This week’s news of Microsoft shutting down several studios – including Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin – has left an especially sour taste in the mouth of pretty much everybody. It’s the latest entry into the acquisition fallout saga – which seems to be one of the biggest hits in the video game industry right now. Activision Blizzard’s post-acquisition cuts, Embracer group ruthlessly gutting studios it’s bought. It begs the question – why would CEOs even want to sell their studios to one of these massive companies right now?
To find out, we reached out to various CEOs and founding members of independent studios to give their thoughts, under an assurance of anonymity. The answers we got back will likely match your assumptions; if it can be avoided, an acquisition is absolutely something to avoid. This is especially the case now, with the bruises of recent news still sore, but recent reports have also emboldened pre-existing sentiments on the matter.
One source – when asked if they’d want to be acquired by Microsoft or Sony right now, even with the huge influx of cash that would bring – painted a clear picture.
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