Sony missed out on Limbo first because of IP rights

Sony could have had Playdead's hit indie game Limbo first had it not fought over IP rights.

At the Develop Conference last week, Sony Computer Entertainment executive producer Pete Smith said they were pursuing an exclusive Limbo deal with the Danish studio but lost it because they wanted IP rights as part of the negotiation.

"I maybe shouldn't say this, but we had issues when we were trying to sign Limbo because of the IP," said Smith.

Instead Limbo went to Microsoft in 2010, and then PSN and Steam a year later.

Earlier in the discussion, Smith gave advice on IPs, saying, "There are obvious benefits to keeping it, but also to giving it up: you're way more likely to get the deal. Remember: 100 per cent of nothing is nothing. A publisher is much more likely to commit to marketing and merchandising if they own the IP."

Playdead is currently working on its next game, described as a "bleak spiritual successor" to Limbo.

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[Edge]