Support NeoGAF

[Draugoth]

The upcoming original IP from Hitman studio IO Interactive could be an Xbox console exclusive.According to internal Microsoft documents shared as part of the ongoing FTC vs. Microsoft trial over the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

The documents (spotted by IGN), which assess IO as a potential acquisition target, list it as working on “Project Dragon,” an RPG shooter for PC and Xbox Series X|S. Xbox Game Studios is listed as publisher for the title.

In April 2021, Windows Central first claimed that IO had teamed up with Microsoft to work on a new “dragon-themed IP” which the platform holder was expected to publish as a first-party Xbox exclusive.

 

[fatmarco]

To be fair, we've known they were working on Project Dragon as an Xbox exclusive for a while, admittedly through the rumour mill, but still I don't think anyone thought this had any chance or hint of it coming to Playstation etc.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

we knew that

 

[Chukhopops]

I thought it was known already?

The more surprising part is they considered buying IOI, a studio which bought itself back after being acquired several times. Not sure they’d want to be absorbed again.

 

[adamsapple]

Supposedly this is a shooter RPG ?

Wonder when it's ready for public reveal.

 

[theStartupSound]

also pretty interesting is the “risk” section – we rarely get a unfiltered view into how companies think about the other market players

 

[DevilMayFlyForAWhiteGuy]

Reboot of Scalebound confirmed.

 

[Belthazar]

So... I guess Microsoft is trying to *check notes* reduce Playstation's survival with this exclusivity deal? I wonder if they used the 70% cut they take whenever they release a game on playstation.

 

[Kacho]

Another co-op focused game? Is this a GAAS?

 

[Cert.in.Death]

So it’s middling to terrible then?

/s

 

[Tripolygon]

So... I guess Microsoft is trying to *check notes* reduce Playstation's survival with this exclusivity deal? I wonder if they used the 70% cut they take whenever they release a game on playstation.

 

[lh032]

Microsoft is throwing money for exclusivity!!!!! they are blocking PS version release!!!!

 

[Skifi28]

These exclusion agreements disgust me.

 

[AJUMP23]

Nobody cares about Sony exclusivity....but a lot of people care about Xbox exclusive. It is the game. Create unique exclusive content so people buy your stuff.

 

[Black_Stride]

This is the online RPG...........making it exclusive seem like a death sentence unless it gets as much support as Sea of Thieves, but not being first party would make that harder lest they keep pumping money to IO Interactive.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

This is the online RPG...........making it exclusive seem like a death sentence unless it gets as much support as Sea of Thieves, but not being first party would make that harder lest they keep pumping money to IO Interactive.

It will be on PC so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Seems like a big W for IO since they're gonna get a fat paycheck from MSFT.

 

[skyfinch]

Day one

 

[Riky]

Series consoles are going to be RPG heaven.

 

[Black_Stride]

It will be on PC so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.

You are still cutting a huge player base, so without support DOA.
Sea of Thieves had a big player base due to XB1 and XSX and PC, plus constant updates.
XSX and PC only for an online game?
Count me doubtful.



P.S: Im assuming this is nextgen only?

 

[Hudo]

Agent 47 murdering people with a fireball? I'm kinda liking the idea!

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

Will this finally be the world’s first science-based 100% dragon mmo? One can only hope, surely Xbox will soar upon its leathery wings.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

You are still cutting a huge player base, so without support DOA.
Sea of Thieves had a big player base due to XB1 and XSX and PC, plus constant updates.
XSX and PC only for an online game?
Count me doubtful.



P.S: Im assuming this is nextgen only?

Well, no shit. No support for online game = dead on arrival. It goes without saying. They'll be fine without PS user base.

 

[abacab driver]

Yep, Jez Corden was right.

 

[Ozriel]

So... I guess Microsoft is trying to *check notes* reduce Playstation's survival with this exclusivity deal? I wonder if they used the 70% cut they take whenever they release a game on playstation.

New IP, funded by Microsoft Publishing.

Let’s not go full crazy here.

 

[Ozriel]

You are still cutting a huge player base, so without support DOA.
Sea of Thieves had a big player base due to XB1 and XSX and PC, plus constant updates.
XSX and PC only for an online game?
Count me doubtful.



P.S: Im assuming this is nextgen only?

Nonsense.
Sea of Thieves didn’t launch on Steam until 2020. Exclusive to Windows Store earlier.

Online base was largely XB1 before the Steam launch.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I thought these were bad™

They aren't, it's been a practice since the dawn of third party developers working with first party publishers. But narratives and all that gravy.

On a side note, from dude bro shooter box to fantasy RPG box? Queue the same/same third person trees meme.

 

[FlyyGOD]

So... I guess Microsoft is trying to *check notes* reduce Playstation's survival with this exclusivity deal? I wonder if they used the 70% cut they take whenever they release a game on playstation.

Did you have same energy for Street Fighter 5 being playstation exclusive?

 

[Beer Baelly]

 

[Little Mac]

 

[RickMasters]

also pretty interesting is the “risk” section – we rarely get a unfiltered view into how companies think about the other market players

Maybe they are testing the waters with this new Ip, before actually acquiring them?

 

[Slicker than your average]

Series consoles are going to be RPG heaven.

How come everytime this guy posts something, it's like some weird Xbox promotion or advertisment thrown in.

 

[DeepEnigma]

How come everytime this guy posts something, it's like some weird Xbox promotion or advertisment thrown in.

$MSFT​

 

[LordCBH]

I just hope it’s good.

 

[graywolf323]

How come everytime this guy posts something, it's like some weird Xbox promotion or advertisment thrown in.

I mean there’s a reason after PS5 got VRR support that Riky’s tag was updated to what you see now

 

[German Hops]

Series consoles are going to be RPG heaven.

Yeah, I'm getting one just for Starfield alone.

 

[rodrigolfp]

PC is RPG heaven.

Ftfy.

 

[Gudji]

MS would never do that.

 

[touchfuzzy]

What happened to that James Bond game?

 

[BennyBlanco]

I thought it was known already?

The more surprising part is they considered buying IOI, a studio which bought itself back after being acquired several times. Not sure they’d want to be absorbed again.

Bungie did it twice lol

 

[YuLY]

Thats nice, but we need a new Hitman, theres still so many location ideas we havent explored with agent 47. I need airport+airplane map, I need sky resort map and many more. Hopefully they get this done quick to focus on that 007 game and a new Hitman.

 

[Little Mac]

Bought a Series X off amazon yesterday.

 

[cireza]

Microsoft is throwing money for exclusivity!!!!! they are blocking PS version release!!!!

They are basically funding a brand-new license, not exactly the same as privatizing a previously multiplatform series

 

[Bernkastel]

Microsoft is throwing money for exclusivity!!!!! they are blocking PS version release!!!!

They are publishing a new IP, not throwing money to make a game exclusive. Or are you saying Street Fighter V/Tomb Raider are the same thing as Sunset Overdrive/Until Dawn?