Earlier this week, our retro-flavoured sister site Time Extension brought news that some of Activision's classic Transformers games may have been lost in transition - with IP owner Hasbro making some forthright comments about Activision's handling of the series. Now though, Hasbro has walked back on those comments, saying that they were ultimately made "in error".
Thanks to outlet VGC, we now have some fresh comments from the team regarding Activision's time with Transformers. Here's Hasbro's, shall we say, updated sentiment on the partnership:
"To clarify, comments that suggest Transformers games have been lost were made in error [...] We apologise to Activision and regret any confusion – they’ve been great partners, and we look forward to future opportunities to work together."
At the moment, Activision's Transformers titles are now longer available to purchase digitally on Xbox - including Transformers: Devastation, Transformers: War for Cybertron, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron and Transformers Rise of the Dark Spark.
The hope has been that — with Xbox's potential purchase of Activision Blizzard — these games could return to the platform, including a potential resurrection on Xbox Game Pass. For now, we have no real idea as to the fate of these titles if the merger goes through, but hopefully, they make their way back to digital storefronts in some fashion!
Do you think Transformers could return to Xbox via Game Pass? Let us know your thoughts on the situation down below.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 25
This begs the question of why it's not BC or still active, but maybe I'm out of my lane with that question.
@IronMan30 My guess: licensing.
@IronMan30 Activision doesn't seem to see the value in renewing the Transformers licence... but I hope Microsoft sees things differently once they own Activision.
I hope goldeneye reloaded can be rereleased with Xbox one x enhancements.
@IronMan30 There's a distinct lack of licensed games on Backwards compatibility in general so there must have been limits as to what they were allowed to do.
It's a damn shame as it's often the licensed games that will disappear from stores first, and so are the most valuable ones for back compat. I'd love to play some of the old James Bond games on Xbox.
@IronMan30 Like the others have said, it comes down to licensing. And while Hasbor might be up to renewing the license with Activision, Activision has to feel like it's worth the money. And in reality, it probably isn't.
Microsoft might feel differently though, as those games wouldn't necessarily need to sell x amount copies to be viable. They just need to retain GP subs.
I hate this story so much. Why didn't someone just ask Platinum Games?
It's not like the 360/PS3 era was in the 1980s or 90s, if the files were lost it would be incompetence to the highest degree. Hopefully the files are still there and MS brings the games back. The Cybertron games, especially, are too good to be lost to time.
@Gamer83 it feels like a stupid marketing ploy to piggyback some action figure/doll attention due to Barbie.
"Hey! Don't forget we make old dolls too!"
It seemed fishy for one hasbro employee to claim that not a single person at Activision knew where the files were stored. It's more likely they talked to one person at abk who didn't know or the hasbro employee made up the whole thing.
@Cashews
I never rule out ridiculous marketing stunts, definitely possible. If that's the case though, capitalize right away and get these games out again asap.
Even if the code had been lost, if Hasbro really wanted these back in gamers' hands, would it not be as simple as flicking a switch on Microsoft, Sony, & Steam's stores? Yeah the 360 ones would still only be on 360, and the servers would be gone still, but they'd be available again. Sounds to me this was all just PR for their new todays based on War for & Fall of Cybertron, or they want Microsoft to pay the license fee again since Activision didn't renew.
@Cashews Maybe it's because the B Team at Platinum Games, that I'm not sure even works there anymore, only made 1 out of a dozen plus of these games?
Really hope MS pursues securing the license for this and the 007 games so they can be re-listed and maybe listed on Game Pass.
I know its a longshot, but also would love it if they could cut out some deal to be allowed to port and re-list all Activision Spider-Man games, even if making new ones is blocked due to licensing agreements with Sony.
Maybe it was just a silly commercial move 'cause now I feel like playing/watching a transformers game/animated series
@Wiiiiiiii Well recently they've been diving into old stuff & characters to turn into toys, and as of 2023 some of those include a new sub-line for the WFC & FoC character designs...
Were the past comments about losing the source code actually wrong, or was the error simply that they upset Activision?
This is more of an apology than a correction.
@Dragonsbane From the way they make it sound Activision is the one who wanted to end the deal. So I guess it comes down to if Microsoft thinks differently and is willing to put in the effort.
Always cracks me up when I see a 'lost code' article. If the game shipped then the code is safe. Just go to ebay and buy a copy, then reverse engineer that.
BluePoint Games built their reputation on quality remake/remasters by reverse engineering retail code.
@shoeses I have a feeling MS would renew the license if it’s affordable (royalties instead of a bulk sum up-front) since it would mean simply more content for Game Pass.
At least, I have Dark Spark on Wii U. 😁
@Shigurui It's not that easy, cost money and takes time
@nickwpearce As someone who's spent almost 30 years reverse engineering software, I can tell you that it is that easy, relatively speaking. It's very cost effective, isn't prohibitively difficult and takes a lot less time and money than rebuilding a lost code base from scratch.
@IronMan30 Easy. License expired.
Transformers games will be available again soon
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