UPDATE: Atari has confirmed that it will be bringing Ghostbusters to DS, PC, Wii and Xbox 360 “later in the year”, making this PlayStation deal a timed exclusive only.
Ghostbusters, the game coinciding with the June 19 release of the Sony Pictures film, has been snapped up in an 11th hour agreement between Sony Computer Entertainment and Atari. Previously, Ghostbusters was due to have a multiplatform release on PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and Wii, as well as the Sony PS3 and PS2, but its release on non-PlayStation platforms is in doubt following this surprise deal.
Ghostbusters has seen a number of publisher changes in its short lifetime. It was originally due to be published by Vivendi, but following the Activision merger it was passed on Atari. However, Atari has been struggling with the troublesome economic climate, so who was it gonna call? Sony.
Sony’s move makes sense, seeing as Sony is the one making the film, but it does leave the future of the other versions of the game up in the air. It’s possible that Atari may be publishing the other versions at a later date, leaving Sony with a timed exclusive, but it’s keeping quiet about that for now.
“Atari is committed to maximising the launch of the Ghostbusters videogame across Europe,” Jim Wilson, VP of Worldwide Marketing for Atari told GamesIndustry.biz. “In partnership with both Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, we have a unique opportunity to add new game products and expand marketing opportunities to reach Ghostbusters fans in Europe.”
Sony has only occasionally stepped in to nab exclusivity rights – timed or otherwise – from 3rd party developers. It normally prefers its own development studios to come up with the exclusive goodies, so this is an unusual move indeed.
A PSP version is expected later in the year; it’s not yet clear whether it’ll be available on UMD or via download. Those hoping to get their mitts on the PC, Xbox 360, Wii or DS version will have to keep their fingers crossed for now.
Out June 19 | £TBA | Ghostbusters (via Edge)
Doubt it.
Likewise. Movie-tie ins and platform exclusivity just doesn’t seem to sit right to me. Seeing as the work was already being done on the other versions, I reckon we’ll see them before too long.