Insomniac Games isn't owned by Sony, but no one would blame you for thinking so, as the studio's been a loyal, nearly first-party Sony developer since the PlayStation 2 days. That changes today, however, as Insomniac announced a deal with EA Partners for a brand-new game (read: not Ratchet & Clank or Resistance) that will be released on PlayStation 3....and Xbox 360. Oh, yes.
Like Respawn's deal with EA Partners and Bungie's deal with Activision, Insomniac will own the rights to this new game. Insomniac does not own Ratchet & Clank or Resistance, Sony does. The Sony ties also means Insomniac has exclusively developed for the PlayStation platform for years and years.
"We decided to do a multiplatform title a while ago," said CEO Ted Price to me in an interview conducted yesterday, "and we began looking around for publishers who have a global reach, who are multiplatform and have an expertise in marketing and all the distribution [connections] and all the things that we need help with as a developer. After talking to [EA Partners], we found that we were really compatible in terms of our creative approach and our mutual focus on quality over quantity and certainly you can't argue with EAP's success over the last several years. It ended up being a great fit."
In addition to expanding its reach to Xbox 360 owners, Insomniac is changing up their development process. Insomniac is famous for efficiency and has stuck to annual releases for a number of years. With PlayStation 3, Insomniac had been swapping Ratchet & Clank and Resistance every other year. Perhaps in response to widespread Resistance 2 critiques, that's changing going forward.
"You may be wondering why we’re announcing this game now, and how it relates to our existing projects," said Price in a blog post to fans at Insomniac's web site. "We’ve been developing games on an annual pace during the last 16 years. One thing that has become apparent to us though is that in order to live up to our own high standards of quality, we want to give ourselves more development time to iterate and polish our games. All future Insomniac titles will benefit from longer development cycles, which will directly benefit you, our fans."
Price also reiterated its commitment to Sony fans and the PlayStation platform, confirming the studio would make more PlayStation 3-only games down the line. A hint towards the rumored Resistance 3?
There are no details on the new game other than its target platforms. We won't hear about the game next month at E3 and Price told me it's unlikely we'll be hearing any more for a while (probably next year). You can read everything I managed to pull out of Price in an interview that went up today.
Have something to share? Sitting on a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter.
Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 38
122
1manclannoob
it would be awesome if they made a game like ratchet an clank 4 360 ilove that game i have every game but ps3 versions 4 ps2. keep on truckin insomniac
bluewolverine
don't you wish all games and developers were multiplatform
croachtnt
I am happy that Insomniac is sharing the love with our Xbox brethren. We are also happy to get some Bungie love. Isn't it so much more fun when we all get along? Next we need to get cross platform multilayer like steam with mac and PC. Or maybe I am just being a hippie.
blakseed
Been buying Insomniac games for years. I think it's safe to say expect quality no matter the platform. I just want to know more about the game.
NiqqaWebbz
I am glad that insomniac is going multi-platform now both genres can enjoy what ps3 gamers have been enjoying same with bungie going to activision, i think i see a trend happening
DreamingDarklyRobin
Yay! I hope they make a new platformer (I miss Jak and Dexter).
ur_moms_va_jj_
can insomniac fans get resistance 3 already
greeknerd
When Bungie decided to go multiplatform, a Sony spokesperson said "this is good for all gamers." I expect a Sony spokesperson to say "Insomniac going multiplatform is good for all gamers" any minute now.
Old_Dirty_Bastard
The real questions is, does EA have the resources to support Respawn, Epic/People Can Fly,Bioware,Dice,Crytek, and now Insomniac. All of these studios are going to want a certain amount of support in terms of funding and marketing. I wonder if EA isn't becoming to big for it's own good and could it eventually topple over on it's sell.
ezeraeze
HEY PATRICK KLEPEK!! Naughty dog is working with guerilla on killzone 3, did you know that?
ezeraeze
I knew about it early this morning. Good for Insomniac, they now have a huge source of money, a good one too. I wish bungie would have let activision rot in hell, but at least they will still own the I.P and can just walk out anytime activision screws up. Congratualations insomniac and EA. Is it just me or are exclusives games gonna disappear after sometime? You see, insomniac and bungie were the biggest when it came to exclusives, now they are going multi. Hmmm...wonder how long it's gonna take for others to join.
jdawghatesyou
I just hope Resistance and Ratchet will fall on the way side. I want those to keep coming and to stay exclusive like they have been. But for a new IP hey that's their call and the more money they make the more games we will get from this phenomenal developer
koolboricua
good news for all
Johnbegood
Hopefully their multiplatform games have the same quality of their PS3 exclusives. I'm looking forward to see what they are working on.
tyler4307
i have been an Insomniac fan since the days of the original spyro games. these games made me fall in love with gaming all over again....Same with the Ratchet and Clank games. they are my favorite game developer. way to go Insomniac! cant wait to see the new game. im sure it will be a timeless classic like many of your others!
Pwnproof
I prefer ps3 and always enjoyed insomniac's games and for that i will always support them, as far as them going multi-platform it was something that needed to happen, i mean with game sales declining and this economy sucking i would rather see them take this step then to cut back on there staff so that they can grow more. BUT! i am not still not happy with EA and this online code thing but that's another story............
tyler4307
i love Insomniac! they are easily my favorite game developer. i have been there since Spyro 1st came around. the Spyro series was jaw dropping and magical to me. the series showed me how to have fun with games all over again. i have the original games downloaded on my PS3 and play them more than any PS3 title i own. then with Ratchet and Clank it was love again at 1st site. i have played Resistance a bit, and i can tell im really gonna love them games too. i think it's wonderful that Insomniac is pushing forward and made a deal with EA. i can't wait to see the game they put out. im sure it will be a timeless classic like everything else they have put out.
XwingVmanX
I'm just counting this an even trade between Bungie and Insomnica lol
M6000
First
BlackPrince42
This was bound to happen. The last couple years of Insomniac games sold okay but didn't exactly set the NPD charts on fire so the best way to remedy that be to go multiplatform and double their pool of customers. And just looking at the Resistance and R&C series sequels it's clear that their current IP's are suffering from the law of diminished returns.
Given their position I would of done the same thing. The increased sales from the 360 version will easily make up for the few jaded fanboys who'll swear off IG games forever because they're on another console.
Displaying 1–20 of 38
122
Add a Comment