Atari cuts ties with OWI
In its annual 10‐K form, recently filed with the American Securities and Exchange Commission, Atari has revealed that they no longer have any investment with Oddworld Inhabitants, as of the end of 2003. The news comes just months after hearing how Microsoft has ditched publishing of the next game. Atari sold their 50% stake in the developer to Microsoft for $1·8 million in publishing royalties, some eight years after investing $7·1 million in Oddworld when still GT Interactive (later Infogrames).
Atari was responcible for the publishing of Munch’s Oddysee in Europe, but in Spring 2002, they cut their investment down to less than half, just $3·5 million. The move seemingly leaves Oddworld Inhabitants, Inc. with no publisher, but half owned by Microsoft.
Sources: gamesindustry.biz, 1UP, and Permalink
Discuss on the Oddworld Forums
MrBeefy on Wednesday, 16th June 2004 at 7·04 p.m.
Just picked up by EA, congrats.
I thought since Microsoft wasn't distributing, that they wouldn't still hold exclusivity. Silly me, underestimating microsoft...
Max on Tuesday, 15th June 2004 at 10·33 p.m.
Ties are severed with Atari, but Microsoft now have more control over Oddworld Inhabitants than ever. The contract for the next three games to remain Xbox Exclusive still stands, and if MO is ever to be ported to PC, it's unlikely OWI will do that, and instead issue the job to some other company, as they did with AO and AE.
MrBeefy on Tuesday, 15th June 2004 at 4·10 p.m.
Now that all ties are severed, what's the harm in releasing MO as a PC title? Still wish I could play that game.