370°

Insomniac Games Cannot Develop Sunset Overdrive 2 Because Of Microsoft

Microsoft owns exclusivity rights for the next two sequels of the IP.

porkChop513d ago

That's a weird situation. Insomniac/Sony own the IP, but MS own the publishing rights to the next 2 sequels, any DLC, and any remasters. I don't see Sony allowing Insomniac to develop 2 Xbox exclusives, even if MS were to fund them. The franchise is as good as dead.

Cacabunga513d ago

This claim that MS makes no sense and contradicts with idea whyIG wanted to stay independent..
in all honesty this game is not great at all, it’s average and very repetitive. Was done and released at the same period as Fuse which was also a bad game.. IG is nothing without PlayStation

Zeref513d ago Show
crazyCoconuts513d ago

81 Metacritic - not bad not great
Not my style of game personally, I didn't like it enough to finish it back then. I'm 100% fine without a sequel on this one

itsmebryan513d ago

@Caca

Sunset overdrive was really fun and t son ani I enjoyed the story. We recently started playing it again on XSX. Have you played it?
Also now Sony is forcing insomniac to layoff people and only make Marvel games for the next 10+ years it's no way a sequel will ever get made. I bet Insomniac is regretting going to Sony now. What a waste.

Rocketisleague513d ago

Insomniac is nothing without rocksteady you mean. Now they're stuck making the same game over and over with a new skin as it brings in money. And realistically spiderman was just a reskin of arkham series already.

SyntheticForm513d ago

Sunset Overdrive had a great sense of humor and was quite fun to play.

Insomniac losing SSO isn't the tragedy, it's losing their autonomy.

Christopher513d ago

Independence is but an illusion when you get in bed with any major publisher.

Christopher513d ago

***Also now Sony is forcing insomniac to layoff people and only make Marvel games for the next 10+ years it's no way a sequel will ever get made. I bet Insomniac is regretting going to Sony now. What a waste. ***

I love this jump to conclusion people are making from seeing "lower budget" for main games.

They're reducing budget on one game, but also now working on 3 games at once. That obviously translates to laying off people because you need less people to work on more games at once.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 513d ago
DarXyde513d ago

It doesn't rule out spiritual successors.

zaanan513d ago

Jet Set Overdrive, let’s GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! ;)

513d ago
CobraKai513d ago

@Hilda
Why not both? Im loving Insomniac’s Marvel games but i ACTUALLY DO want original games from them as well. I don’t want such talented developers to be caged like Wolverine, only to make games like Wolverine. They need to be let loose.

513d ago
DarXyde512d ago

Hileda,

Insomniac has two studios. If it is true that Sony wants them to do smaller budget projects, that is the perfect opportunity to make original IPs, don't you think?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 512d ago
RaidenBlack513d ago

Are there any xbox studio(s) that are capable of developing the sequel(s)?
Maybe Obsidian's writing team collaborating with Coalition's gameplay team .... but that's highly unlikely.

Zeref513d ago

Tango Gameworks is who you're looking for. HiFi Rush has a similar but less Mature vibe to Sunset Overdrive.

There's also some on the Activision side that could fit like Beenox who did some of the earlier spiderman games or Toys For Bob who are doing Spyro and Crash.

Chevalier513d ago

Why not Tango? HiFi Rush seems to be very much designed in the vein of Sunset Overdrive. They could write and develop them

Profchaos513d ago

vicarious visions would be my first choice given how well they handled both crash and thps 1+2

badz149512d ago (Edited 512d ago )

@RaidenBlack

MS only own the publishing rights, the IP is owned by Insomniac, thus Sony. MS can't have anybody else making it, because it's not their IP and Insomniac can't proceed with the sequels because MS has to fund the games as part of the publishing agreement but why would MS fund a Sony's 1st party studio to make a game? The IP is now in a deadlock situation, thus...unless a miracle like Sony suddenly feeling generous to let Insomniac takes MS's money to make 2 sequels that MS would not want to appear on PS5 because they are not a 3rd party publisher (yet), not going to happen!

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 512d ago
Zeref513d ago

Good move to secure the sequels by Xbox.
Probably for this exact situation, where potentially Xbox fans would get left out of a sequel of a game they adored.

Ideally Sony and Microsoft would put gamers first and work together to bring the sequel to both platforms. But we all know that's never gonna happen.

DarXyde512d ago

"adored"?

There are many games on every platforms I wish were adored.

Sunset Overdrive was not adored. Great game, but hardly anyone gave it a chance. In this case, Microsoft went out of their way to advertise this game at major events and it was still ignored.

Game might be well liked by those of us who've played it, but in reality, it is like Gravity Rush. Great game, grossly overlooked, and no amount of sequels is likely to fix that.

My guess: it just didn't resonate with the Xbox audience at large. Whether people want to admit it or not, some games do better on some platforms. Microsoft knows this. Why else would Atlus JRPGs launch on XGP? They're trying to make it a thing and increase uptake on the platform. There aren't enough SSO type games on Xbox for people to care much about it.

As for a sequel where both parties come together... Well, Goldeneye was a whole thing, but it happened. I wouldn't say it can never happen.

Rynxie513d ago

Okay, then make sunset overdrive 4. There you go.

EvertonFC513d ago

Couldn't they get around it by doing a prequal

porkChop513d ago

Sunset Overdrive starts at the beginning of the outbreak. A prequel would literally not be Sunset Overdrive. It also wouldn't work that way. MS owns the rights to the next 2 games in the franchise, a prequel would be included in that.

TheCaptainKuchiki513d ago

What would even be the point? It's not like SO was a system seller anyway

BeHunted513d ago

Maybe not, but more games increases Xbox Game Pass catalogue.

Lightning77513d ago

Unfortunately you are right. Ms will Never employ a Sony employee to make the game. No way that's happening they have 2 very different buissness plans plus slitting shares and profits it'll be get messy.

Rip Sunset Overdrive 2014-2023

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 512d ago
-Foxtrot513d ago

Hold on a minute, I thought the whole point Insomniac went to other people over Sony during that time was because they wanted to be independent enough to own the IP of the game they made.

Now MS owns publishing rights to the next two sequels?

Dosent that defeat the point of why they did it? Well, what they told us anyway at the time.

Vits513d ago

It was a bet. Insomniac owns the IP, but in exchange for the +40M in funding, they gave up the publishing rights for this game and two sequels. If it was successful, then after those two sequels, they would be free to do whatever they wanted. If it was not successful, they could follow a Bungie-like approach and simply negotiate to regain those rights back from Microsoft.

But they were acquired by Sony, and now, unless the latter makes a proposal that Microsoft can't refuse, it's very unlikely that they will sell those rights. The franchise is as good as dead.

Eonjay513d ago

Either Sony buys them out of the contract or we only ever see Sunset Overdrive remaster.

crazyCoconuts513d ago

Reviews and sales were just ok. I doubt anyone is going out of their way to resuscitate this

Outside_ofthe_Box513d ago

So they never had true control of the IP due to giving MS publishing rights. I remember them saying to ask MS if gamers wanted a sequel. Definitely defeated the whole point of denying Sony and being exclusive to Xbox.

-Foxtrot512d ago (Edited 512d ago )

Yeah that’s what I was trying to say, it’s silly.

Why not just make a multiplatform game or say to MS they could be exclusive for 5 years or something

Hell even say “if it’s a huge success keep the IP and we’ll continue making sequels for you, if it fails then it reverts to us after so long”

__SteakDeck__513d ago

Can’t Mr. “When we all play, we all win” Nice Guy Phil Spencer sell the publishing rights to Insomniac? Lol Glad people can finally stop asking about a sequel to this game. Insomniac can just make a better new IP, that borrows some mechanics from Overdrive. But we’ll probably have to wait until at least 2031 for that. Lol

Rockstar513d ago

That's true!
Good guy Phil is "for the players" and "a gamer" so this is going to happen!

GamerRN513d ago

Well, isn't Sony ALSO a good company just trying to be about the games? Can't they allow Microsoft to make a sequel? Don't they want to make sure that no company is stopping the other from making games?

Outside_ofthe_Box513d ago

Have you been living under rock? According to the most neutralist of gamers, Sony and Microsoft have reversed roles this gen. Sony is anti consumer and Microsoft are the good guys. Good Guy Phil better make it happen!

badz149512d ago

You're wrong on that. The ball is actually in MS's court. They have the publishing rights but not the IP, so if they actually gives a damn about the IP, they should buy the IP from Sony and let their own studios make a sequel.

Any crumbs of interest from Sony regarding the IP has vanished when they knew about the publishing agreement and the IP was never associated with the PS brand to begin with. Can't blame them letting the IP they can't monetize on rotting on the shelve. So it goes straight to MS now when it comes to salvaging the IP.

This is just 1 IP Phil, and shouldn't be THAT expensive considering how it went down. The fact that they are not even trying to get the IP showed they too don't care. Let's just say RIP to SSOD. It's as good as dead now.

Einhander1972513d ago

Who cares, Insomniac has their games laid out well into the next generation.

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110°

Capcom Cracks Down on Modders, Reveals Anti-Cheat Patent for Monster Hunter Wilds

MHHQ - Capcom has issued an anti-cheat patent aimed at detecting and stopping game data tampering during Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer hunts.

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monsterhunterhq.com
100°

16 Ubisoft Titles Can Now Be Purchased on The Xbox PC Store

In a very intriguing and interesting move, 16 Ubisoft titles can now be purchased on the Xbox PC Store. Of course, this is a first as Ubisoft PC titles have never been purchasable on the Xbox PC Store previously.

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jznrpg3d ago

Servers are going to be bogged down by that 1 guy who will use this.

SimpleDad3d ago

Ahhh, the good old... Xbox PC store?
Who tf uses that?

Tacoboto3d ago

Kind of weird without them being updated to Xbox Play Anywhere purchases

MrDead2d ago

I uninstalled it as I was sick of the ads popping up on my login screen.

180°

Ubisoft Announces Weak Financial Results, Delays Games, but Assassin's Creed Shadows is Going Strong

Ubisoft announced its financial results for the fiscal year 2024-2025, and they're not good, but Assassin's Creed Shadows is doing well.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
neutralgamer19923d ago

Three companies keep showing their true faces and telling us who they are but for some weird reason we refuse to believe them. Even when everything they show just makes their greediness even stands out more

Keep messing with the consumers and keep being greedy. Keep telling your consumers to get comfortable now owning your games and we will. You only have few IP's that gamers care about anyways so

"soon enough tencent will buy you out. They already own 49%. Keep deleting games from gamers libraries and getting sued over it instead of making offline play possible for the crew" it's sad that I believe in 10 cents more than UBI because atleast tencent knows how to run a proper business

These executives can taking millions and bonuses and stock options yet they fire those actually making the games without thinking twice. Gaming has become so greedy that their own greed will be their downfall. Companies like Capcom have realized making good quality games and treat gamers with respect

AC series started with a soul but now it's just a soulless empty option world with icons filling the game map. They make their own games so grindy so that they can see the XP boosters to even the odds. As a gamer in my 40's all I want to know is when did gaming just stop being about Fun and all about greed. Double XP weekends selling cosmetics and dances. I use to be a big sports game guy when I was in my 20's the other day I wanted to play NBA 2k and after doing some deep research I realized the best NBA game was 2k17 and NBA 2k25 at $9.79 I couldn't pull the trigger on that 2k25 for how egregious the micro transactions were. So much of the fun is behind a pay wall

dveio3d ago

True words, buddy.

Q: "So how many units did Shadows sell?"

Ubisoft: "Well, look, we ... it's been a busy week."

neutralgamer19923d ago

For over a decade, the price of video games remained steady. We paid $50, then $60 for full, content-rich experiences. Developers found creative ways to deliver incredible games without charging more. From the PS2 era through the PS4/Xbox One, pricing consistency gave players a sense of value and trust.

But then came the jump to $70 during the PS5 and Xbox Series X launches—justified by "rising development costs." And now, barely four years later, we’re seeing $80 price tags becoming more common for standard editions. At this pace, by the time the next generation of consoles launches around 2027, $90 games could be the norm. And with a behemoth like GTA 6 on the horizon, a $99.99 base price wouldn’t be shocking at all.

Yet we’ve also seen proof that this kind of pricing isn’t necessary for success. Look at the recent launches of Expedition 33 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Both released at $49.99 and have been met with strong sales and positive reception. These games show that there’s still plenty of room for high-quality, mid-budget (AA) titles that offer great value—and gamers are more than willing to support them at fair prices.

But here’s the problem: the big publishers don’t care. If we as consumers keep paying for deluxe editions, early access, and overpriced base games, they’ll keep pushing the limits. They’re not going to back down unless we speak with our wallets—because that’s the only language they listen to. If they see record sales, they’ll take it as validation.

It’s frustrating when these same companies report record-breaking revenue and profits—yet still complain about tariffs, still find excuses to raise prices, and still hand out bigger bonuses to their CEOs. If they’re doing so well financially, why are they passing more of the burden onto players?

It’s because gaming has become the second biggest entertainment market in the world. And with that comes attention from hedge funds, investors, and boardrooms focused on short-term profit, not long-term player trust. To them, your passion is just a revenue stream. They care about quarterly numbers, not the health of the industry or the joy of the experience.

And unless we—as players—take a stand, the greed won’t stop. The monetization will grow, the price hikes will continue, and the soul of gaming will keep slipping away. The choice is ours. We can either keep paying more for less, or we can push back. One purchase—or one refusal to purchase—at a time

dveio3d ago

"And unless we—as players—take a stand, the greed won’t stop."

And that's the tough part about it.

Look at those annual figures showing billions and billions of money being spent on the most ridiculous add-ons, DLCs, pre-release accesses, even pre-orders, digital deluxe crap, etc.

I mean - we've stood together at times. I don't say it didn't happen before.

But within all of our communities there's so much passive aggressive defensiveness.

Look at the debates regarding physical vs digital.

Publishers can't keep a straight face reading our discussions in which many people abandon physical.

Playing straight into the cards of publishers out there.

neutralgamer19922d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Like I said gamers are the biggest issue with gaming. We may united on a issue but as soon as our favorite gaming franchise gets a release we will support it. If there any doubt Mario kart will be one of the best selling games on switch 2?

Things we use to unlock by simply playing a game has not be sold to us as extra content

Rainbowcookie2d ago

I think people arebgetting tired of the formula. We see it in sales. People just want fun again.

neutralgamer19922d ago

I just want games to be fun and not geindy and full of micro transactions

anast2d ago

Even the $130 ultimate editions of UBI games are only a bit less grindy and they still beg people to buy helix coins throughout the whole experience.

It's a travesty what 2K did to NBA 2K.

neutralgamer19922d ago

It really is because NBA 2K is simply unplayable without spending money and you can't even respec for a new my player you are required to spend again

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2d ago
SimpleDad3d ago

When you don't disclose units sold... and your stock goes down... how is this doing well?

CantThinkOfAUsername2d ago

"According to the company, Assassin’s Creed Shadows achieved the second-highest Day 1 sales revenue in franchise history, following Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It actually had the best Day 1 performance of Ubisoft’s history on the PlayStation Store."

S2Killinit2d ago

AC Shadows is doing good yes.

Chocoburger2d ago

Ubishit burned so many bridges with fans, releasing filler dreck that was purposefully designed to push you towards micro-trash-actions. It didn't have to be this way, they could have respected us players more, instead of making players waste countless hours of their life just to see stupid "experience points and resources numbers go up" and attempt to profit off us in such a disrespectful way. I stopped supporting them a long time ago. Keep burning bridges, and keep burning your company from within.

S2Killinit2d ago

Which UBI games did that? Im legit asking.

Chocoburger1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

Any game (be it Ubisoft or any other company) with an unnecessary shoe-horned in experience points system, endless resources collection, and a micro-trash-action store that sells you boosters that alleviate the grind.

They do it on purpose to nudge players towards spending more money, and its something I refuse to support. Nearly all modern Ubisoft games have experience points and skill trees these days, not because it makes the games better, but because it can potentially make them more money by exhausting people into giving in and buying boosters.

Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon and more series are offenders of this game design blight.

S2Killinit1d 12h ago

I see. And I agree. I dont like these trends either. Although I dont remember AC having paid upgrades (given that my last one was black flag)

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