Insomniac Goes Multiplatform After 16 Years of Sony

[John Funk]

Insomniac Goes Multiplatform After 16 Years of Sony

For the past 16 years, Insomniac Games has developed exclusively for Sony platforms with games like Resistance and Ratchet & Clank. That's all about to change.

Insomniac has signed a deal with EA Partners - you know, the same program that Infinity Ward has Disruptor [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/100204-Infinity-Ward-Respawns-at-Respawn-UPDATED] on the original PlayStation in 1996.

No title or release window have been announced for this new franchise, but it is currently in development at the developer's Burbank location (and sadly, not just down the road here at the Durham, North Carolina office). "Working with EA Partners allows us to extend the reach of our games to a multiplatform audience while retaining ownership of the intellectual property," said Insomniac CEO Ted Price.

"We are excited and eager to introduce Insomniac to a new group of gamers while reinforcing to our loyal fans what makes our games special."

While Insomniac - makers of big-name Sony franchises like "for many years," [http://www.amazon.com/Spyro-Dragon-Playstation/dp/B00000I1BF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1276636698&sr=1-1] a blog post from Price reassured its PlayStation fans that the studio's ties to Sony were still strong:

"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 3 - projects that will take full advantage of our additional development time."

So no, it doesn't look like you Xbox 360 owners will be getting the new Ratchet & Clank games that you secretly covet - you do, admit it - but instead something completely new from the talented studio. Which is great! Multiplatform releases for all!

(Via Insomniac Blog [http://www.edge-online.com/news/insomniac-goes-multiplatform-with-ea])

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[Alar]

I never had the chance to play the Ratchet & Clank series, but it always looked interesting. Spyro the Dragon, on the other hand, was hella fun. I used to play that game whenever I could get my hands on a PlayStation. It was as much fun to me as Crash Bandicoot was (which was a lot of fun).

Good for you, Insomniac!

 

[Deofuta]

I also have not gotten the chance to play Ratchet and Clank. I grew up playing Spyro with my friends PS, and also enjoyed Jak and Daxter, which although was made from Naughty Dog, was very similar, correct?

Anyway, its nice to see more companies deciding to go multiplatform. Maybe I wont have to buy a ps3 now?

 

[midpipps]

I think I pretty much have every Insomniac game except for Disruptor. I believe if anyone can pull off multiplat games it would be insomniac. Nice for 360 owners that have not played the goodness that is insomniac to finally have a chance too.

 

[Truly-A-Lie]

Some of the comments over at the Insomniac blog are really pathetic. They're acting as if multiplatform means "last-gen" or something. I'm looking forward to what they're going to come up with, a new IP is always nice.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

There is no studio that I missed more when I chose my 360 over a PS3.

 

[Danpascooch]

More signs of the Hemorrhaging PS3, when FF moved on, I thought Sony was screwed.

 

[DoctorObviously]

Well, that last line sure did make me laugh. Multiplatform releases for all, yeah right. If every developer in the world weren't such money hungry douches we could all enjoy our video games and not buy ten million different consoles.

 

[midpipps]

More signs of the Hemorrhaging PS3, when FF moved on, I thought Sony was screwed.

I think you miss the point they are still planning on doing ps3 exclusive games and the games from insomniac that are on the ps3 are supposedly not going multiplat. They are just creating a new IP for multiplat. If you really want to point fingers like that ps3 fanboys could say about the same thing for XBox 360 and Bungie.

 

[Trivun]

If this means we'll get similar games to Spyro and Ratchet on the Xbox 360 then this can only be a good thing, even if we won't get those particular franchises on the system. I grew up with Spyro the Dragon, and the earlier Ratchet and Clank games, playing them on the family PS2. We still have that though in the next-gen I switched to Xbox over Playstation. If we end up with multi-platform games of that calibe then that's brilliant, and even better if it helps the cause against exclusitivity, which I've always been a strong advocate against.

 

[DividedUnity]

I think companies are enjoying fueling the console flamewar. Anyway I dont really care. AS long as they keep making good games then it doesnt matter if they arent exclusive.

 

[JeanLuc761]

NEW SPYRO game plox. I really, really want a Spyro game that's like the old ones, awesome and fun!

Hell, I'd buy it even if they just remade it with a graphical overhaul. Do want!

I loved Ratchet and Clank as well so here's hoping their next series is just as enjoyable.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

I'm going to go ahead and second this...

NEW SPYRO game plox. I really, really want a Spyro game that's like the old ones, awesome and fun!

I second this.

... Anyway I own a PS3 so this really doesn't affect me too much, apart from the graphics that are undeniably going to be downgraded so it can be played on the 360. But as long as they keep churning out the good stuff (I want my Resistance 3 damn it!) I'm fine.

 

[The DSM]

Please make an xbox Rachet and Clank game, please...

Its been forever sinse ive played it because my PS2 died...

 

[Jared]

Well, I suppose opens options for them, I would certainly welcome seeing some of there great games on 360!

 

[Eldarion]

While Insomniac - makers of big-name Sony franchises like Spyro the Dragon (the good ones)

I grew up on the spyro the dragon games.

 

[Marik2]

I'm looking forward to the games that Insomniac will do in the future. This deal is really a great way to get everyone a chance to play their new games.

 

[LiquidGrape]

...I need to dig out my playstation.