Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that it has acquired Sucker Punch Productions, developer of the inFamous and Sly Cooper games. Sucker Punch will now be part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS). In today’s press release, SCE WWS president Shuhei Yoshida said:
The addition of Sucker Punch to SCE WWS reiterates our dedication to developing world class gaming experiences that can only be found on the PlayStation platform. With one of the strongest exclusive software lineups in the PS3’s history, combined with the diverse, innovate content in the works for PlayStation Vita, consumers have a lot to be excited about this year.
This is a prudent move for Sony in light of one its other longtime exclusive development partners, Insomniac Games, developing for Xbox 360. Sucker Punch has a strong track record, but probably cost less to acquire than Insomniac or Naughty Dog would have. The acquisition locks in one of Sony’s top developers and, more importantly, keeps it away from the competition.
I’m thrilled for Sucker Punch and I hope a lot of the people in the company will be a bit richer when the acquisition is finalized. I’ve been playing the company’s games since 1999’s Rocket: Robot on Wheels and I’m a huge fan of the Sly Cooper games. The guys and gals at Sucker Punch deserve this reward.
How do you feel about Sony’s acquisition of Sucker Punch? Do you think that it’s money well spent? Are you afraid of the studio changing now that it has new people to answer to?
Great move by Sony. I hope that Sony doesn't go in and change things up to much except to throw more money their way. They make great games as it stands.
I've never cared for any of their games. I'm kinda meh on it.
I liked the first 2 Sly Cooper games. The 3rd one…..not so much. inFamous wasn't my favorite game either, but I haven't played the second one yet. Even still, it's a nice little pick up by SONY, especially since Insomniac decided to go multiplatform with their next release.
I never really played any of the games mentioned, but I am pretty much always against a developer being forced to change after being purchased by a larger company like this (either a publisher or producer). Not all situations like this will end poorly, but I feel that the negative effects of a publisher acquiring a developer seem to be what people remember the most, and those situations are what I am not in favor of.