Sony missed Limbo exclusivity by asking for IP rights
Sony Computer Entertainment Executive Producer Pete Smith said the company had issues signing Limbo "because of the IP," during a recent talk at the Develop Conference. Talks with Limbo developer Playdead Studios broke down as Sony wanted to retain intellectual property rights.
"There are obvious benefits to keeping it, but also to giving it up: you're way more likely to get the deal," Smith said of retaining IP rights during the talk. "A publisher is much more likely to commit to marketing and merchandising if they own the IP." After Sony failed to reach a deal with Playdead Studios, the Danish developer went on to launch Limbo on Xbox Live Arcade in July 2010, one year before it landed on PSN.
Smith added, "Sometimes all we want is protection so [developers] don't make a game, finish it then go to one of our rivals. We look at IP on a case by case basis. With a bit of common sense, you can find common ground."
