Tue, Mar 02, 2010 | 18:44 GMT
Sony buys Media Molecule
Sony’s announced it has bought LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule.
The buy is a “strategic move to continue to secure excellence in game development for current and future PlayStation platforms.”
SCE WorldWide studios boss Shuhei Yoshida said the developer has become “a truly exciting and innovative studio”.
“The acquisition will enhance the talent pool within SCE, protect past and current investment and ensure a solid base for future investment. Media Molecule have exciting projects in the pipeline and we’re looking forward to sharing these with you in the not too distant future,” said Senior Vice President of WWS Europe Michael Denny, speaking in a post on the EU PS Blog.
“Since Media Molecule’s inception, we’ve had a uniquely close relationship with Sony,” said MM co-founder, Alex Evans.
“Over the years they have consistently shown their dedication to Creative Gaming and Media Molecule, not only through their support of the company, but their willingness to take risks and embrace our often unusual approach and ideas.”
The developer released the original LBP on PS3 in 2008, with a PSP spin-off released last year. The press release says over 2 million user-created levels have been developed for the original version on PS3.
LBP PS3 also won two BAFTAs and eight AIAS awards.
PR below.
Acclaimed developer of multi-million selling LittleBigPlanet™ joins Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios
London, 2nd March 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it had acquired leading game developer Media Molecule, creator of the multi-million selling and multi-award winning PlayStation®3 (PS3™) exclusive title, LittleBigPlanet™. Media Molecule will join as part of SCE’s global development operation, SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS).
In a strategic move to continue to secure excellence in game development for current and future PlayStation® platforms, the acquisition of Media Molecule formalises the successful exclusive relationship with SCE.
Media Molecule, based in Surrey, England, is the award-winning developer of LittleBigPlanet, one of the best-selling titles for PS3, a game that introduced gamers to the unique ethos of Play, Create and Share. Having seen over 2m user generated levels created for the community to download and play for free, LittleBigPlanet has completely changed the way people interact with games, whilst revolutionising the longevity of gameplay.
Having won over 90 awards for LittleBigPlanet, including 2 BAFTAs and 8 AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards, Media Molecule brings a wealth of experience and a highly talented staff into the SCE WWS family that will further strengthen the PlayStation first party studio.
“Since they burst onto the gaming scene, Media Molecule have proved to be a truly exciting and innovative studio, who have proved their world-class credentials with the creation of the incredible LittleBigPlanet,” said Shuhei Yoshida, President, SCE Worldwide Studios. “SCE WWS is all about creating ambitious, innovative and ground breaking games, traits that Media Molecule clearly have. To bring them into our family proves our dedication to creating fantastic new experiences that we believe will cement our position as industry leaders.”
“Since Media Molecule’s inception, we’ve had a uniquely close relationship with Sony. Over the years they have consistently shown their dedication to Creative Gaming and Media Molecule, not only through their support of the company, but their willingness to take risks and embrace our often unusual approach and ideas.” said Alex Evans, co-founder of Media Molecule. “What we’ve achieved already with LittleBigPlanet has proved this to us and we’re excited by this new chapter of innovation and creative gaming, for all involved.”
Studios across the SCE WWS network share technology, production methodology and creative goals to build the best possible experiences for users to enjoy the most from the PlayStation family of hardware platforms and network services. With over 2,500 employees, SCE WWS combines the talents of 15 game development studios in Japan, the USA, the UK and The Netherlands.
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Posted in: Hot, PS3, Sony
Tags: littlebigplanet, media molecule
32 comments
#1
Syrok
02/03/10, 5:05 pm
You are quick!
#2
Goliath
02/03/10, 5:07 pm
Congratueffinglations!
#3
mescalineeyes
02/03/10, 5:11 pm
this only made sense.
#4
Gekidami
02/03/10, 5:11 pm
Wonder if they’ll do the same with Quantic Dream.
#5
mescalineeyes
02/03/10, 5:11 pm
also obligatory OM NOM NOM NOM
#6
Bulk Slash
02/03/10, 5:13 pm
If you’re going to be bought by a big multi-national, Sony seem to be the ones to go to. If you’re bought by EA or Activision you can expect to be making the same game every year for the rest of your life (or at least until the game fails to make a profit, then they close the studio).
#7
mescalineeyes
02/03/10, 5:13 pm
Wonder if they’ll do the same with Quantic Dream.
Heavy Rain seems to be doing splendidly, so I’d say it’s nigh a given.
#8
Herlock
02/03/10, 5:18 pm
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!!!
#9
Razor
02/03/10, 5:19 pm
I doubt SCE can afford QD. They have huge overheads, I’d imagine.
#10
DaMan
02/03/10, 5:22 pm
@7 just because HR was doing good for a week in UK doesn’t mean the overall sales will be good, you know.
#11
AHA-Lambda
02/03/10, 5:27 pm
Nice
Infact I’m suprised they hadn’t done it sooner.
And yeah Sony buy QD!
#12
Johnny Cullen
02/03/10, 5:31 pm
Awesome stuff, innit. LittleBigPlanet was nothing short of outstanding.
Added a quote from Michael Denny’s PS Blog post, btw.
#13
Dannybuoy
02/03/10, 5:34 pm
that has got to be a good thing for PS3 owners… Can we expect some quality Arc games from MM then?
#14
Johnny Cullen
02/03/10, 5:42 pm
Danny – LBP already supports Arc.
As for new stuff, if LBP supports it, I don’t see why new stuff can’t.
#15
Syrok
02/03/10, 5:49 pm
Arc gameplay. There was also talk of LBP 2 being shown at E3. Could of course be a small standalone game to launch with Arc.
#16
Patrick Garratt
02/03/10, 5:53 pm
Considering GDC’s next week this is awfully convenient, isn’t it?
#17
Hunam
02/03/10, 5:59 pm
Having LBP2 as a pack in with Arc would be a great idea to launch the platform, lets hope they do it.
#18
SunKing
02/03/10, 6:01 pm
Good for them. I’ve heard great things from LittleBigPlanet, and they are more than deserving of being bought.
#19
The Hindle
02/03/10, 6:02 pm
Alex Evans stated LBP 2 would be counterproductive to what LBP stands for guys. I think thier next project will be a new ip.
#20
Yoshi
02/03/10, 6:21 pm
They pretty much already bought them with the support they gave MM
#21
Dannybuoy
02/03/10, 6:26 pm
Just retro fitting arc controls to LBP would be enough for me. I get queezy thinking about the possibilities. Create levels would be much easier to create. Whatever. Just bring on that good stuff Sony. I know you’ve got it lined up!
#22
bugmenot
02/03/10, 6:32 pm
now we know why they downsized studio liverpool! a much better investment i reckon
#23
Johnny Cullen
02/03/10, 7:04 pm
bugmenot – Ouch. :/
#24
Razor
02/03/10, 7:09 pm
I don’t think it has much to do with Liverpool. You can’t have a 100+ team like Liverpool was, just to make PSN games. Makes zero sense.
#25
Erthazus
02/03/10, 7:45 pm
10 bucks that they will buy Quantic Dream and Microsoft will buy Remedy
#26
Psychotext
02/03/10, 7:56 pm
I’ll take that bet. What’s the timescale?
#27
Gekidami
02/03/10, 8:03 pm
2 or 3 years if it does happen i’d say.
#28
Erthazus
02/03/10, 8:11 pm
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!! Official MM site:
We’re getting married! 2010March 2nd.
After a whirlwind romance, and one beautiful child together, we are immensely excited to announce our engagement to our long term best friend and life partner, Sony Computer Entertainment!
#29
cookiejar
02/03/10, 8:25 pm
Nice. Makes sense to me.
For those talking about QD, don’t Sony own the Heavy Rain IP anyway?
If they wished, they could take it to another developer if something ever occurred, not saying it would be any good though. QD are brilliant.
#30
Eregol
02/03/10, 9:04 pm
I’d like to know what Media Molecule are up to at the moment.
What could they possibly be making?
Are they now Sony’s answer to Rare?
#31
bluemanrule
02/03/10, 10:19 pm
It appears Sony continues to augment its strength, strong 2nd and 1st party studios. Glad to see it. I’m waiting to get LBP as I just purchased a PS3 at January’s end. I’ve played all exclusives so far and its a great gaming console.
#32
Blerk
03/03/10, 8:42 am
I’m only surprised it’s taken this long!