MS Studios acquires rights to Gears of War franchise/Black Tusk does the work

[MCD]

Today we're excited to announce that Microsoft Studios has acquired the rights to the “Gears of War” franchise from Epic Games, including rights to all existing and future games, entertainment experiences and merchandise. In addition, we are excited to announce that Black Tusk Studios in Vancouver, BC will take over development of the “Gears of War” franchise and that Rod Fergusson, former Director of Production at Epic Games on the “Gears of War” franchise, will join Microsoft and play a key studio leadership role at Black Tusk on the development of the franchise going forward. We had a chance to chat with Phil Spencer, Head of Microsoft Studios, Hanno Lemke, General Manager of Black Tusk Studios at Microsoft Studios, and Rod Fergusson about the big news.

http://news.xbox.com/2014/01/games-microsoft-studios-gears-of-war

"The thing we showed at E3 last year, it was something that was done in Unreal and more of a concept piece," Spencer said, calling it "an asset" created by the team to get their creative juices flowing, not necessarily an in-development game.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/27/5345342/gears-of-war-xbox-one-microsoft-epic-games-rod-fergusson

[Joe Molotov]

2007 called and they're really excited about this news!

[MCD]

And cboat said it looked amazing. LMAO.

[radioheadrule83]

Story needs a reboot... I'm interested though. Loved the GOW games as co-op experiences. Its a good buy on MS' part, as much as some Sony fans will sneer. They need to retain exclusive franchises they're known for.

Wonder how much Epic got out of it? I'd imagine they'd have wanted some meaty compensation for letting go of potential future revenue like that.. between this and the Silicon Knights savaging, they're probably pretty well funded for their current projects

[Third]

They bought a dead franchise that was already MS exclusive.

I hope they didn't have to pay much.

[Mupepe]

Ugh.  1 was great, 2 was okay and 3 was meh.  I'm not really looking forward to more unless they do something to drastically change it up.  The formula is old and the story needs a reboot.

[Cerveza mas fina]

I only havent played Judgement yet but liked the other ones in mupepes order.

One was the best and the multi was just bliss with its simplicity and freshness.

[ManaByte]

(Image removed from quote.)

And cboat said it looked amazing. LMAO.

Their new IP that MS canned for this looked amazing. It was a sci-fi FPS with the head of Crysis 2 overseeing it.

MS cancelled it, and turned Black Tusk into a Gears of War factory to try to lure dudbros who still own a 360 into upgrading to the Xbox One.

[Madrun Badrun]

They are good 15$ games

[Rahxephon91]

They bought a dead franchise that was already MS exclusive.

I hope they didn't have to pay much.

Dead franchise gonna do more then any Sony series.

I guess God of War is dead too? Because really the only problem was that we didn't need a prequel or whatever the hell Judgement was. So of course like Ascencion it got a meh reception. A real Gears 4 though will cause some excitement.

The only thing I'm wondering is what the hell is going on with Epic.

[Rufus]

Epic is a middleware company now. I'll be surprised if their UE4 game ever comes out.

[ManaByte]

They bought a dead franchise that was already MS exclusive.

I hope they didn't have to pay much.

Dead franchise gonna do more then any Sony series.

I guess God of War is dead too? Because really the only problem was that we didn't need a prequel or whatever the hell Judgement was. So of course like Ascencion it got a meh reception. A real Gears 4 though will cause some excitement.

The only thing I'm wondering is what the hell is going on with Epic.

Sony Santa Monica is working on three games, and none are God of War:

1. New IP that's open world and has been in the works for 3 years.
2. Helping on The Order.
3. Helping on Everybody's Gone to The Rapture.

Xbots keep screaming about God of War as justification for turning Black Tusk into a Gears factory, but there's no God of War announced for the PS4.

[cool breeze]

so that spy game is getting shelved for gears of war?

at least there's no shortage of cover based third person shooters for next gen 

[AdmiralViscen]

They bought a dead franchise that was already MS exclusive.

I hope they didn't have to pay much.

Dead franchise gonna do more then any Sony series.

I guess God of War is dead too? Because really the only problem was that we didn't need a prequel or whatever the hell Judgement was. So of course like Ascencion it got a meh reception. A real Gears 4 though will cause some excitement.

The only thing I'm wondering is what the hell is going on with Epic.

Sony Santa Monica is working on three games, and none are God of War:

1. New IP that's open world and has been in the works for 3 years.
2. Helping on The Order.
3. Helping on Everybody's Gone to The Rapture.

Xbots keep screaming about God of War as justification for turning Black Tusk into a Gears factory, but there's no God of War announced for the PS4.

Sony only releases games from legendary, vibrant franchises such as Killzone and Infamous

[Rahxephon91]

They bought a dead franchise that was already MS exclusive.

I hope they didn't have to pay much.

Dead franchise gonna do more then any Sony series.

I guess God of War is dead too? Because really the only problem was that we didn't need a prequel or whatever the hell Judgement was. So of course like Ascencion it got a meh reception. A real Gears 4 though will cause some excitement.

The only thing I'm wondering is what the hell is going on with Epic.

Sony Santa Monica is working on three games, and none are God of War:

1. New IP that's open world and has been in the works for 3 years.
2. Helping on The Order.
3. Helping on Everybody's Gone to The Rapture.

Xbots keep screaming about God of War as justification for turning Black Tusk into a Gears factory, but there's no God of War announced for the PS4.

But there's bound to be another GoW right? And when that gets announced it won't be meant with "no one cares". You missed my point. I could care less about a Gears or a GoW factory. Just because Judgement was seemingly meant with mehs dosen't mean people won't care about a whole new Gears. Ascension seem to come out and no one cared either, but a new GoW will be meant with excitement(for whatever reason).

Judgement was a very un-needed game and a bit tired, but really it was just "eh might as will fill out the release schedule and we have a contract" type of game. A cash grab on a easy investment. 

[SantaC]

zzzZz more dudebro shooters!

[benjipwns]

zzzZz more dudebro shooters!

Somebody's never had to euthanize their wife who's been put into a slave labor camp by a subterranean race.

[Great Rumbler]

Remember how GOW1 had that artsy trailer with that one song from that movie that nerds love to hype up in it?

[Cerveza mas fina]

That fucking trailer is the reason while we still see that type of trailer now.

Let it go marketeers!

[Takao]

They bought a dead franchise that was already MS exclusive.

I hope they didn't have to pay much.

Dead franchise gonna do more then any Sony series.

I guess God of War is dead too? Because really the only problem was that we didn't need a prequel or whatever the hell Judgement was. So of course like Ascencion it got a meh reception. A real Gears 4 though will cause some excitement.

The only thing I'm wondering is what the hell is going on with Epic.

Sony Santa Monica is working on three games, and none are God of War:

1. New IP that's open world and has been in the works for 3 years.
2. Helping on The Order.
3. Helping on Everybody's Gone to The Rapture.

Xbots keep screaming about God of War as justification for turning Black Tusk into a Gears factory, but there's no God of War announced for the PS4.

Sony only releases games from legendary, vibrant franchises such as Killzone and Infamous

 

They also have the UK sales sensation known as Knack!

[The Sceneman]

Remember how GOW1 had that artsy trailer with that one song from that movie that nerds love to hype up in it?

It was a cover of Mad World by Tears for Fears iirc

[The Sceneman]

zzzZz more dudebro shooters!

Somebody's never had to euthanize their wife who's been put into a slave labor camp by a subterranean race.
(Image removed from quote.)

Nerds and critics (same thing really) praised the "emotion" shit in Gears 2, when in reality it played out like pre-teen fan fiction. So many lulz everytime that game tried to get serious.

[Smooth Groove]

Only interested if MS ports them over to PC

GOW1 was looked pretty nice on PC for its time

[AdmiralViscen]

But there's bound to be another GoW right? And when that gets announced it won't be meant with "no one cares". You missed my point. I could care less about a Gears or a GoW factory. Just because Judgement was seemingly meant with mehs dosen't mean people won't care about a whole new Gears. Ascension seem to come out and no one cared either, but a new GoW will be meant with excitement(for whatever reason).

Judgement was a very un-needed game and a bit tired, but really it was just "eh might as will fill out the release schedule and we have a contract" type of game. A cash grab on a easy investment.

you clearly missed the reaction to ascension's announcement

seems not

[Rahxephon91]

it's a very confusing statement.

How? Third in his infinite Sony fanboyism is trying to push this "who cares about Gears nonsense"? Why? Because Judgement was meet with a lukewarm reception? Just like Ascension, another prequel game? I don't believe anyone here wants to claim God of War is a dead series that no one cares about. The monument God of War 4 is announced people will be very excited regardless of how they felt about a cash in game. Just like they will when Gears 4 or whatever the next big and new Gears is announced.

[Yulwei]

lets hope this turns out better than the piece of worthless garbage known as halo 4 =))))))))))))))))))))

[Rahxephon91]

it's a very confusing statement.

How? Third in his infinite Sony fanboyism is trying to push this "who cares about Gears nonsense"? Why? Because Judgement was meet with a lukewarm reception? Just like Ascension, another prequel game? I don't believe anyone here wants to claim God of War is a dead series that no one cares about. The monument God of War 4 is announced people will be very excited regardless of how they felt about a cash in game. Just like they will when Gears 4 or whatever the next big and new Gears is announced.

that's why it's confusing, because i think almost everyone here will happily claim god of war is a dead series that no one cares about.  that was the sentiment here as far back as god of war 3, even.

you're getting ruffled by one of the bigger sonytards around, basically.

Oh, I didn't think we were talking about just members on thebore. Why would we? They don't like anything.

Either way, I'm sorry for getting rusttled.

[Diunx]

Great news for Himu, his insomniac days are almost over!

[chronovore]

It's going to turn out to be a smart move for MS. There's a lot invested in this game already, and its gameplay is substantially different than HALO, as is its theme. Franchises at MS get money not just through games, but novels and movies and animation and toys... I think this will pay off for them.

[Vertigo]

There still popular enough that they will do very well and there both locked down exclusives. I hope now that 343i has a clean slate they can do their Halo game. 4 had some good ideas but the shadow of Bungie hung over it like a bad smell.

As for Gears the world it's set in is ripe for a different approach to things. I missed the more horror style elements of the first Gears game. I hope Black Tusk can tap into that kind of mood again.