Microsoft Open To Double Fine Releasing More Multiplatform Games After Psychonauts 2

Head of Xbox studios Matt Booty talks about what Microsoft's studio acquisitions means for Double Fine and Obsidian's The Outer Worlds.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Beginning of a new future perhaps

[lxeasy]

they mean pc and xbox

[Sonyslave3]

Maybe Nintendo too

[Obscure_Observer]

@tekiz

"Read the article before you comment. They are talking about Switch and PlayStation."

Pherhaps you should listen to your own advice. Regarding Playstation and Switch they were specificly talking about a potential Psychonauts sequel.

The Outer worlds sequels will become exclusive to Xbox goin foward.

About Halo on Playstation, from the article:

"But he also stressed that there are big franchise like Forza, Halo, and Sea of Thieves that are designed around being Xbox experiences."

Translation: NOT COMMING TO PLAYSTATION

[bluefox755]

@Obscure Not anywhere near that explicit, it sounds like they're not ruling it out at the very least.

[IRetrouk]

we asked Booty whether Microsoft would be open to Double Fine releasing more multiplatform games after Psychonauts 2.

“Yeah, I think we would,” says Booty. “I think that the question is less binary about ‘Should it be on Switch? Should it be on PlayStation?’ And more ‘Does it make sense for the franchise?’ In other words, is it a kind of game where it would benefit from the network effect of being on a bunch of different platforms? Or is it a game where we can best support it by putting resources [into it] and making sure that our platforms, things like xCloud, Game Pass, and Xbox Live are really leaning in to support the game.”

Not just talking sequels to Psychonauts from what i can read.

[fr0sty]

It's a sound strategy, if they do not pull ahead in the hardware game (this is the third generation in a row they failed to capture the top spot, and with all the billions the Xbox brand has lost, the system itself hasn't proven to be profitable (though the services it supports have). So, should their shareholders say "that's it, you're out of the hardware game", they own a plethora of good studios they can start cranking out PC and console multiplats from and keep making money in the gaming industry without having to compete in the hardware game. Software has always been their strong point, after all, it would make sense to put the eggs in that basket just in case.

When Sega stopped making hardware, they didn't have that advantage. They had their games for the most part, and that's why they're not as big as say, EA or Activision. If Microsoft went software only, they could easily compete with the big boys, especially if they keep acquiring top studios.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

True, xbox as a software company would be better

[Spurg]

Yeah, having watched the interview it clear that Matt was trying to humble with his answers. This is clear throughout the whole interview he didn't always give a clear answer. He use Minecraft as an example with was already on other platforms. If its a big game like Minecraft then it would make sense to be multiplatform but smaller so game like psychonauts, the other world and other will in the future be exclusive to xbox.

[porkChop]

Likely Xbox, PC, and Nintendo.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

Gears 5, 480p undocked and 560p docked at 25-30 fps on Nintendo Switch.

[porkChop]

What does Gears have to do with Double Fine? DF isn't known for graphically intensive games.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

I was joking. However, I think Matt Booty is referring to keeping potential The Outer Worlds and Psyconauts multiplatform

[Obscure_Observer]

Only Psyconauts. The Outer Worlds will become exclusive Xbox franchise goin foward.

[Silly gameAr]

@Obscure_Observer

Which would be a pretty dumb idea. If the game does well multiplatform, do you honestly think MS would restrict the game to just their systems? If that's the case, they might as well make it exclusive now.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Silly gameAr

"Which would be a pretty dumb idea. If the game does well multiplatform, do you honestly think MS would restrict the game to just their systems?"

Yes. The Outer Worlds is a AAA SP Only game that would attract Playstation gamers to Xbox.

Simply strategy

[Ricegum]

I can see Outer World's future installments staying multiplatform, we may be beginning to see a different approach from Microsoft. From a business standpoint this could be huge for them to release their games on competitor's hardware.

[Abnor_Mal]

So third party publisher like many were saying.

[TheGamez100]

Mcsfts been very ok with their studios making games on other platforms which is good but pretty much has me thinking that theyre just getting ready for a consoleless future for them. Theyll still make xbox as long as theres still the demand and will just keep up with playstations hardware. If xbox ever dies and fails, theyll be prepared to go third party I guess. They just be playing it safe. Just a theory of mine and will stay that way until they make great quality singleplayer games exclusive to xbox....but pretty much all their games are on windows so....

[BizarroUltraman]

I can guarantee The Outer Worlds 2 will be on PS when MS see how successful the game is on the platform. BTW does the profit from the Outer Worlds go to Obsidian and Private Division or does MS get some of the doe? Hey thanks in advance for any replies to my question.

[Spurg]

No, you can't guarantee that. All of the Ms studios will be working exclusively on Xbox and PC, that a guarantee because of its been mention by the studios.
The way matt answered that question lead straight into Minecraft being multiplatform and give you a clear indication of what type of games could be multiplatform. For example, if Ms buys EA and gains the rights to FIFA then it would be multiplatform because of the player base across all platform. This doesn't make sense for games like The outer worlds 2 and psychonauts.

"does MS get some of the doe?"
Ms owns obsidian so it's obvious that any money that comes to the studios a small fraction so to MS as well.

[Ricegum]

"This doesn't make sense for games like The outer worlds 2 and psychonauts."

But it does if it sells very well on other consoles too, Microsoft would just make a hell of a lot more money.

"Ms owns obsidian so it's obvious that any money that comes to the studios a small fraction so to MS as well."

They wouldn't get a "small fraction". Microsoft own them, the staff get paid, Microsoft will pretty much get all of the profits.

There is a lot of money to be made going multiplatform with their software going forward.

[Zeref]

No it won't 😂, he literally said in this interview that it won't 😂

Obsidian is owned by Microsoft so Microsoft gets money duh.

Comment above pretty much explains it

[Ricegum]

Judging by your little emojis it just looks to me like you just don't want it to happen.

In reality it is a very real possibility to see their games on various other platforms. Looking forward to see what they do.

[Abnor_Mal]

Any game made by a MS studios and playable on PS will have money going to MS and the studio to possibly fund newer games that then might be exclusive to XBox.

I've been saying the same thing for months now and get disagrees like crazy, because I am not willing to help MS fund their games for them since their player base is not big enough or seemingly unwilling to do so for themselves.

So I will be passing on The Outer Worlds and any other game that comes to PlayStation. I understand that those games from the acquisition already had agreements in place to be third party and possible purchasing clause stating the game would have to remain third party upon release.

Once MS sees how well the game sells on PS they will try to start putting many of their games on PS as the other article suggested from what Mike Booty said in an interview. This will just be a test for them and the start to see if they can be successful third party publisher.

[Gunstar75]

Ninja Theory confirmed that their games will be exclusive to MS going forward

[Gunstar75]

And for the disagreeing folk, check their video they released upon the news of the acquisition. They clearly state that as fact.

[mark_parch]

So Microsoft buy studios so they can get exclusive games which will entice people to buy their hardware and into their services only to release them on other platforms.

[Zeref]

Noh

[Ricegum]

Very little profit is made from the hardware side of things, I thought that was common knowledge. With Microsoft owning more and more studios it could make them a lot of money to release on other platforms too.

[mark_parch]

Agree but hardware is a gateway bro their services

[rob-GP]

I'm just wondering how soon it will be until all of the Switch, PC and PS4/Vita DF games appear on Xbox. As far as I'm aware, things like the Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle and Grim Fandango remakes never made it onto their platform previously. I guess once they do, they'll see how the sales numbers add up to those on other platforms and then decide moving forward where the fanbase lies.

the only issue is, a lot of the DF games were PS Plus freebies at one point.

[dparente74]

of course they are. i bet obsidian does too if outerworlds is successful.

[akaFullMetal]

Wouldn't surprise me if someday Microsoft eased into a 3rd party company like Sega is now.

[Elda]

I would have thought some of MS acquisitions they would still make games that would be multiplatform like a 3rd party publisher which brings in more money for them.

[Zerobalance]

Some games that MS make will be multi-platform & somes games won't. Nuff said.

[AK91]

Ya keeping it on XB1 would be a death sentence MS is smart enough to know that.