Sony Game Studios Acquisitions [2021]

[Silenti]

Nixxes is strictly a studio that does ports, not remakes.

More specifically, since their inception 20 years ago they only did ports of Eidos games, and since Eidos was purchased by Square Enix in 2008 they've only been working with Square Enix.


To summarize, what Nixxes only ever did were ports for studios that belong to Square Enix: Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal and IO Interactive.

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixxes_Software

That said, I wonder if Sony really intends to drastically change what Nixxes has been doing for 20 years (e.g. working with FromSoft), or if there's something else brewing here.

If they are going to do more than ports they may well have to expand significantly. Only info I can find on size is pretty sketchy. One source listed 21 people. Another indicated the company had 50+ employees. Maybe contract vs full time. I would think you would desire more personnel to do both new ip and continue working on ports. But hey, I don't have any way to back that speculation up so, Dead Sea sized grain of salt.

 

[PSman1700]

Jim Ryan claimed we would be seeing more of PS games appearing on PC. Few months forward and Sony is aquiring a studio/dev well known for porting over console/PS games to PC. Not much to spin here.

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-07-01-playstation-has-bought-another-developer#comments

''Earlier this year, PlayStation's overall boss Jim Ryan suggested Sony would double down on releasing its games for PC as well as console - although not necessarily day and date, as Microsoft does with games on Xbox.

The addition of Nixxes adds a significant pool of talent in its PC port department, as Sony looks to bring more games to the platform in the future.''

 

[Deleted member 11852]

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-07-01-playstation-has-bought-another-developer#comments

Do you just believe every random comment from people on the internet? It feels like you do. I should warn that putting potatoes in your socks and the use of essentials oils is no replacement for science-based healthcare.

Is this really the level of discourse we entertain on Beyond3D? Do any of the mods care any more?

 

[PSman1700]

Do you just believe every random comment from people on the internet? I

EG and Jim Ryan being random comments on the internet? Woah, youve sunken alot man.

 

[Inuhanyou]

If Sony aquired nixxes primarily to do PC ports we will find out.

No need to copy paste posts multiple times

 

[Deleted member 11852]

EG and Jim Ryan being random comments on the internet? Woah, youve sunken alot man.

There were no Jim Ryan quotes in that article.

 

[PSman1700]

If Sony aquired nixxes primarily to do PC ports we will find out.

No need to copy paste posts multiple times

They'd have to make some huge changes to the studio to something else then what theive done before. Aquiring Nixxes to help with PC ports is very reasonable, a dedicated seperate own studio standing for all the (quality) ports, freeing the main studios from these tasks.

 

[chris1515]

Nixxes did PS3/PS4 versions of all Tomb Raider game too:

 

[chris1515]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1410657166504116227

It seems they are a very strong team on technical side by the Remedy community manager.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1410643194119864320

 

[Shortbread]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1410657166504116227

It seems they are a very strong team on technical side by the Remedy community manager.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1410643194119864320

Makes sense. Sony needs more bodies (manpower) on assisting their current roster of studios, not lending out studios like Bend. PlayStation PC ports will more than likely [still] be handled by outsourced third-party studios or by PlayStation Mobile studio.

 

[chris1515]

Makes sense. Sony needs more bodies (manpower) on assisting their current roster of studios, not lending out studios like Bend. PlayStation PC ports will more than likely be [still] handled by outsourced third-party studios or by PlayStation Mobile studio.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/pl...-raider-games-deus-ex-md.450703/post-68637286

IMO, their main tasks will be to do these 'impossible' ports to PS4, like HFW and GoW:R. They have proven really good at that.

Btw, a little known fact is that Nixxes got that name from their founder Jurjen Katsman who went by nickname "Nix" on the demoscene. He was one of the developers of a few legendaty "The Black Lotus" demos in the late 90s, like "Stash" and "Countour":

They probably help with HFW PS4

 

[PSman1700]

A very good addition to let a dedicated studio handle the PC ports.

 

[PSman1700]

https://www.gamingbible.co.uk/news/...-exclusive-is-making-its-way-to-xbox-20210629

Sony Says It's Not In "Arms Race" With Xbox To Acquire New Studios

 

[Inuhanyou]

Sounds about right. A smaller indie ish team and a porting studio seems reasonable to me

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Makes sense. Sony needs more bodies (manpower) on assisting their current roster of studios, not lending out studios like Bend. PlayStation PC ports will more than likely [still] be handled by outsourced third-party studios or by PlayStation Mobile studio.

Yup, there are plenty of third party developers who will take on a port job. It's uninteresting but solid, predictable work.

 

[Deleted member 13524]

To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Bluepoint acquisition is now official.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1443591628606689280

 

[SmooTh]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1443593828930359303

 

[Deleted member 13524]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1443593828930359303

Looks like Bluepoint is following in the same steps as Bend. Good for them!

 

[Deleted member 7537]

No more remakes, so no MGS from them.

Spoiler

 

[chris1515]

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/associate-corporate-development-at-playstation-2738188692

It means they will buy studios/publisher without working with them before.

https://www.videogameschronicle.com...s-says-he-expects-more-games-company-buyouts/

This is logic in connection from what Sony Pictures told.

Pictures CEO believes movies consolidation has peaked and games will be the "new growth area"

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/26/sony-strategic-investments-gaming-entertainment-subscriptions.html

Sony Group said on Wednesday it will spend 2 trillion yen ($18.39 billion) over the next three years on strategic investments, including a push to expand subscribers to its gaming and entertainment services.

EDIT: Jim Ryan told it before too.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...able-ps5-demand-ahead-of-launch-idUKKBN27C2P5

Sony plans to grow its studio capability organically but "where we can bolster our in-house capability with selective M&A that might be possible," Ryan said.