Giant Bomb News

Insomniac's New Property Will Be Multiplatform

by Brad Nicholson on May 25, 2010
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New property, new console.

Insomniac Games announced this morning that it has inked a publishing deal with EA Partners for a new, unannounced franchise which is slated to hit the Xbox 360 and the PS3. This is sort of a big deal, one of those profound moments in videogame history. When this game launches--it doesn't have a ship date yet--it'll be the first time the studio has dropped a game on a platform not owned by Sony. They've racked up 16 years of exclusivity. That's crazy nowadays.

In a letter to Insomniac fans via Insomniac's official website, company CEO and founder Ted Price breaks the news in a friendlier way, promising quality with this new franchise that I--and I'm sure a couple of you--associate with Insomniac's other properties like Ratchet & Clank and Resistance.

"Today, we’re excited to announce that we have created a brand new universe and franchise for you to experience in the coming years," Price wrote. "As we develop it, one of our goals is to provide an awesome experience for as many players as possible. With that in mind, we’re working with EA Partners to bring this title to both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360."

In case you were wondering, this announcement doesn't mean the end of PlayStation exclusivity for Insomniac. In the same letter, Price says the relationship between the studio and hardware manufacturer is still good. "We know many of you are extremely loyal to the PlayStation family, and especially to Resistance and Ratchet & Clank. We are too. Our relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment is still very strong, and continues as we develop additional projects exclusively for PlayStation--projects that will take full advantage of our additional development time."

Sony talked with VG247 earlier this morning and it said much the same. “Sony Computer Entertainment and Insomniac Games will continue to build upon a strong, successful 14-year partnership that has led to more than 35 million games sold and enjoyed by fans around the world. We look forward to unveiling Insomniac’s next PS3 exclusive properties in the near future.”

I can see dudes getting angry over this because they feel like Insomniac owes it to them to stay tied to the PlayStation brand. I don't see a reason to be like that. A hip studio is making a game that can be played by an even bigger audience than it usually caters to. I think we should celebrate this and get pumped about this new franchise together -- because, at the end of the day, we're getting a new Insomniac game. What do you say?

Update: In an interview with Joystiq, Price says that this deal is simply for a game, not a franchise; however, it's plain that there is a hope to spin this property into a franchise. In the same chat, EA Partners global marketing VP Craig Rechenmacher adds: "... we're announcing a one-game deal, but our job is to make this first product a massive success. And if we do that, this is gonna be a long-term relationship."

90 Comments

metalsnakezero

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Edited By metalsnakezero

Looking forward to what Insomniac has in store for both PS3 and 360.

13 years ago

NickM

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Edited By NickM

Bungie is going PS3! Insomniac is going 360! Cats and dogs living together! Mass hysteria!

13 years ago

RE_Player1

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Edited By RE_Player1

Cool. I don't have a 360 but I'm glad that 360 owners can see how talented the Insomniac guys are.

13 years ago

Pocky4Th3Win

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Edited By Pocky4Th3Win

@Cube said:

" @get2sammyb said:
" @Cube said:
" Not good for Sony. "
Why not? New game is a PS3 game too silly-billy. "
They just lost a trusted partner making exclusives for 16 years. "

No they didn't. Insomniac will still make Resistence and Rachet & Clank games for Sony. They still have a partnership to produce exclusive titles for Sony.

What the news report didn't clearly state is the Insomniac has 2 studios, one on the West Coast and another on the East. Only the new East Coast studio is developing multiplatform titles.

13 years ago

FunExplosions

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Edited By FunExplosions

Did someone say third-person action-adventure? Come on. We all know it's gonna be that.

13 years ago

UselessNinjaMan

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Edited By UselessNinjaMan

Who wants to bet that whatever franchise it is, it's STILL not coming out for the PC? *sigh*

13 years ago

buzz_killington

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Edited By buzz_killington

Does this mean Jeff or Brad (Shoemaker) are never going to post news again???

13 years ago

PufferFiz

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Edited By PufferFiz

@Spankmealotus said:

" i don't find this all that much of a "big deal". "

HOLY FUCK THIS

The shit surrounding this makes not want to follow video games since it is so embarrassing to see you people so fucking partisan about everything.

13 years ago

GoodKn1ght

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Edited By GoodKn1ght

Who's Brad Nicholson?

13 years ago

get2sammyb

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Edited By get2sammyb

@omgJOHN said:

"I mean, Sony is bereft of exclusive quality titles as it is, there are some for sure, but not to the same degree as other consoles. It would be a bad idea on Sony's part to pull some support from Insomniac, especially after so many years of loyal work. I mean, they've created some of Sony's most recognizable franchises. That's got to be worth something. "

I know I'm surely coming across as a bit of a Sony loyalist in this thread, so I probably should step back (even though I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a big Playstation fan) but -- did you just say Sony is bereft of exclusive titles? Are you still in 2007? Sony's got (with or without Insomniac) the strongest first-party line-up in the industry bar-none. I'd even go as far as to say they're one of the (if not the) strongest publishers in the industry right now.

I'm biased maybe, but bereft. Really?

@PufferFiz said:

" @Spankmealotus said:
" i don't find this all that much of a "big deal". "
HOLY FUCK THIS The shit surrounding this makes not want to follow video games since it is so embarrassing to see you people so fucking partisan about everything. "

As far as I've seen the reaction in here (and around most of the Internet) has been very fair. I've seen no shit-storming or "embarassing" comments. Generally, whatever anyone's opinion or concerns -- 99% of posts I've read seem stoked for Insomniac and excited for a new game from them.

13 years ago

rawrz

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Edited By rawrz

The worlds becoming all kinds of crazy. A Bungie game will be on the PS3, an Insomniac game will be on the 360. Cool.

13 years ago

WickedFather

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Edited By WickedFather

@masterpaperlink said:

" hopefully its not an fps "

Definitely not. The 360 needs a great series of platform games, it's part of the reason I've given it up.

13 years ago

TheGreatGuero

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Edited By TheGreatGuero

This is awesome news. I've always been a big fan of their work, and considering I don't own a PS3, I'm glad to see them coming to the 360.

13 years ago

MetalGearSunny

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Edited By MetalGearSunny

It depends on what kind of game it is. If it's anything like Ratchet and Clank, I'm in. If it's like Resistance, eh...

13 years ago

KingdomHearts93

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Edited By KingdomHearts93

I wonder what they release now that they can develop multi platform games

13 years ago

Bionicicide

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Edited By Bionicicide

Would've liked a hint to the new IP. :(

13 years ago

MachoFantastico

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Edited By MachoFantastico

Look forward to see what they'll do.

13 years ago

FCKSNAP

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Edited By FCKSNAP

@Cube said:

" @odintal said:
" @Cube said:
" @get2sammyb said:
" @Cube said:
" Not good for Sony. "
Why not? New game is a PS3 game too silly-billy. "
They just lost a trusted partner making exclusives for 16 years. "
Who will continue to make games for their system. "
But they aren't exclusives. Exclusives move systems, Sony cares about that. I am not really a fan of Insomniac as of late so I don't mind it myself (not that any consumer should see it as a bad thing anyways). "

They're still making exclusives. They opened up a new studio in South Carolina late last year to make games and this is probably why.

13 years ago

KinjiroSSD

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Edited By KinjiroSSD

Not like its a 360 exclusive guys. The game will be on PS3 as well. With their PS3 knowledge, you know it won't be inferior but probably superior until Insomniac gains experience working with the 360. A good game is a good game regardless.

Unless you have Sony or Microsoft stock, stop acting like it deeply affects your life.

13 years ago

Afroman269

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Edited By Afroman269

AWWW GAWD!!! IT SHULD BE PS3 XCLUSIV!!!!!

13 years ago

canucks23

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Edited By canucks23

Ugh i hate when people talk about IP's going to the 360 that Sony owns... It's going to be a brand new ip, not something that used to be exclusive ffs.

13 years ago

Spoonman671

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Edited By Spoonman671

This is a good thing. Insomniac has been forced to release a game every single year because their sales on a single platform simply aren't enough to extend their development cycle. This is the reason why Resistance 2 was such an unpolished product, but hopefully the increased revenue from a multiplatform release will result in a better Resistance 3. That said, R&C: A Crack in Time was amazing.

Notice the blue username, please.

13 years ago

WaywardGamer

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Edited By WaywardGamer

@get2sammyb: I would have to agree with you on this wholeheartedly. Sony is not in 2007 anymore. Bereft is a little ridiculous. Even though, neither the 360 or the PS3 has much of an exclusivity hold over the other anymore. The biggest problem for Sony is likely the amount of its catalogue that has been ported from what was a 360 exclusive at one point. But besides that, the Wii really draws the most unique exclusives these days because the chances of their games being ported are so slim.

Otherwise, this is great news. I always like to hear that a good developer has some new IP brewing.

13 years ago

roughplague

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Edited By roughplague

I'm really looking forward to Insomniac's multiplatform title, I'm just wondering if the xbox owners that may have been in a lack of a ps2 (or a psp) would know who Insomniac is. Many have probably gotten into next generation, buying an xbox cuz of price in comparison to the ps3, and have missed out on the many games from the ps2 era, including insomniac games, and as they have only owned the xbox, they would know what for example resistance is.
Though some ps3 owners that are fan of their work may get a little pissed off, nothing bad can come out of making the games availible for other console owners, essentially giving more players the oppotunity to play the games.

13 years ago

Jinto

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Edited By Jinto

This is an ironic counter to Bungies departure from Microsoft. Either camp wins with one going to Activision and the other to rival EA.

13 years ago

sickVisionz

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Edited By sickVisionz

@masterpaperlink said:

" hopefully its not an fps "

Same here, but I'd broaden it to shooter in general. There's like 50 bajillion shooters available on both consoles. The last thing we need is 50 bajillion and one.

13 years ago

ryanwho

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Edited By ryanwho

So I guess this means denial press releases are completely full of shit and anyone who quotes them for "proof" something isn't happening is equally full of shit.

13 years ago

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Edited By PJ

Its crazy that it took this long for Insomniac to make a game for the 360, after all, name another independent studio thats anywhere near as big as Insomniac that doesn't make multi-platform titles(don't say Remedy because they are about as small of a team as you can be nowadays).
But I guess that having Sony at your back kept them aflote longer then they would have been otherwise.
But other then R&C:F, Insomniacs games this gen have been extreamly uninterresting to me. Resistance was downright insultingly boring.
Hope this one will be any good.

13 years ago

McQuinn

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Edited By McQuinn

I will be glad as long as they continue to pump out high quality and fun games.

13 years ago

allhailthetv

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Edited By allhailthetv

More people get Insomniac games, Insomniac makes more money. It's a win-win situation here, people.

This is one of the few times the fanboys aren't making me ashamed to own the PS3. They've been unusually calm about this.

13 years ago

jakob187

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Edited By jakob187

Well, it looks like the Resistance 3 and/or Ratchet & Clank rumors for E3 aren't going to be true. Nonetheless, anything from Insomniac that I get to play on a 360 is MORE than welcome. = D

13 years ago

ryanwho

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Edited By ryanwho

@allhailthetv said:

" More people get Insomniac games, Insomniac makes more money. It's a win-win situation here, people. This is one of the few times the fanboys aren't making me ashamed to own the PS3. They've been unusually calm about this. "

Certain parts of the net are exploding, but if you have any sense you already wrote "thar be dragons" on that part of your internet map and never returned.

13 years ago

Andorski

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Edited By Andorski

While I wouldn't want another R&C game (ACiT ended the series very well), I hope Insomniac goes to work on a game just like it. Aside from Nintendo and Mario, the mascot platformer is a dead genre that I hope comes back in style.

13 years ago