudgetgamer]

Is it really obvious, or do you just imagine that?

[Jek_Porkins]

Well considering the majority of their first party studios haven't done anything, hiring at Rare and Lionhead for next gen titles, 343 already at work on the next Halo for the next Xbox, Black Tusk was recently renamed that, and it was outed that they were working on a core AAA title. There was the first ever AAAA title in the works, among others!

Just because Microsoft doesn't do things exactly like Sony, doesn't make them wrong, or right really. Just means they have a different business model.

[RogueStatus28]

343, Black Tusk, Top Gear, LionHead, Rare, etc.

[CanadianTurtle]

I'm still surprised that people actually had fun with Kinect. The PSMove wasn't a killer substitute either.

[Hicken]

No, but Move was pushed nearly as hard as Kinect was.

Outside of that, I'd like to see a new Blood Wake. Loved that game on original Xbox.

[Cueil]

Dance Central would like to reminded you that people still have fun with the Kinect... My wife love the Kinect... I use it more for controlling my Xbox then playing games, though I tend to use the features if they are in game for controlling characters and what not

[chuckyj1]

Well one of them is probably Microsoft's new Studio Black Tusks "Space shooter" that is suppose to be like the Gears of War series. as for the other 3 I don't think any knows anything yet.

[Plagasx]

4 Kinect games lol.

[TheSauce]

I like how easy it is to tell who are the fan boys here.

[FlyingFoxy]

Well probably not Conker or Banjo, i move to PS4.

MS can keep their overrated Halo, while i have HL3 on PC to look forward to.

[NoTheMama]

Meanwhile Joanna Dark, Banjo, Kazooie, Conker, & the entire cast of Killer Instinct are on the streets holding up signs reading "Will game for food"
Throw these guys a freaking bone Microsoft

[Drainage]

i hope timesplitters 4 is not one of them. I want to play that on my P S quadruple

[headblackman]

i sure hope that killer instinct 3 is one of thise titles :-)

[aftershock]

I've been a 360 owner since launch day and ever since last year I've gravitated to the ps3 because of the exclusives. I love microsoft and what the 360 used to be but over the past few years they haven't really spoken to me as a gamer because I'm beyond tired of fable, forza, halo, gears. On top of that Kinect was the biggest BS lie I've ever seen. It hardly does anything they touted it to do that first e3 it was announced. It's sold millions yes but to me its a total flop and a waste of money for me. I am gonna hold out till both consoles are launched but at this current direction of things its gonna be ps4 and PC for me.

[broken_back-man]

all kinect based I bet!! m $ has droppef the core!

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

MS has proven with the lifespan of the 360 that they are more and more out of tune with what they need to do for the gaming public!

[N4OGs]

milo will finally be realeased!! now you guys can talk to little school boys on your tv like the Hey you pikachu game.

[chuckyj1]

Judging from Wikipedia these are probably the studios behind the new IPs

Microsoft Studios – Los Angeles – Next generation core cinematic title

Platform Next Studios – Next generation core title

Lionhead Studios – *Unannounced MMO-like New IP*-maybe a spin-off of fable? Or something entirely new?

Black Tusk Studios – Untitled Project (this would be the space-based shooter announced (gears of War) style that was announced but, nothing has been revealed yet.)

Crytek- Don't know if Ryse would count, but that is probably using the advanced features of Kinect 2.0

Looks like you have maybe 1 using Kinect (Ryse) and three that may incorporate "Better w/ Kinect" where the device will not be required.

Looks like 3 core titles...

[sak500]

I've been 360 owner since Jan 06 but God help me if they churn out more drivel for kinect than catering for us core gamers then i'm switching to PS4..

[LiquidSword93]

If even one of those 4 is a kinect game I will my ass off :)

[RogueStatus28]

Sony fans find it hard to believe Microsoft is releasing 4 existing/ new IPs so they have to say Kinect games.

[ziggurcat]

1. forza
2. gears of war
3. halo
4. fable

[TheSauce]

Do you even know what IP means?

[FlyShootRaceSims]

Just bring out a new KI, Mechwarrior, and Shenmue along with the new and current IP's and I'll be set.

[Droid Control]

Halo racing
Forza fps
gears of war kart
Kinect shovelware 2013

[Max-Zorin]

So much trolling. Stay classy N4G.

[Munky]

Expected on a Sony-centric site, impossible to avoid the stupidity.

[rapidturtle]

They better come up with something, Halo and Gears can't carry their brand forever.

[mochachino]

Kinect was like an iPhone game, super fun for 10 minutes, then the most boring thing in the world thereafter.

[Cueil]

it's good for party games... also useful for audio controlling your system

[AllBlue]

I wonder if Alan Wake 2 will be one of them

[chuckyj1]

Would be awesome.

[dcbronco]

I haven't read the story connected to this comment section. I just wanted to look and see how long it would take for someone to bring up Kinect. Then I blinked. Amazing how feeble some minds can be. It would have been a foolish move for any gaming company to waste a new experience on a console that had already far outlived it's run. Microsoft was lucky to have an opportunity to extend this generation as long as they did. Why not save your new IP for a far more powerful machine and a much better footing in the industry.

[Cueil]

Can we get some remakes as well... they have a bunch of older IPs that could use a refreshing

[realplu]

Here is a comment that I made about the subject 2 years ago. "Do you really want Kinect to succeed?
You do know the more Kinect sell the less support M$ will invest in core games. M$ is turning it's $$$ to the casual market and you guys are cheering them on?
I'm sure the stockholders are behind kinect 100%. I'm just not sure why you guys are."

[dcbronco]

Your comment still doesn't hold today. Saying there are more Kinect games is like saying there are more Android games. Of course there are. They are easier and cheaper to make. But when it comes to the titles that actually sell, Microsoft has most of those games on their roster.

In any given year you can look at the top twenty and ,save Nintendo, MS has 80% or more of those games on it's console too. Most of the main AAA games that people want are on both system. So to say that MS has forgotten the hardcore, that number would have to be far lower. Making a bunch of exclusives that barely sell is not catering to the hardcore. It's bad business decisions.

Don't hire a bunch of fat strippers if people want to see a pretty size 7. No one is doing this for free.