dschult3
CGR Undertow Groupie
The true heir to the Monado.
Posts: 2,771
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Post by dschult3 on May 3, 2022 18:10:23 GMT
Yesterday, I heard that Square Enix sold off its western studios. That means they lose quite a few HUGE IPs. Square Enix Embracer DealSome say that the $300 million sell off is a steal. Others say Square is redirecting their focus on their Japanese IPs, since some say they are dropping the ball recently. Now today, I've read rumors that they might be trying set themselves up for an acquisition. As in Sony may buy them out. This all seems crazy to me. However, Microsoft proved to us that anything is possible with their acquisition of Activision/Blizzard. What do you guys think about this?
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Cervantes
Off-Brand Transformable Robot
A former Incompetent Evil Commander (XP: 2423)
Posts: 2,820
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Post by Cervantes on May 3, 2022 18:29:54 GMT
I do get the impression that Tomb Raider alone, due to the brand recognition, potential for films/shows and guaranteed huge sales in games, is worth more than those $300 million.
I think the failures of expensive western AAA games like The Avengers probably motivated Square Enix to just dump their western studios and focus on the japanese side. That's a shame, as the western side of Square Enix is huge on PC (Tomb Raider and Deus Ex being hallmarks on the platform), but maybe a new publisher could make an even better use of those properties. Deus Ex and Thief were seemingly abandoned, and even Legacy of Kain/Soul Reaver could finally be ressurrected.
Still, $300 million for all those series and studios seems like a bargain. Square Enix must've been bleeding money on them.
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scipioafricanus
Cartoon Pony Wrangler
Sega Does What Nintendon't... except the 32X
Posts: 3,572
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Post by scipioafricanus on May 3, 2022 23:48:49 GMT
I want another Freedom Fighters game.
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billspreston
Cheru Wing
I wrote Max Reebo's first 3 hits
Posts: 336
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Post by billspreston on May 4, 2022 4:20:23 GMT
When it comes to treating your own IP with respect, nobody comes close to Nintendo.
Having said that, they had the luxury of getting an unexpected cash cow like Pokemon 20+ years ago.
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Cervantes
Off-Brand Transformable Robot
A former Incompetent Evil Commander (XP: 2423)
Posts: 2,820
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Post by Cervantes on May 4, 2022 4:56:17 GMT
Now that I think about it, besides their failure with Avengers, Square Enix also had recently major duds with Balan Wonderworld and Babylon's Fall. Also consider that, besides Tomb Raider, the latest games in their other western franchises had bad reception and/or sales, like Thief, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Hitman - this last one they had already dumped, alongside its developer IO Interactive studio, some time ago. Meanwhile, their remakes of older games (the Mana series, Final Fantasy pixel remasters) and retro-styled RPGs/tactical RPGs, with much cheaper development, seemingly have been a success with more coming on the way, like Front Mission and The Diofield Chronicle. I think they just wanted to quickly recoup some of those losses and refocus completely on RPG/Japanese franchises.
It's still strange that a studio like Gearbox alone was sold for $1 billion while Crystal Dynamics, Eidos and franchises like Tomb Raider and Deus Ex combined could only fetch $300 million. It's still a lot of money, but by comparison it feels like Square Enix was desperate to get rid of those studios/IPs.
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dschult3
CGR Undertow Groupie
The true heir to the Monado.
Posts: 2,771
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Post by dschult3 on May 6, 2022 0:35:43 GMT
It's still strange that a studio like Gearbox alone was sold for $1 billion while Crystal Dynamics, Eidos and franchises like Tomb Raider and Deus Ex combined could only fetch $300 million. It's still a lot of money, but by comparison it feels like Square Enix was desperate to get rid of those studios/IPs. I completely agree with you. From what I've seen, they are selling more than 50 IPs away. Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, and Legacy of Kain should have pushed that amount alone. I know many people think that Square mismanaged these companies, but perhaps this is a warning to the giant amoebas out there. They gave up 1,100 employees, 3 studios, and 8 global locations. Perhaps when you get too big, it is a perfect set up for failure?
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scipioafricanus
Cartoon Pony Wrangler
Sega Does What Nintendon't... except the 32X
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Post by scipioafricanus on May 6, 2022 10:06:34 GMT
It's still strange that a studio like Gearbox alone was sold for $1 billion while Crystal Dynamics, Eidos and franchises like Tomb Raider and Deus Ex combined could only fetch $300 million. It's still a lot of money, but by comparison it feels like Square Enix was desperate to get rid of those studios/IPs. I completely agree with you. From what I've seen, they are selling more than 50 IPs away. Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, and Legacy of Kain should have pushed that amount alone. I know many people think that Square mismanaged these companies, but perhaps this is a warning to the giant amoebas out there. They gave up 1,100 employees, 3 studios, and 8 global locations. Perhaps when you get too big, it is a perfect set up for failure? Their reason gets worse.
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Pimpjira
Guardian Force Shooter
Posts: 1,102
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Post by Pimpjira on May 10, 2022 0:50:42 GMT
Yeah it seems kinda cheap for both Tomb Raider and Deus Ex. I'm kinda glad to see the IPs go to another home though since apparently SE was quite disappointed in them, and maybe they should put more focus on the japanese side of things. I have no idea if they went to a good home though, but the chances of a new Legacy of Kain game can't be any worse.
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stratogustav
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Post by stratogustav on May 12, 2022 2:51:09 GMT
I would had sold everything as well Just Cause, Sleeping Dogs, Murdered, etc., but not Tomb Raider, that was definitely a huge lost for them. That price is ridiculous for such an expensive IP.
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Pimpjira
Guardian Force Shooter
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Post by Pimpjira on May 14, 2022 20:02:47 GMT
I would had sold everything as well Just Cause, Sleeping Dogs, Murdered, etc., but not Tomb Raider, that was definitely a huge lost for them. That price is ridiculous for such an expensive IP. Just Cause is one of the few they didn't sell off, another was Life is Strange.
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