GearNuke: "Sunset Overdrive is an exclusive game from Insomniac Games, the creators of Ratchet and Clank and Resistance series on PlayStation platform. It was quite a surprise to see them going exclusive to Xbox One for their next big game since they have mostly made games exclusively for the PlayStation, and were considered an important part of the PlayStation 2 and 3 software lineup. James Stevenson, Community Lead at Insomniac Games, explains how they ended up becoming creating an exclusive for Microsoft."
Insomniac has confirmed that a PS5 port for 2014's Sunset Overdrive is not currently planned due to a focus on Marvel's Wolverine.
:(
.
(well, they're likely also working with Nixxes for the inevitable Spider-Man 2 PC port as well)
Sunset Overdrive was great...
I quite enjoyed the Demons' Souls remake too. I'm more or less begging for a Bloodborne sequel but would snap up a remake in a heartbeat.
I’d rather play an older unique game than a new Marvel game.
Im so blown out on Marvel, I can’t fathom how some people seem to have a bottomless appetite for it. A studio like Insomniac could do way better.
Yep those poor devs are now a marvel sweat camp
This port and a quick pc patch to fix some bugs would have been a great idea i actualy forgot its not on ps5 you think it would have by now.
But hey they got like you said spiderman 2 pc port then spiderman 3 then spiderman collection with a wolverne/blade tossed in.
From everything we've seen, it's not like Insomniac is being forced to make Marvel games - it's clearly a good partnership that results in good games. They're still making Ratchet games anyway which is what really matters
I have no idea why people like you keep making lies. Does it help you sleep at night? Where are you getting this information that they are either being forced or made into a Marvel camp? Sony approach Insomniac when they were independent to work on a Marvel IP and they picked Spider-Man. After the success of Spider-Man, it was Insomniac who pitched Wolverine to Sony/Marvel and was given the green light
Replies(5)
This is new…it pretty much confirms it can happen eventually.
I thought Microsoft had publishing rights or something
Yes you are right. Microsoft allegedly has rights to the first game. Perhaps Microsoft wasted to sell it back to Sony in exchange for a port to Xbox Series. This would make the statement make more sense because I can't imagine that a port of this game even compares to the creation of Wolverine. So Microsoft probably requested a multiplat port.
They do but Microsoft doesn't really care about the game they are considering Halo 1 for ps5 so this would be nothing
MS doesn't just have the publishing rights for SSoD, they also have publishing rights for the next 2 games in the franchise!
" The game was later pitched to various publishers, which rejected them because Insomniac demanded to retain ownership of the intellectual property. The project was later pitched to Microsoft Studios, which was eager to work with Insomniac. Microsoft allowed Insomniac to own the rights to the game"
Seems Insomniac own the rights after all...
@Zeke68
publishing rights is not the same as IP rights or ownership. for SSoD, Insomniac owns the IP, MS owns the publishing rights. just like Sony with Spider-man. Sony only owns the publishing rights to the movies and games but the IP is still owned by Marvel/Disney.
See my comment below. When Insomniac left M$ they let Microsoft keep their publishing rights for... drumroll... Xbox and PC.
If they want to release it on PS they can let Sony publish it.
“It is important to note that Xbox owns the publishing rights to Sunset Overdrive.
Therefore, a PS5 port would need to be approved by Microsoft.”
I said this eight days ago and got disagrees.
Most people dont read bro..
Had it been their IP through and through it would of been an easy release for them and its a fun game, probably would of already happened. The people saying no ones cares about Sunset Overdrive would be saying cant wait to play in 4K 60 if announced
"Most people dont read bro..."
"The game was later pitched to various publishers, which rejected them because Insomniac demanded to retain ownership of the intellectual property. The project was later pitched to Microsoft Studios, which was eager to work with Insomniac. Microsoft allowed Insomniac to own the rights to the game. Sunset Overdrive was made for Microsoft's Xbox One console; it was released on the 20th anniversary of Insomniac, in 2014"
What I read is that Insomniac still own the rights to the game. Prove me wrong! ;)
Edit M$ owns publishing rights on Xbox, not Playstation as they never intended to release it on PS ever.
Does it still hold up in 2024?
We've still got a few months to go, but October marks the 10-year anniversary of this Insomniac Games title, with the developer having since moved on to work on the Marvel's Spider-Man games for PlayStation. It was assumed that Sunset Overdrive might make its way to other platforms eventually, but that hasn't happened as of yet.
So beloved that it sold so well that there's a sequel and Insomniac never had the opportunity to go back to Sony to develop games exclusively for Sony.
ngl, I was low-key expecting Sunset Overdrive to migrate to PS as well along with Hi-Fi Rush and SoT
I think that would require Insomniac going back to work on it to port it over, probably why that's not happening.
I think only in so far as they support every piece of software heading their way? They have that team who specializes in helping people port games, not just SoT, and then the one team that takes PS5 games and ports them to PC (that's their full time job essentially). But that team, the former mentioned one, doesn't do all the work, just help out with how to best do things. So, that team wouldn't port a whole game like Sunset Overdrive.
Ok I thought you meant Insomniac reluctant/Sony not permitting them to go back and work on Overdrive. Hence I added the participation from Sony's side.
But yea, In actuality its Insomniac not having spare dev time to get involved in the port work, atm.
*** But yea, In actuality its Insomniac not having spare dev time to get involved in the port work, atm. ***
Definitely this. They're working on two major IPs as it is and Sony forced them to layoff some people at the end of last year as well. So, likely not capable of sparing the time because resources are being fully utilized.
There was an article awhile back talking about the situation with SSoD. Insomniac does own the IP and Sony now owns it after they bought Insomniac but the publishing right for SSoD is owned by MS - at least the 1st game still is. MS has to sell the publishing rights like they did with the first Mass Effect game to EA after EA bought Bioware before Sony can do anything with the IP.
Nobody cares about Sunset Overdrive, except all the xbox fanboys who didn't buy it but like to come into articles about the game and try to act like it's somehow Sony's fault for whatever reason.
there was supposed to be a sequel. IG had it all planned but MS said no. And Sony wont greenlight a sequel if they cant get the first one away from MS. Plus... IG has other projects they moved on to anyways so...... yeah.
Well, with the recent change in policy towards exclusivity, I imagine Sony could get MS to port it over.
I mean, it's also not a highly rated game, not even in Insomniac's top ten or even top ten on Xbox that year. With this logic, any game can be beloved and so throwing around the word beloved means absolutely nothing. Doesn't have to sell or have great critical reception, just a handful of people need to love it.
You guys are so starved for games you reminiscing about a decade old game made by a now Sony studio. Of course it never sold 10 million, the vast majority of people bought a PS4.
A game not played by many can still be beloved by those who played it, yeah.
Only making a profit of $567 after 10 years shows that it was not as beloved as it should have been though. That's really bad.
As much as people complain about AAA games not being unique or having fun ideas or bringing in new IP, a lot of gamers don't show up for them. Even less people seem to have played Hi-Fi Rush.
It was okay when I played it on PC, idk if I'd consider it one of the more beloved games of that generation.
I mean, it sounds like you're just hating on the game - but, I loved it. It was one of my favorite games of it's time and that generation. Replayability could have been better, but I still managed to play it several times. I would have greatly appreciated a sequel and definitely would have been in line to pick it up..
Things happen.
***I mean, it sounds like you're just hating on the game***
No, that's all the people who refused to accept that this game was beloved and never even bought it. I, on the other hand, bought, played it, thought it was 'okay' and moved on.
Now, what hate did you see in my post other than listing the fact that it's not as beloved as the few who liked it? This and Days Gone get way more love in online discussions than they do in sales and support, I find. Both are okay games, not much more. But for some **unknown** reason, people prop them up often as more than they are.
It's in noabs land unfortunately as Microsoft own the publishing rights to sunset overdrives original game while insomniac own the IP.
So Microsoft would have to be onboard with publishing this game on PlayStation systems with the understanding the would not profit from any subsequent games in the franchise unlike the games they are currently releasing on ps5 to get players into their franchises this would be a small cash injection build a fanbase around a game they no longer own then nothing.
I really don’t get the love for Sunset Overdrive. It’s one of the few games I bought, played a few hours, gave up, and never returned.
Not beloved enough for Xbox owners to buy it apparently, Xbox was the worst possible audience for that game.
Sony couldn´t give a f* about Insomniac´s freedom of creativity, that´s why you don´t have a port for that game and will not be getting a sequel either!
That franchise wil probably never make a comback thanks to Sony´s greed for money, which have turned Insomniacs into a Marvel´s slave factory until 2030.
It´s sad, but it is what it is.
I didn't know that Ratchet and Clank were part of the Avengers of Marvel? Hidden in the ending credits of Guardians of the Galaxy or something? Captain Marvel?
Beyond the "cry me a river" of your comment that these Marvel games aren't on Xbox, it was Insomniac that was approached by Sony to work with Marvel to make a game. And let them decide what character they wanted to develop. They chose Spider-Man. Must be highly profitable for them. Wolverine is a profitable, recognizable character. And the X-Men definitely are a hot property that gamers would love as a story based videogame. Being that X-Men 97 brings back a popular Saturday morning cartoon and the introduction of the X-Men into the MCU movies coming up.
It was Microsoft's continued incompetence in cancelling the Marvel MMO game and turning down Marvel in making a super hero game as they were asked first.
Keep the tears flowing. It's not greed. It was smart business to say yes. And maybe Insomniac wants to make these games. And not a game that didn't sell well to an audience that doesn't buy games.
Neither does Microsoft either, based on your own argument here. Microsoft denied the sequel, not Insomniac/Sony. There's also no sign that Microsoft is allowing a port. They control the next two games in the IP and any DLC or the like for the first. But, nothing.
What's sad is people trying to use this game to blame businesses for doing business things that they are both doing as some way to make them look worse. Microsoft wants to use Insomniac to make a good IP that sells their platform and Sony wants to use Insomniac to make a good IP that sells their platform. But, no, Sony bad!
Don't know why the truth that these companies are very much alike is so hard for people to accept.
Insomniac: “We went with Microsoft because we want to own the IP so it’s ours”
Microsoft: *owns publishing rights preventing the studio to re-release the original game, make a remaster, remake, any DLC, massive expansions and multiple sequels on other platforms*
The logic is just…I never got it
Owning the IP was Insomniacs main defence when they announced they were making a game exclusively for MS and yet they’ve ended up “owning” an IP they can’t do anything with.
If they went with Sony like normal you might have seen a sequel by now.
The winner of the Logic Cake has to be Bungie, though.
Wanted to be free from Halo and MS, so they buy themselves out, only to partner up with Activision, in the same timeframe as Activision ousting the heads of Infinity Ward, for a full decade with Destiny.
... And then things start falling apart in that relationship almost immediately, whodathought!
Hey, when Sony offers to overpay you for your services and signs a contract that says they won't force you to do anything you don't want, who would say no? Such an overpriced purchase from Sony. Poor business, IMHO. But, honestly, I'm not a business person. But, still, I don't understand it.
...and it seems this conundrum is also why the game cannot receive any sort of FPS boost patch for Series consoles. IG wont make it, and Ms can't get another team to do it without consent from IG. I liked it on XBO, but now I also have this on PC and I can tell ya... it definitely benefits from a 60fps frame rate.
been playing it at 1080p144fps on my modest pc. not the hardest game to max out and yeah this game definitely needs to be played at high fps considering all the actions
Sadly this may never get the proper fps update it deserves on XB (or even PS) but I now play it on steam and it definitely feels better at 60fps than it did at 30. Its a fast paced game... you need that 60fps in this one.
For those who don't have time for massive open worlds or role-playing games with epic tales, these 15 games are worth checking out.
Glad MS is letting these studios have so much artistic freedom. The game looks amazing.
Sorry you feel that way, but know we had to partner with the right group that believed in us and the vision of the game, wanted to see that vision came to life, and was ok with us retaining the rights to our creation.In all of those regards,Microsoft has been a terrific partner in making Sunset Overdrive reality.
That's something you don't hear every day microsoft need more reactions like these.
Yh right. Money talks, simple as that and nothing is wrong with that. Devs should stop feel the need to explain themselves every time, We're all grown we understand money is important, we won't think less of Insomniac.
One thing though I'm kinda jealous. They give PlayStation crappy ass games back to back recently then Xbox gets the good looking one. This gen sure is gonna be interesting.
How am I downplaying Microsoft? It's naive to think money had nothing to do with Insomniac , the guys who wanted to go multiplat, going exclusive for the other side. It's business.
You really expect me to believe Sony or Nintendo wouldn't have backed a game like Sunset Overdrive? Microsoft was the only one to support their vision?
***While it is not hard to speculate the real reason behind this exclusivity deal(Insomniac wanted to retain the IP), perhaps Sony should have given them what they want.***
This assumes that Sony wouldn't have done this in the first place. It also assumes that other publishers wouldn't have done the same and allowed them to go completely third-party.
The reality is, Microsoft took what was once a developer who made games exclusive to their competitors platform and flipped them. I'm fairly certain they bent over backwards to do what they could to make this happen.
Microsoft is smart and influential. They can afford to make these type of moves. It's why they will continue to succeed in the business. Because they know how to take their competitors strength and flip it so it's now in their ballpark.
Sony lost the faith!?