5 Studios Microsoft Should Buy

It’s the fuel that feeds the fires of the perpetual console wars. The deciding factor that sways the decisions of some when purchasing a new gaming platform. They’re console exclusives; the games that set the next Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo system apart from the others in ways beyond graphics cards, performance specs, or the ergonomics of the controller.

[dktxx2]

Why? They don't have a good track record with 1st party studios. I figure that MS should only buy studios that need to die.

[Amazingmrbrock]

Thats like the touch of death by most evidence.. Leave the innocent developers alone. MS does best with second and third party support.

Though we may get to see how devs they start themselves work out.

[lelo2play]

I agree that MS doesn't have a great track record with 1st party, since they closed studios like Ensemble Studios... but every company close down studios now and then. Didn't Sony just close Socom studio Zipper Interactive ?

As for MS they do need more 1st party studios. It wouldn't be a bad idea to acquire one or two of those studios mentioned on this list.

[dktxx2]

Acquiring studios isn't as simple as just buying them. You can buy the company but you can't force the developers to stay. Just look at Rare. Its a shell of what is was because the developers that made the company what is was all left.

[humbleopinion]

It worked out pretty well for Bungie. It doesn't seem like they died out...

But then again, why should Microsoft buy these studios? It makes more sense to just invest in their IP based solely on a partnership and then nurture them without having to manage them.

This approach both saves money since there's less corporate overhead, gives the developers greater freedom, and with time it benefits all kinds of games and not just Xbox console owners:
Mass Effect is one such fine example: Microsoft helped Bioware establish the franchise, and once it took off Bioware was able to bring it to gamers regardless of platform. The same goes for Remedy who self-published Alan Wake on PC and Playdead which had a timed exclusivity deal with MS and since then ported their game to the PC and PS3. Everyone is entitled to play these great games and so this situation is a pure win-win.

[KMCROC54]

Mass Effect is one such fine example: Microsoft helped Bioware establish the franchise, and once it took off Bioware was able to bring it to gamers regardless of platform.(After they were purchased by EA)

[Intentions]

Why so much hate?

:(

[_Aarix_]

This is N4PS3
Anything involving microsoft gets the short end of the stick when it comes to the community.

[Menashe]

I like the choice of Playdead. Great indie dev. I would have considered Mojang too. Having Minecraft as an exclusive would be a major plus for Microsoft.

[Moncole]

Notch said he will never let any publisher buy Mojang.

[Menashe]

I figured as much. Although, once we're talking about buying Bioware, this is clearly all hypothetical.

[Voxelman]

lol no

[Disccordia]

EA don't have a contract with bioware. They own them! Epic and Crytek would lose a lot of money if MS purchased them because of their engine licenses so I can't see that happening.

Honestly MS have enough studios now. they opened about 8 new ones which was probably the best thing for them as I feel the acquirable Indies studios left are more suited to Sony.

[Kran]

1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
4. No.
5. No.

Most developers would to better independent, without the fear of having to follow strict ownership rules by their "parent". Sure, I might "sell" an IP to a company, but not my entire company.

[BrianC6234]

What's with these people who keep saying Microsoft should buy studios? Haven't they paid attention the last couple years? Microsoft doesn't want to own development studios. They'd rather pay third parties for special DLC. So stop with this stuff already. They'd probably just shut most of them down anyway.

[Megaton]

Why would you want any studio to be subjected to Microsoft's ownership? Do you really hate them that badly? There are two ways that partnership ends.

1. Developing endless Kinect shovelware.
2. Studio closes.

[SITH]

MS has proved that buying studios is not the only way to gaurantee exclusives. I don't think they need to buy any given the success the system is enjoying.

[tigertron]

Or Microsoft should just invest in creating new studios to make them some more exclusives.

Oh and not focus on Kinect shovelware either.

[vega275]

Only three on that list I could see Microsoft buying.
1) crytek
2) playdead
3) remedy

The other two bioware ( owned and ruined by EA) and epic (who remains independent) wouldn't be two companies Microsoft could get. Unless they paid a lot of money to buy them out and at this point is bioware worth the investment after ME3.

[Mikefizzled]

I cant fault the list personally, some of my favorite studios are on there too. I think BioWare would be a very expensive deal if EA didn't renew the contract.

[KMCROC54]

I would buy these four companies if were MS or better yet do an Activision get a five game exclusive deal from them that last 10 years.

1) Crytek
2)Remedy Entertainment
3)Playdead
4)Epic Games

[dcbronco]

MS has learned a lesson Sony should learn. Buying studios is a mistake. Follow what MS did with Epic. Buy into a particular game. Gears has made MS millions. And it did by them risking very little. Check with developers from time to time and look at what they are doing. If you see something promising you finance it for exclusivity. Or you pay for a multi-million dollar advertisement campaign like MS did with Gears 1.

MS paid for a ten million dollar advertising campaign and Gears sold 5 million copies. 10$ of each copy goes to the console maker. So for ten million they received 50 million.