Xbox has been in a very weird, very frustrating place this decade, but its plans to get back in folks’ good graces may involve trying another stab at TV and film.
Compared to PlayStation, Xbox’s go at adapting its games has been at a much slower pace. (Case in point, you probably forgot a Gears of Warmovie and Grounded show are supposed to be happening.) According to Puck, Microsoft’s solution is a bulk studio deal: no licensing its IP to different companies like Sony and Sega do, a single studio just gets over a dozen of them and goes from there. The outlet lists ongoing properties like Halo, Diablo, and World of Warcraft as what are included, with studios such as Netflix, Paramount, and Universal reportedly showing interest.
One source alleged to Puck a studio would have to pay over $300 million for a long-term deal. Already, one potential partner is said to have blanched at the asking price, though no other details were shared. This deal makes one wonder what’ll happen with properties already planned for screens, like Paramount’s 2028-bound Call of Duty movie, or Fallout’ssoon to be three-season run over on Prime Video. Of the different properties under the Xbox umbrella, we know Overwatch almost had a TV show and that Bethesda’s Todd Howard wouldn’t be against Elder Scrolls getting one. As for Halo…well, its short-lived show will be ignored either way, just like the series’ equally maligned entries tend to be.
Between ongoing layoff and BDS-related news, pivoting to Hollywood at this point in time feels like Xbox is still trying to win the PR game. Question is, how many of these properties or their studios will still exist by the time these adaptations come, if they come at all?
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