PlayStation Head Hermen Hulst doesn't like the idea that they are in fierce competition with Microsoft or other companies.
It's the blue vs the green all over again as both companies keep acquiring new game studios to secure first-party exclusives. But why is that? In an interview with British GQ, Hulst addresses whether or not they and other companies acquiring smaller studios felt like an “arms race”. The PlayStation Head said that their recent buyout of Housemarque had absolutely nothing to do with their competitors at all.
“We are very selective about the developers that we bring in,” says Hulst. “Our last new acquisition was Insomniac [for $229 million in 2019], which has worked out very well.” Hulst's mention of Insomniac meant that they aren't in a hurry to buy out studios at all. Instead, it's done at a strategic pace. “I'm always looking for people that have a similar set of values, similar creative ambitions, and work very well with our team that we can further invest in and help grow as creators. It's not like we're going around and just making random acquisitions,” Hulst explains.
With Housemarque and the rumored Bluepoint Games that will be part of PlayStation Studios soon, it's no surprise that other companies like Microsoft will be acquiring other game studios to even things out. Earlier this year, Microsoft acquired Bethesda for $7.5 billion. This deal brought Bethesda Game Works, Arkane Studios, id Software, and MachineGames into the fold. This acquisition would later have Bethesda comment on ‘pissed off' PlayStation fans.
The last thing in Hulst's mind is competition. For him and PlayStation Studios, it'll be the games and the gamers that come first. The ultimate gaming experience and everything that comes along with it come first, regardless of what console they're on.
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