Is Microsoft Afraid of New IP

Max Level:I have been a huge Microsoft/Xbox fan for years now. The Xbox 360 had arguably the best collection of games during the last generation. Moving from the original Xbox to the Xbox 360, Microsoft saw that they were seen as a shooter console and focused on separating themselves from that label. The Xbox 360 had great games like Lost Odyssey and the first Mass Effect that fed a different type of audience. Now we have the Xbox One that has a good library of games at the moment but I feel like there is something that I still want. People will always be excited for games like Forza, Halo, and Gears of War. These are pillars in the Microsoft game catalog and I don’t want to see them go but I have one question. Where is the creativity and variety that I saw with the Xbox 360? Is Microsoft afraid of new ip?

[Trackboss]

Hmm interesting post

[Kingthrash360]

I've been saying this for a while now. I love my xbox but honestly they haven't brought a new AAA ip since sunset overdrive 2014 and we won't see another new ip until 2016 when quantum break comes out. For a company with so much money it's a wonder why they don't make more new ips. Alan Wake was the 360 last new ip and that was in 2011...the 360 was in limbo since until Titan fall came out. Smh it's something many overlook. Like it or not halo has run its course. So has gears...but that's pretty much all xbox has produced..and halo came out two generations ago. This is one area xbox could be dominant I'm because of the money they gave...but instead they'd rather buy timed exclusives rather than continue to make new AAA ips that would set them apart.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Creating new Ip is not easy, never was for any publisher. MS is as afraid of new Ip just as any other other publisher is. EA's didn't show off any new AAA Ip at E3. Sony, MS, Ubi, and few others are showing off new games finally.

So of course MS is maybe not "afraid" but cautious. But they're going for it anyway because MS NEEDS new material, unlike late last gen and and Phil is overloading Xbox fans with new games.

Quantum Break, Sea Of Thieves, Scalebound, Recore, Phantom Dust (kinda) plus more new games announced at Gamescom. So afraid or not MS is doing the right thing and they know they have to.

[Gazondaily]

Are some people living in the past?

Am I imagining things like Scalebound, Sea of Thieves, Project Spark, D4, Ryse, Quantum Break, Recore, Cuphead, Sunset Overdrive etc?

The more people keep peddling the same old tired lines of Gears, Halo Fable (whilst simultaneously praising GT, Infamous, Uncharted, Killzone, GoW) the sillier the sentiments seem.

Yes MS were definitely averse to investing in new ip's late last gen, even Spencer held his hands up and admitted that. So far however, these announcements from MS show everything to the contrary. So spare me these silly attempts to then shift the goalposts with questions asking if MS themselves are developing these IP's in their internal studios.

You want exclusives on the Xbox One that you cannot get on other consoles? You're getting them. End of.

[freshslicepizza]

i think the better question is microsoft afraid of new ip's later in the life of a console? that answer seems to be a very big yes.

their formula seems to be to try and create a few new aaa ip's and if they don't sell all that well they go back to the same formula that works. fable, halo, forza and gears. then they attach themselves to outside parties to known franchises for timed exclusive deals because they offer less risk.

this is why it is good the ps4 is doing so well, it is forcing microsoft to invest more into their game divisions. they have more studios making games than they ever had in the life of the xbox right now. the question again will be how supportive microsoft is in 2, 3 years from now.

[Automatic79]

@Kingthrash

I love my xbox but honestly they haven't brought a new AAA ip since sunset overdrive 2014 and we won't see another new ip until 2016 when quantum break comes out

Crimson Dragon
Halo Spartan Assault
Lococycle
ZooTycoon
PowerstarGolf
Max and the Cursed Brotherhood
Fantasia Music Evolved
RYSE
Titanfall
D4
Sunset Overdrive
ScreamRide
Ori and the Blind Forest
Gigantic
Kalimba
ScreamRide
Recore
Quantum Break
Sea of Thieves
Scalebound

Xbox One is definitely bringing New IP to consoles.

[Rachel_Alucard]

@timotim

What the author wants: Microsoft to take any studio they own like Lionhead and have them make a new original IP that MS will make sequels of years later. This is taking a big gamble for MS as they need to invest in a lot more so then they would for any of the 3rd party Ips theyve funded in the past few years.

I believe this is what the author is trying to say despite how it was written.

[RickFletzer]

They're so afraid they have/will have published and/ developed sunset overdrive, scalebound, sea of thieves, ryse, ori, screamride, quantum break, titanfall, recore, and those are the big ones off the top of my head. Lots of smaller ones as well.

@rocket what difference does it make? Honestly, not sure what your point is. And if being first party is the only thing that counts see my comment below.

[Gazondaily]

So what? Name me one of those titles that's coming to PS4

[4Sh0w]

Haha fanboy blog detected.

Yeah when you have to add qualifiers like is it 1st party you know your arguement is weak....folks dont ask gamestop is SO 1st party?...if they like it they just want to play it. A game exclusively on one console is still a great game to the player regardless of who made it.

These New AAA IPs have already appeared on X1:
Ryse Son of Rome
Titanfall
Project Spark
Sunset Overdrive

-Not even counting Indies like Ori, fan favorites like Killer Instinct/ Halo MCC, or smaller titles like Screamride= Thats pretty damm great so far along with all the other exclusive games that have hit X1 already.

Then you have new exciting IP games like Quauntum Break, Scalebound, ReCore, Sea of Thieves inbound for 2016, right after big gunz like Halo5, Forza6, RoTR(for a year) drop -all that sitting there with Crackdown3 and Gears4 too! Aint no way they healthy well balanced lineup can be even considered close to "afraid".

Yep, for me its easily the best console lineup thus far into this gen. Plus with the updates and Windows 10 stuff theres just no comparison imo, microsoft are on fire.

[medman]

People in this post keep making the mistake of listing 3rd party titles as "new creative ip" and scoring that in the Microsoft category, even though that is paying for games and not creating them yourself. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it happens everywhere, not just Microsoft. I would relate this article more to first party titles, and new ip in that context. And if you're doing a comparison between Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, Microsoft is going to come in last as far as new ip for the big 3 goes.

[Rachel_Alucard]

Finally someone with sense speaks

[Kribwalker]

So what new IP has Sony first party put out this gen? Driveclub. That's it. Bloodbourne is 3rd party exclusive. The order is third party exclusive. And everything else has been sequels and remasters.

And really, if you say Bloodbourne isn't because Sony Co-developed but sunset overdrive or quantum break or titanfall or scalebound or recore are then you are really an idiot. As you can't tell me that MS has not been in on all stages of Developements if they are paying boatloads of cash to these companies For exclusive games. "Here take this money, make me a great game and i don't want to see it until it's done" That's just as stupid as it sounds

[gosukyomomma]

Ive been saying the same thing for years. since the last 2 years of owning my xbox360 I have an xboxone but Its like the new ips are mainly shooters too. I like variety and diversity in my games and im worried MS are just trying to cater to a specific crowd too much imo

[MrCrimson]

New IPs = huge risks. Sometimes the risk does not outweigh the benefit;

[SliceOfTruth888]

maybe they were...but recore, scalebound, quantum break, sea of thieves all point to a dramatic change already

[AutoCad]

I think they were just focused on acquiring content before..Seems like Phil has turned that tide around with games like Recore Scalebound and quantum break..Only going to get better with him leading the charge.

[christocolus]

Yeah i believe Phil is doing great,so far MS has funded the development of

Ryse
Sunset Overdrive
Ori
D4
Project Spark
Killer Instinct

and we have new ips like

Quantum Break
Scalebound
Recore and
Sea of Thieves coming next year.

MS owns all these ips with the exception of Ryse and Sunset Overdrive and we still have some studios working on unanniounced ips. i.e Decisive games, Twisted Pixel, Press Play and Lift.Hopefully we get even more announcements at Gamescom.

[Mikefizzled]

I wouldn't hold my breath for Lift London. I've been following them very closely and they sound like a studio with a lack of direction.

[_-EDMIX-_]

With ReCore yes, but I think Scalebound and QB where in development prior to him taking charge though.

They don't need once overs, they need to strong commitment that those titles are going to be series, we can't just keep getting repeat of Halo-Gears fest every gen by them. If they can support 4 of each ever gen, I'm pretty sure they can support many ReCores and Scalebounds.

[spicelicka]

I think they've just found that it's cheaper to invest in 3rd party exclusives, and just get a better rate or return on established franchises.

And one thing people need to consider is that Halo and gears of war are well established MULTIPLAYER franchises as well. This gives them a lot of longevity. I still play Gears of war 3 online, and will be getting Gears Ultimate. Forza also has a huge multiplayer following. This justifies them keeping these franchises (aside from that fact that they make good money).

Multiplayer franchises just tend to last longer, simple as that.

[Christopher]

Not to support the idea of "taking exclusives away from others" but doesn't investing in 3rd party exclusives still show that they support new IPs? Titanfall? Ryse? Sunset Overdrive?

As far as the topic of MS being "afraid" of new IPs, does it really matter where the new IPs come from when they are still funding/supporting them and they are still exclusive and new IPs on their platform(s)?

[DigitalRaptor]

It makes me think.

All the new IPs that Microsoft is introducing this generation, is stuff from third party developers. This definitely minimises risk on their part. They don't have to do R&D on anything. They just pay a developer to make games for them. I'd like somebody to name me some new AAA IPs this gen that come from in-house. Not even already released, but announced. Sea of Thieves is the only one that comes to mind, but they have no choice but to let Rare do what they want because if they're not making games for a no longer popular peripheral, they are going to be making core games with out-there concepts.

So yes..... seems like they're fairly afraid to take risks on new IP off their own backs.

[gangsta_red]

So what's the difference if a 3rd party makes a new IP for MS or an in house 1st party developer?

How does that hurt the Xbox gamer in the end?

MS is investing in that new IP, they are also putting in their own money for marketing, time and development. Doesn't it make more business sense to farm out their IP's while their in-house studios concentrate on more established IP's for their system?

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

The Holidays is not a good time to release new IPs, looked what happen to Sunset Overdrive, it got overshadowed. MS aren't afraid of new IPs; they have Recore,Sea of Thieves Quantum Break and Scalebound coming next year (Ori was also released this year), but not during the fall. MS is going to rely on established IPs during the fall and introduce new ones the rest of the year .

[FoxyGotGame]

Is this really a relevant question after what was shown @E3 2015?

Gamescom and future events will show MS have changed course with Xbox One. Whether that is purely because they are playing second fiddle to Sony is another story, but Xbox are investing in new IP.

[TwoForce]

Well, I understand. But Phil is in charge of this. So I hope his first party studios be able to change that. I know Microsoft is affair, but they have to accept and take the risk. I'm not saying Microsoft is bad, but look at Sony First Party Studios, they are making new IPs. GG is making new ip Horizon Zero Dawn and receive a lot positive response , Naughty Dogs made The Last of us and received a lot of reward, Media Molecues making new ip called Dreams and people called it unique . I can go on other list. I'm saying First Party Studio, not third party. Microsoft, I respect you but you need take a goddamn risk. Come on, show me what you got.

[dkp23]

Wait. Recore scale bound quantum and sea of thieves all coming out through 2016. Afraid of what exactly? This person just come out of a hole?

[ic3fir3]

lol people forget Recore, Scalebound, Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, Ori and the blind forest, Sea of thieves???
Hipocri

[Vasto]

Ori and The Blind Forest and even though Screamride did not turn out as good as we wished it was new.

[BlackTar187]

This is pretty stupid they have a number of fresh games coming out.

Grasping at straws here.

[BigGamersSmallTalk]

This doesn't make much sense, Microsoft has brought the most new IP this generation thus far. Nintendo seems a bit more afraid of new IP out of the big 3.

New IP released or announced since the Xbox Ones launch-
Ryse:Son Of Rome
Max: The Curse Of Brotherhood
Titanfall
Sunset Overdrive
Ori And The Blind Forest
Project Spark
Screamride
LocoCycle
Quantum Break
ReCore
Sea Of Theives
Scalebound

And we've heard rumors of Twisted Pixel working on their first AAA new IP, as well as Lionhead working on a new RPG called Eden Falls.

[Paleblood]

Well, Sony has always take more risks than MS when it comes to new IP. That is why many prefer Sony as they has a more diversified catalog of exclusives games than MS.

MS focus has always been shooters but you will not see games like Flower, Journey, The Last Guardian etc etc on xbox.

Maybe MS just know their audience and they stick with it without taking new risks. Who knows.

[jttwister09]

so ori and the blind forest, sunset overdrive, ryse, recore, sea of thieves, scalebound, and quantum break are what remakes? this gen is on pass to have way more new ips than last gen on xbox

[TwoForce]

In the end, Microsoft and Sony are ready to take a risk. Not so much about Nintendo.

[Flames76]

Ryse,Sunset Overdrive, blind forest,Titanfall,Quantum Break,FX Pool Nation,Scalebound,Killer Instinct,and Sea of Thieves to name a few.Still great fanboy article another embarrassment to gamer's everywhere bravo man