PlayStation Wasn’t The Only Company Interested In Acquiring Housemarque
Sony didn’t exactly surprise folks when it announced last month that it had acquired Returnal developer Housemarque. Still, it provided the company with a positive spin following the recent reveal that Microsoft is leveraging its acquisition of Bethesda to limit Starfield to PC and Xbox consoles. Housemarque almost didn’t fall into Sony’s pocket, though, as it’s been revealed that the PlayStation company almost lost the studio to various other companies interested in the developer.
In a recent interview with Yle.fi (H/T Comicbook), Housemarque co-founder Ilari Kuittinen spoke about the process the studio underwent during the acquisition process. According to Kuittinen, while the PlayStation company ended up being the one to seal the deal, multiple other companies were still vying for the proverbial studio’s hand up until Sony’s acquisition was a done deal. The identities of the other companies are not revealed in the interview, though Kuittinen mentions that they were the “usual suspects” one would expect from countries such as the US, Sweden, and China.
As for why Housemarque went with Sony, Kuittinen explained that Sony was interested in something the other suitors weren’t. “In our discussions, it became clear that Sony wanted to buy us because we are doing something that others are not doing,” Kuittinen said. This was compounded by the fact that Sony was willing to for the most part allow the studio its creative freedom to create what it wants to create. “Their starting point has not been that we would start making games according to the formula defined by Sony.” This could of course change over time, though for now Housemarque is still presumably working on what it wants to following the recent release of Returnal.
Returnal is now available exclusively for the PS5.
Thoughts on the PlayStation company’s acquisition of Housemarque? Let us know in the comments section below, and as always, stay tuned to Don’t Feed the Gamers for all the latest gaming and entertainment news! Don’t forget to follow DFTG on Twitter for our 24/7 news feed!
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Ryan "Cinna" Carrier3026 Posts
Ryan is the Lead Editor for Don't Feed the Gamers. When he isn't writing, Ryan is likely considering yet another playthrough of Final Fantasy IX. He's also the DFTG cinnamon bun.
