You can see why Microsoft seems to be going down the 'blockbuster games or bust' path, then, can't you? Yes, we understand that Concord perhaps isn't the best example of how to position a big new IP, but whatever angle you do take is still a big risk right now - especially with how expensive games are to make in the current climate. Why build a big new shooter when you can just release a new Call of Duty game?
With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it seems that Xbox is struggling to find a reason not to reach for the big guns. ActiBlizz owns some of the biggest IP out there, and although an expensive outlay at $70 billion, it presents less risk for Xbox in the long term. It doesn't have to go and build a team to compete with something like Overwatch , it outright buys Blizzard and its IP instead.
Xbox's focus on these massive games isn't exclusive to ActiBlizz, either. Earlier this year, in the wake of those Bethesda studio closures , Microsoft's Matt Booty basically came out and said that "blockbuster games" and "high-impact titles" are where Xbox is putting its focus right now. Xbox Game Studios is largely the same story - the likes of Avowed , Gears E-Day , Fable and others are coming from existing universes. And, with the events of Concord, can you blame this course of action?
Matt Booty on Xbox refocusing after Bethesda studio closures: "These changes are grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades.
To double down on these franchises and invest to build new ones requires us to look across the business to identify the opportunities that are best positioned for success. This reprioritization of titles and resources means a few teams will be realigned to others and that some of our colleagues will be leaving us. We are making these tough decisions to create capacity to increase investment in other parts of our portfolio and focus on our priority games. "
Look, we're not saying that it's impossible to build a big new IP from the ground up - we certainly hope it isn't anyway, because we always want to see creativity in the industry. We're just saying that doing so seems like as big of a risk as it's ever been, especially on a triple-a level, and we shouldn't surprised to see these platform holders and major publishers focus on what's already established. Whether being a new IP was Concord's biggest issue or not (we don't think it was), the bigwigs of the industry will surely look at it as another reason to greenlight Fallout 77 or Call of Duty 803 . Buckle up, folks.
