Insomniac signs multiformat EA deal

By Robert Purchese Published 25 May, 2010

Resistance dev eyes up 360 for first time.

Resistance and Ratchet & Clank maker Insomniac Games has signed a publishing deal with EA Partners.

This covers the studio's "upcoming, all-new franchise" that will be developed for PS3 and, for very first time, Xbox 360. Insomniac will own the IP.

This will be the first multiplatform release in Insomniac's 16-year history; the developer has preferred to snuggle up to Sony.

Ted Price told GamesIndustry.biz that Insomniac and EA Partners have been chatting for "a while". Xbox 360 development tools are being created now, but Price wouldn't reveal how long the studio has been working with the console.

Sony has apparently been "incredibly supportive" and will continue to work with Insomniac, presumably on more Resistance or Ratchet & Clank games.

Insomniac's new project is unnamed and has no ship date. All we know is that the PS3 and Xbox 360 game will be set in "a brand new universe".

Resistance 2 commanded a dizzying 9/10 from Eurogamer in late 2008. Ratchet & Clank, meanwhile, has continued to be a visual benchmark for what can be achieved on PS3, although the latest instalment, A Crack in Time, fell a little short of essential.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • DoctorFouad #1 2 years ago

    Wow

    But I think this kind of news is not that surprising anymore...

    in this generation we are living the multiplatform era, going multiplatform simply increases a lot the sales of a video game (FF13) sometimes doubling the sales (GTA4, Call of Duty)

    Publishers and developers can no longer ignore this fact : going multiplatform = more profit

    Bungie understood this, and now Insomniac.

    I think that prior to this next gen era (ps2/xbox1/GC era and before) exclusive games were a viable option for a very economic simple reason : creating video games wasnt that expensive (e.g GTA3 cost 2 million $) so buying exclusives wasnt that expensive too (I suppose buying GTA3 exclusivity at that time didnt exceed a couple hundred of thousand $ if sony ever bought its exclusivity). In contrast GTA 4 cost maybe more than 100 million $ to produce, having the game on 360 (non exclusive title) cost microsoft 60 million $, if Sony wanted the exclusivity of GTA4 it must pay more than that...and for sure sony prefer for 100 million $ founding a new studio, buying a new studio, or simply funding its own games than simply taking the risk of buying an exclusive game for a prohibitive cost.


    I think the only way to secure exclusive games today is simply to publish them ! because buying exclusives is commercially a non viable option today.
    Edited by DoctorFouad at 25/05/10 @ 16:36

  • MiniAmin #2 2 years ago

    Excellent news. I don't own a PS3 but I enjoyed playing Resistance 2 on my friend's console. IIRC Resistance 1 had a very enjoyable split-screen mode as well. Looking forward to some Insomniac goodness on the 360 too!

  • karooo #3 2 years ago

    ooh nice :D anyways hope R3 comes out for the PS3.

  • NotSoSlim #4 2 years ago

    Good on them, best of both worlds. Plus Sony don't really lose out and gamers win

  • menage #5 2 years ago

    Damn, never expected that.

    @designersheadache

    +1

    R&C was awesome, especially compared to the lame prequel. R2 not so much.
    Edited by menage at 25/05/10 @ 16:14

  • des #6 2 years ago

    traitors

  • RobotRocker #7 2 years ago

    SONY DEFENCE FORCE ACTIVATE

  • Geordiemp #8 2 years ago

    ^^

    A crack in time was excellent, 60 fps large enviroments and great animations and graphics, and played wonderfully as a shooter / brawler. Make Ratchet a marine, give him a tough look, M4 and sword and some badass and it would be the next coming of c...st...

    I think it got marked down by Ellie saying it was too similar to last one. No one says that about COD 8.

    Good developer, will probably get allot out of 360 than many of the lazier multiplat devs.
    Edited by Geordiemp at 25/05/10 @ 16:16

  • Les #9 2 years ago

    Can't really blame them. Those shiny pixels don't pay for themselves.

  • Doctor_What #10 2 years ago

    Great news for 360 owners. Resistance is a brilliant co-op shooter (though I wasn't very fussed by R2).

    Insomniac have made some great games over the years, so let's hope they can keep the magic going without having to compromise to cover two platforms instead of one.

  • cianchristopher #11 2 years ago

    Resistance is a shit series.

    Ratchet & Clank is quite good, though.

    Insomniac are alright, but they're no Naughty Dog. That's for sure...

  • monkeywithnoeyes #12 2 years ago

    not quite as big as Bungie joining Activision.. but not bad

  • Geordiemp #13 2 years ago

    Resistance 2 had like 100 enemies on screen and huge maps, shame when playing 2 player as you really needed 3 and playing as the medic was crap.

    Good technically thoiugh.

  • RedSparrows #14 2 years ago

    I wonder if this is like the Bungie + Acti + an IP deal, or whole hog?

  • Flying_Pig #15 2 years ago

    A big loss for Sony IMO - Insomniac are a brillant developer, although provided they continue to make excellent games, I'll be a happy piggy.

  • cianchristopher #16 2 years ago

    "Resistance 2 had like 100 enemies on screen and huge maps"

    Yeah, but those enemies had absolutley no AI whatsoever. None. Nada. Zero. Zilch.

    Pointless game! One that got a higher profile than it ever should have due to being an exclusive. If it were multiplatform from the get-go it would be about as fondly remembered as Timeshift or Section 8....

  • NotSoSlim #17 2 years ago

    Wish people would read....its for the new IP

    All other games will still be exclusive so Sony lose what exactly? Gamers win here
    Edited by NotSoSlim at 25/05/10 @ 16:23

  • LostGamer #18 2 years ago

    No Resistance 3 for 2010 then?

  • kimchibaka #19 2 years ago

    Good news for the 360 owners out there, Insomniac games are always entertaining and must-buys for me. And us PS3 owners know we won't get short-changed with a slightly inferior version.

    ACiT was brilliant and just what any Ratchet fan could want...more of the same done pretty well perfectly, the only reason I recall from the review on here it got marked down.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #20 2 years ago

    These are the days of multiplatform games, and Insomniac clearly know that their Sony loyalty over the years, while nice in a corporate schmoozy way, has earned them little. The Resistance was cool in its own right, but never was on all gamers lips like other series. As for Ratchet and Clank, okay for some, but never my cup of tea.

    I'll look forward to seeing what their talent can bring to 360.

  • RodHull #21 2 years ago

    If only Naughty Dog would join the dark side as well. Achieve me up, Drake!

  • andywilkie35 #22 2 years ago

    Oh god this article even linked the appalling review of Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time. Anyone who has a PS3 should own that game.

  • GamesConnoisseur #23 2 years ago

    Good news for everyone Inc PS3 owners, as more sales from wider audience meant more money going into games in the future.

    As for Resistance series being shit, fully disagreed as the first one was a good start to the franchise but the follow up was very disappointing IMO. Unkilllable man-fish and other questionable game designs decisions made it felt a backward step.

    Rachet and Clank, that always been fun and continues to enjoy them but would be keen to see what new franchise we ll be playing?

    Hints?!

  • Lunastra78 #24 2 years ago

    Looking forward to seeing a new franchise by Insomniac! Whatever genre it is I'm sure it will have some very imaginative gadgets and weapons.

  • Markitron #25 2 years ago

    PS3 owners get bungie games and 360 get insomniac games. Everybody wins, take that console wars!!

  • Monkey_Puncher #26 2 years ago

    Not a big fan of Insomniac's output of late, would have got excited if it was Naughty Dog though.

  • Instinct #27 2 years ago

    Thought the news would hit during E3, but knew it was coming. Glad they are creating a new I.P., since their current two haven't really caught my interest.

  • NotSoSlim #28 2 years ago

    Sony own Naughty Dog, don't they?

  • Feanor #29 2 years ago

    "Resistance 2 commanded a dizzying 9/10 from Eurogamer in late 2008."

    Unexplainable isn't spelled like that.

  • MaoZedong #30 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:40:08 17-12-2011

  • Syrette #31 2 years ago

    Cool beans.

  • DoctorFraud #32 2 years ago

    Sensible decision Insomniac.

    Now you are free of your PS3 shackles you can actually make some money on your projects.

  • FenderMaster #33 2 years ago

    i say this with no saltyness whatsoever: i always felt Insomniac were a little bit average. i never found ratchet and clank or resistance very compelling, they controlled great, looked gorgeous and all, but they just felt kind of forgettable.

    Resistance 1 and the PSP version were great, but they just didn't leave that much of a lasting impression.

    great that they get to spread their wings and provide more fun, polished games for 360 and PS3 though!

  • Goodfella #34 2 years ago

    @android123

    Please stfu with your 360 fanboy comments and read the article, Resistance 3 will not be going to the 360.

  • alcides #35 2 years ago

    Pachter said you heard it here first.

    I love the guy, such a flamebait. But most of the time he makes sense. Not that he's right most of the time...

  • lockload #36 2 years ago

    Resistance is average at best

  • Retroid #37 2 years ago

    Interesting.

  • Retroid #38 2 years ago

    Resistance 1 was a nice surprise for me as a PS3 launch game and was great fun in co-op. The story was an interesting twist on convention too, and the designs.

  • Steroyd #39 2 years ago

    I'm relieved they didn't snuggle up with Activision.

  • Dizzy #40 2 years ago

    Good news.. I always found Insomniac one of those companies that makes good games that not enough people buy. Multiplatform could really help them a lot.
    Edited by Dizzy at 25/05/10 @ 19:28

  • toy_brain #41 2 years ago

    "Best thing about this news is that there will be no lazy ports, unlike certain other developers."

    Heh, that was my first thought too.
    Its win-win for everyone I suppose. 360 owners get to sample some Insomniac gameplay, and PS3 owners won't be denied it either, and are guaranteed not to be landed with a shitty port.
    (Will be super-interesting to read the DF article when it comes out).

  • makeamazing #42 2 years ago

    I liked RS1 compared to RS2 (which i really didnt like)...

    I am surprised Sony didnt buy them, but i dont see this as bad news, they have a chance of growing their market, selling more titles and making more money, while still developing exclusives for Sony... to me this sounds good.

  • Mnia786 #43 2 years ago

    Disappointing but understandable. At least the PS3 version should be up to scratch with the 360 version if not better as Insomniac have had ample time and opportunity to dev for the ps3 :)

  • MizzouGaming #44 2 years ago

    SONY Fanboy (1)- "Meh, Resistance series was awful from the get-go. Nothing but uninspired rubbish that didn't utilize teh mighty cell in any possible way."

    5 year old girl- "Don't cry, I believe Resistance 3 will remain an exclusive to the PS3."

    SONY Fanboy (1)- "RESISTANCE PWNS, and NOT POSSIBLE on 360!"

    Disturbed onlooker- "Dude, give the little girl back her lollipop"

  • alcides #45 2 years ago

    this is a loss for SONY in terms of qualified manpower.

    Did they train Insomniacs with cross-studio help too? Well EA would reap benefits from that.

  • MaoZedong #46 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:40:08 17-12-2011

  • arn #47 2 years ago

    Wow, this is great news. Here is hope for a new action-platformer similar to the Rachet games. Xbox really needs a decent platformer.

  • Quint2020 #48 2 years ago

    Huh, I actually thought they were owned by Sony.

  • Mr_Bogus #49 2 years ago

    Quick everyone, put on your Gladiator giant pointing fingers - Another One Bites The Dust is starting!

  • chessboxer #50 2 years ago

    The deal (like Bungie and Activision's) is for a single game. Ted Price confirmed this in an interview.

  • Chazmeister #51 2 years ago

    All these devs going multiplatform are making me wonder what's going to happen when the next gen of consoles goes into creation. Will platform exclusives still exist, will we see the main console parties get together to agree on a common set of hardware features? It makes me wonder, because I just can't see the current console wars thing go yet another round, especially with the development costs of games running into the multi millions now.