Intellectual Property
Ongoing coverage on Intellectual Property.
Latest coverage
Following wide-ranging leaks, Bungie says Marathon is not 'merging' with Destiny
Bungie has denied a widespread leak suggesting that its upcoming game Marathon will merge with Destiny. Marathon creative director Julia Nardin clarified that the two IPs are independent, despite sharing Bungie's DNA. The leak also claimed Marathon would be free-to-play and borrow mechanics from Destiny 2.
Bungie Denies Rumor It Plans to Merge the Destiny and Marathon IPs, Confirms Marathon December and March 2027 Updates Are Free
Bungie has officially denied rumors suggesting plans to merge the Destiny and Marathon intellectual properties. The studio confirmed that updates for Marathon scheduled for December and March 2027 will be provided free of charge.
Why switching main characters for your game's sequel might be a mistake
Consultant Christian Fonnesbech argues that switching main characters in game sequels is a significant business risk, as characters are a primary emotional connection for players and a valuable IP asset. While artistic choices like introducing female protagonists in Hades 2 can be successful, Fonnesbech questions their long-term business impact and suggests maintaining character continuity is crucial for franchise success, citing examples like Tomb Raider and James Bond.
Lies of P Sequel Name Potentially Leaked in New Filing
A trademark filing for 'Wonders of O' by Neowiz in the European Union suggests a potential name for the sequel to Lies of P. The filing, covering video game-related services, aligns with clues from the first game's ending that hinted at a 'Wizard of Oz' theme. While Neowiz has confirmed a sequel is in full production, the name and other details remain unconfirmed.
Nintendo picks up major legal victory against sale of Switch piracy devices
Nintendo has secured a legal victory against the sale of Switch piracy devices in Europe, with The District Court of The Hague ruling it unlawful to sell products like the MIG Switch. This ruling aims to protect Nintendo's intellectual property and support legitimate game developers by preventing the use of unauthorized game copies.
Saber Interactive's Tim Willits on generative AI, moving development out of North America, and embracing recognisable IP
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits discusses the company's stance on generative AI, stating they are experimenting with it but not replacing human developers. He also highlights Saber's strategy of global development across 15 studios, focusing on AA titles and recognizable intellectual property, emphasizing disciplined budgeting and flexible team structures.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s Combat Feedback Was Inspired by Super Mario Odyssey, Says Director
Onimusha: Way of the Sword director Satoru Nihei revealed that Super Mario Odyssey's accessible yet dynamic action gameplay inspired the combat feedback in the new Onimusha title. Producer Akihito Kadowaki cited the Gundam series, particularly Gundam Versus, for its character design influence. The game achieved over one million sales on launch day, pushing the franchise past 10 million total sales.
Capcom expresses continued interest in 're-activating IPs' as the first new Onimusha game in 20 years surpasses 1 million sales on launch day
Capcom announced that Onimusha: Way of the Sword surpassed one million sales on its launch day, bringing the total lifetime sales for the Onimusha series to 10 million. The company expressed continued interest in re-activating older intellectual properties, leveraging its content library to maximize corporate value.
Capcom says it will focus on reviving dormant IPs after Onimusha: Way of the Sword's breakout launch
Capcom plans to revive dormant intellectual properties following the successful launch of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which sold over one million copies on its first day. The publisher aims to maximize corporate value by leveraging its back catalog. Meanwhile, Sega has canceled its ambitious "Super Game" live-service initiative due to high risks and operational challenges, though its president still sees business opportunities in the genre. Tencent, however, remains committed to live-service games, viewing them as a "holy grail."
Patrice Désilets vows to make a sequel to Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Patrice Désilets, creator of Assassin's Creed, has stated his intention to develop a sequel to his 2019 game Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. Désilets confirmed he owns the intellectual property for Ancestors and plans to create further volumes of the game, though a sequel will only be possible after the completion of his current project, 1666: Amsterdam.
As Onimusha: Way of the Sword Sells Over 1 Million Day One, Capcom Says It's 'Focusing on Re-Activating IPs That Haven’t Had a New Title Launch Recently'
Capcom announced that Onimusha: Way of the Sword sold over 1 million copies on its launch day. The company also stated its focus on re-activating dormant intellectual properties that have not seen recent releases.
Square Enix wants Final Fantasy 7 to be an 'IP with an ever-evolving future', which is strange to say about a…
The author questions Square Enix's strategy of focusing heavily on the Final Fantasy 7 IP with its remake trilogy, suggesting it might be a symptom of a 'fear of new IP' trap. While acknowledging the quality of the remakes and Final Fantasy 16, the piece argues that Final Fantasy's inherent nature allows for new worlds and characters with each entry, making the extensive rehashing of a classic seem unnecessary and potentially tiring for players.
Capcom is also focusing on “re-activating IPs that haven’t had a new title launch recently”
Capcom has announced a strategic focus on re-activating its dormant intellectual properties that have not seen a new title launch recently. This initiative aims to leverage the company's extensive back catalogue of fan-favorite games.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Has Sold Over 1 Million Copies on Launch Day
Capcom announced that Onimusha: Way of the Sword sold over one million copies on its launch day, contributing to the franchise's total sales surpassing 10 million. The publisher is focusing on re-activating dormant IPs, with potential for more Onimusha titles and possibly others like Dino Crisis. The game is available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Square Enix wants Final Fantasy VII to be “an IP with an ever-evolving future”
Square Enix aims to evolve the Final Fantasy VII franchise into an ever-evolving intellectual property, moving beyond its status as a classic. The company discussed this ambition during a PAX West panel, indicating a desire to expand the future of the Final Fantasy VII universe.
Square Enix wants to turn Final Fantasy 7 into "an IP with an ever-evolving future" beyond the FF7 Remake…
Square Enix aims to evolve the Final Fantasy 7 franchise into an ever-evolving intellectual property for future generations, moving beyond its status as a classic. Game director Naoki Hamaguchi stated the Remake trilogy's goal is to create new fans for the series over the next 20 to 30 years.
The Tetris Company wants nothing to do with the White House's new copycat game
The Tetris Company has expressed its disapproval of 'Build the Wall,' a game hosted on the White House website that it considers a Tetris knockoff. The company wants no association with the game, which is one of six new titles featured on the official White House site.
Tetris Responds After Trump Administration Launches 'Build the Wall' Clone Game
The official Tetris pages have issued a response after the Trump administration released a video game clone titled 'Build the Wall.' The response indicates a negative sentiment towards the unauthorized clone.
Neil Druckmann doubles down on distancing Naughty Dog from The Last of Us season 3, saying he had no involvement in the…
Neil Druckmann, creator of The Last of Us, has stated that neither he nor Naughty Dog had any creative involvement in the upcoming third season of the HBO adaptation. While Naughty Dog remains the steward of the IP, Druckmann emphasized that his focus is on other upcoming projects related to The Last of Us.
The Last Of Us director ‘isn’t done’ with the series as he teases new game
Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann has indicated that there are multiple 'The Last of Us' projects in development, suggesting a future for the franchise beyond the upcoming TV show season. While not directly involved in the TV adaptation of Part 2, Druckmann confirmed Naughty Dog is still the steward of the IP and is excited to share details on new games when the time is right.
