Playground Games: "Our best is yet to come" thanks to Microsoft acquisition

Creative director Ralph Fulton believes transition from third-party to first-party studio can empower his team to do more.

[strayanalog]

Of course it would have been funnier to mess with the press and say: "Good thing they bought us, because we already peaked." Oh well. Good luck, Playground.

[Team_Litt]

Hehehe. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do outside of the Forza Horizon series. I've had my fill.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Yeah I can't wait to see PG's next game also.

[TyrellCorp]

This is my most anticipated project from MS, fingers crossed for Fable.

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

Same, I mean, Im getting FH4 Day One but after seeing their engine in an open world and rendering gorgeous visuals at a high rate of speed (asset streaming) @ 4k, HDR, and now 60fps option on X, They should be able to do other style open world games that is not "Racing" focused.

[PhoenixUp]

Forza Horizon 3 remains the only Xbox One exclusive to achieve a Metascore in the 90s.

Let’s see if Playground Games being acquired can make them top that 91 with their next title.

[Team_Litt]

Wow. That's one way to put a cynical twist on this.

[kevnb]

and it isnt even exclusive, not that metacritic really means anything.

[UltraGaming]

Its an xbox one console exclusive... Or do we not seperate console gaming from pc gaming any more.

[kevnb]

When it comes to exclusives we also include pc, if its on pc its not exclusive. Although I do admit console exclusive does have some value since Sony and Microsoft offer nearly identical products separated mostly by game library. I mean the ps4 and xbox one are so similar it doesnt make a whole lot of sense getting both even if you miss out on some games, but the pc and switch are actually different.

[strifeblade]

Actually kevn b it does mean sometthing.
These days most people who own pcs down't own a gaming pc that even goes on the xbox one level.
Most people who own ps4 don't own a gaming level pc that can play to the xbox one level or xbox one x level.
Its an exclusive because if a ps gamer wants to play the game- they need a pc or a xbox.
saying its not an xbox exclusive because its on pc implies its on playstation which isn't the case.
would you prefer instead of exclusive, maybe they should start saying

"NOT ON PLAYSTATION"

Does that make you feel better?

[pinkcrocodile75]

"I saw the videos for FH3 and bought the game when it came out.

After playing it I came to the conclusion I expected to, that it was really good and would recommend it to my freinds"

Soo... what the f@ck do I need metacritic for?...

[Kaze24]

I stopped looking at anything that gamespot scores, they usually give anything that isn't on the xbox 8's or 9's score out of 10.. Been playing SoT and SoD 2 which they give bad scores and they both been great and a lot of fun to play. Recently bought FH3, only cause I had a backlog and now had time to play it, it's so good.

[PhoenixUp]

@ Team

How is it cynical? He said himself that the acquisition will result in the “best yet to come” as if they can do better than they’ve already done. I’m just holding him to his word

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Hopefully that's true

[maybelovehate]

It will be hard to top FH3. Best racing game ever created.

[Lokii]

Lay off the drugs

[Team_Litt]

Lay off the Haterade™

[bolimekurac]

it is the best openworld racer there is, i agree.

[MunchMiller00]

Ahh yes, the honeymoon phase. Enjoy it while it lasts Playground.

[UltraGaming]

They have basically been a Microsoft studio since day one so im sure they know what they are doing

[TheCommentator]

Get off it already, MS gives more creative freedom to devs than you give them credit for and they continue to improve on this aspect. The studios who signed on are also saying they're comfortable with working for MS because of the freedom they're given.

[pandehz]

They are amazing developers. Im sure they can make any game with the same passion and commitment.

Xbox needs more like playground

[bluefox755]

I bet you Rare said the same thing at one time.

[vega275]

And I'm sure all these studio said the same thing before sony axed them

Game Republic 
Incognito Entertainment 
Bigbig Studios
Zipper Interactive
Liverpool Wipeout
Light Box Interactive
Eat Sleep Play
SuperBot Entertainment 

So what's your point. Should every developer have the same worry if they don't sell well for sony?

[Rude-ro]

Ooooo do Microsoft’s developers list next.

[shiva1]

@Rude-ro

Why? Im asking this because you will not like it.

[UltraGaming]

You forgot evolution studios too...... Driveclub was decent to

[Gh05t]

Lol all the hate on Rare as if they had zero influence in what games they have made. Please point to any evidence that MS tied Rares hands and forced them to make bad games.

Interview after interview SoT is what Rare wanted to make... They sunk themselves with that. As far as we know Rare had 100% creative freedom and they didn't deliver. Stop blaming MS for another companies mismanagement. If they get involved then it's shame on them for not allowing the company to manage itself, if they let them have complete freedom then it's shame on them for not managing better. Damned iff you do, damned if you don't.

People also looking at Rare as if it's all the same talent from the 90's... Yeah right.

[Ausbo]

Well do you think Rare really wanted to make Kinect games? I’m with you that Microsoft isn’t to blame for everything, but I do for the Kinect stuff that came from them

[Gh05t]

Out of everything Rare has made since they have been accuired by MS are you saying those 3 games DERAILED a whole studio and it hasn't been able to recover in almost half a decade? Like they also weren't making anything else during that same time? A small team making Kinect games is what made Rare suck???

[gangsta_red]

"I bet you Rare said the same thing at one time."

And I bet they are still saying it seeing as how they're still employed making games. How did that Yooka Laylee do?

[bolimekurac]

rare was handled wrong but it wasnt phils doing, rare was going downhill because of other idiots at ms. lets see what phil does over the next few years.
everyone can rest easy because sony won this gen and now we start the slow transition into next gen

[Vasto]

Phil already said Playground are working on an open world game and we would here more about that later.

Welcome to The Elite!

[candystop]

Looking forward to there future titles as well as the collaboration between the now and then MS studios.

[danny818]

They are definitely a rock solid studio

[Razzer]

PG kicks ass. Damn incredible dev. I hope MS gives them a bunch of money to get the best people and resources.....and then leaves them the hell alone.

[2ndhandcorn]

Perfect team for Rally sport challenge or PGR kudos MS.