Epic Games Signs Microsoft Publishing Deal

Thanks to Gamers.com for the news that Unreal creators Epic have signed a long-term publishing deal with Microsoft. According to the piece, "Microsoft will publish 'several' future Epic projects - as yet unnamed - exclusively for Xbox and Windows", and it's noted that "Epic is the sole owner of the Unreal name and franchise", although Atari is still publishing Unreal Tournament 2004 for PC this November. Included in the Microsoft deal are two projects from new Epic offshoot Scion Studios, promising to "explore development opportunities within Epic Games' established action titles, and beyond", possibly implying at least one Unreal-branded, Microsoft-published title - unless the "established action title" in question is Jazz Jackrabbit.

Cool?

[Dancin_Santa]

No conspiracy here. Microsoft does what it does best: spot talent and buy it.

Re:Microsoft is just buying it's way into the mark

[adamjaskie]

And buying out companies that make Linux more attractive - UT and UT2003 run GREAT on my system under Linux. We arent going to see Linux binaries for future products published by Microshaft.

Note how

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft's acquisitions are always designed not only to serve as revenue generators, but also as cockblockers for the competition.

In the games industry alone, they've done this to Mac users (Bungie), Nintendo (Rare - honestly, Nintendo got rid of them at the right time, IMO), and now Linux gamers (Epic/Unreal).

Basically, they use their large coffers from their Windows/Offce monopoly to prop up their side projects and diddle with everyone else.

Clients are all well and good... but servers?

[Locky]

So you won't see a Linux UT2005 client, well, very few people use that particular client, so I'm sure it won't effect sales too much. But what about the server? As it stands, Linux runs 85% of UT2003 servers. Not having a linux server will diminish the product many times more than not having a linux client.

Re:But!

[rwven]

No, Atari is NOT epic games... Atari used to be called infogrames. They are nothing but publisher...and microsoft took over their gig...