Thursday news bombs

[MCD]

Sony to cut 5,000 jobs, split off PC, TV operations: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/06/us-sony-results-restructuring-idUSBREA1509A20140206?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=992637

Amazon Acquires Video Gaming Studio Double Helix Games: http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/05/amazon-acquires-video-gaming-studio-double-helix-games/

http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/5/5384672/report-double-helix-games-acquired-by-amazon

Update: In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson told Polygon that it will be working with a "new development partner" on Killer Instinct for Xbox One.

"We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Double Helix and wish them success in their next endeavor. We want all of our loyal fans to know that the Killer Instinct team at Microsoft is not changing and that the franchise will remain with Microsoft Studios. We remain dedicated to delivering a great experience and plan to announce our new development partner soon. We're excited about the future of this popular franchise."

[Bebpo]

And some guy (gameinformer?) tweets that MGSV is still 2 years away and might even be fall 2015/early 2016.

https://twitter.com/gibbogame/status/431308338618720256


But fwiw, I think there might be some mistranslation/interpreting going on here.  I could see fall 2015 if they feel it MUST be a fall/black friday game in order to sell huge, but it seems more like a quarter two 2015 year 2 next-gen software game to me.  MGS4 released around then (I think it came out in June) and sold millions on just one platform. 

[pilonv1]

Surprised MGSV is coming that soon

[fistfulofmetal]

So if Sony is getting out of the TV and PC market, beyond Games what else would they be doing?

[Bebpo]

Selling insurance

[Great Rumbler]

Amazon is getting into the game development business now? Not something I expect to see, that's for sure.

[Eel O'Brian]

 

So if Sony is getting out of the TV and PC market, beyond Games what else would they be doing?

Movies and music

[Rufus]

Movies and Music, too. And consumer audio, video, cameras as well as assorted stuff on the production end.

They won't disappear that easily, though it would be funny if only their entertainment and financial arms survived, with the electronics sold off to Samsung or whoever else might want it.

[Himu]

What happens to PlayStation brand when Sony dies in 2016?

[Rufus]

IF they die, which is unlikely, it'll be bought by someone or just die and disappear. The usual. Maybe they'll end up like Atari, with someone else entirely wearing the Playstation face.

[Himu]

Sony is said to having  iirc and 80% chance of going bankrupt in the next two years. But that report could be bull crap.

[AdmiralViscen]

Going bankrupt doesn't mean they won't exist anymore. GM went bankrupt in 2009.

Amazon is getting into the game development business now? Not something I expect to see, that's for sure.

They are coming out with a console this fall, supposedly.

[Himu]

Mm. True.

[Great Rumbler]

Amazon is getting into the game development business now? Not something I expect to see, that's for sure.

They are coming out with a console this fall, supposedly.

A Linux microconsole?

[AdmiralViscen]

Amazon is getting into the game development business now? Not something I expect to see, that's for sure.

They are coming out with a console this fall, supposedly.

A Linux microconsole?

Sub-$300 Ouya

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

I know every financial guru thinks that Amazon is above reproach, but seriously, WTF?

They already have their own hardware platform (Kindle) which is doing very well, they would be best off building on that success in an already booming market rather then building a console and entering a struggling/hyper-competitive one.

I just don't get it.

[D3RANG3D]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=764618

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

 

[bork]

I still can't believe that's real! 

[radioheadrule83]

I know every financial guru thinks that Amazon is above reproach, but seriously, WTF?

They already have their own hardware platform (Kindle) which is doing very well, they would be best off building on that success in an already booming market rather then building a console and entering a struggling/hyper-competitive one.

I just don't get it.

Me either. They should really only enter if they're going to do something different. Sharing the Kindle name among e-readers and tablets was probably a wise move to boost their Fire tablets, but it doesn't fill me with confidence that we're not getting a forked ouya with its own walled shop or something. Maybe they just want the £50k a day Flappy Bird folk, who knows

[Purple Filth]

So if Sony is getting out of the TV and PC market, beyond Games what else would they be doing?

Actually they are still in the TV market somewhat since its going to be a subsidiary, should be interesting to see how it pans out.


And after the attempt with the Fire ( )  i'm also interested to see how this Amazon thing will pan out

[radioheadrule83]

So if Sony is getting out of the TV and PC market, beyond Games what else would they be doing?

Actually they are still in the TV market somewhat since its going to be a subsidiary, should be interesting to see how it pans out.

High end TV market has gotta be a niche surely... probably profitable when they're charging thousands for the best sets though.

Having a more focused dependency on things like the gaming division might be a risk considering there's a real prospect retail-based gaming will continue to shrink, forcing us to go from the traditional hardware model to a more flexible account-based model. When it comes to TVs, phones and computers - I don't understand why Sony fancy themselves as some sort of prestige brand, when they could quite easily be raking it in like the Samsungs, Acers and HTCs of the world

[tiesto]

I just don't know why prestige brands for consumer electronics effectively dried up these past few years... I'd kill for a TV that followed in the footsteps of the Kuro, for instance. Where all the audiophiles/videophiles at?

[AdmiralViscen]

I know every financial guru thinks that Amazon is above reproach, but seriously, WTF?

They already have their own hardware platform (Kindle) which is doing very well, they would be best off building on that success in an already booming market rather then building a console and entering a struggling/hyper-competitive one.

I just don't get it.

It's an Android console, they are tapping into the portion of the gaming market that is growing. I guess they feel that there will be some who like the dedicated controller and big TV format of gaming who still want access to $2 games, and this will fill that niche?

[MrAngryFace]

The latest Killer Instinct is fuckin legit

[chronovore]

Selling insurance

Yeah, wasn't that the most profitable division of Sony a year or two ago?

[thisismyusername]

Selling insurance

Yeah, wasn't that the most profitable division of Sony a year or two ago?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/28/business/global/sonys-bread-and-butter-its-not-electronics.html