Last week, I read an interesting article with rumors that Ubisoft was looking to sell some of its IPs to help keep its struggling business afloat. It does not appear that this was true. It looks more like Ubisoft wants to spin off its business into two separate entities, with one holding its more prominent IPs and the rest going to the other venture.
But still, this got me thinking. Video games have been around long enough now, where we have hundreds and hundreds of beloved IPs that are pretty much dead in the water. All of the different references for games we will likely never see again in Astro Bot last year were a great example of this. Despite this, it is incredibly rare for any of these IPs to ever change hands.
I can kind of understand why. Even if an IP is not making any money for a company, it can be good to hold onto. You never know when the moment might happen for a return. Sometimes, a remaster collection can also be a good way to make a quick buck. It also feels incredibly risky from an ego and job perspective to sell off an IP. Imagine being the CEO who signed off on selling an IP that turned into some hit that sold 8 million copies. Suddenly, investors would be asking why the original company wasn’t smart enough to make that hit on their own.
And if you are a company looking to make a new game, yes, an established IP might be enticing, but obviously there are extra costs associated with buying an existing IP, and also, there is probably a reason that IP is dormant in the first place. It’s a risky venture both ways.
IPs do change hands occasionally, and I’ll reference one of those IPs in this list, but sadly, this will likely always be a rare thing. But for today, I’m throwing away reality and pretending that IP sales are as common as trades in the NBA. In this article, I’m going to give out 10 IPs that I believe are not being utilized properly for one reason or another, and give my take for what would be the most interesting publisher or developer to buy them. None of these will ever happen (probably), but the world would be a better place if they did.
10. Day’s Gone (Purchased by Capcom)
In my last article, I discussed how often reviewers are pretty in line with the general consumer when it comes to review scores. Day’s Gone is one of those rare cases where critics and consumers differed quite a bit. The game scored a 7.1 from critics and an 8.5 from users on Metacritic.
I played Day’s Gone with low expectations back in 2021, when I was able to play it on PS+. While the game certainly has a lot of flaws with the story in particular, I thought all of the gameplay systems were tremendous. The mix of motorcycle gameplay and management mixed with classic zombie combat was really well done. I had a blast with it and would probably lean closer to that 8.5 rating. I think I have heard that the game might have been a bit buggy at launch, so I probably played a superior version of the game, but I also think a lot of people were like me and tried it well after it released and were pleasantly surprised.
The game actually sold quite well, too (at least, over time, I’m not sure if it sold as well initially), so the odds of Sony ever selling this seem slim. But there doesn’t seem to be a sequel in the works since it was apparently canceled.
Meanwhile, we have Capcom, who seems to be teasing a return of the Dead Rising series after releasing a remaster of the original game last year. That game seems to have sold well enough for a remaster, but I just can’t envision a Dead Rising 5 performing as well as it needs to. The IP feels too damaged at this point from too many games, with few of those games being anything special.
However, I think putting those zombie skills to use with the Day’s Gone framework (ideally they’d hire as many people as possible from that team as well), seems like it’d be a no-brainer. The IP is still fresh, and it seems like it has only built momentum over the past few years. Capcom has generally been doing a great job lately as well. This would be a much better use of Capcom’s time than more Dead Rising, in my opinion.
9. Castlevania (Purchased by Microsoft)
It really is crazy how long it has been since a new Castlevania game was released. It’s even more insane that it has been 15 years since we last had a 2D Castlevania game (I’m not counting the Dead Cells expansion or Bloodstained, I’m sorry). It’s bizarre for such a well loved game that has a freaking genre in part named after it to not be releasing anything. It especially feels odd when we have great Metroidvania games from indie developers dropping every single year. Obviously, Konami worked with the Dead Cells team a few years ago, so why don’t they just do the same with an indie developer for a new Castlevania game? We’ve seen other IPs get this treatment in recent years, with titles like The Rogue Prince of Persia (currently in early access) and the upcoming Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.
This IP definitely still makes Konami money while they do next to nothing with it, so this will never happen, but I’d love it if Castlevania went into Microsoft’s hands.
I have two reasons for having Microsoft as my preferred destination here. First off, there are tons of great Castlevania games. Konami has re-released some of them as bundles in recent years. That’s a great deal, but having every Casteveania game, especially the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS ones, all on Game Pass would be cool as hell.
Secondly, I don’t envision Microsoft needing to actually develop any new Castlevania games (though they have enough studios where they could do something, I’m sure). I really just want them to let an indie developer make a new game for them. I’d love to see The Game Kitchen, which made the Blasphemous games and is currently working on the aforementioned Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, get a crack at it. While we have tons of Metroidvania games out there, there still aren’t that many that lean into the RPG elements as hard as Castlevania does. Something needs to happen with this freaking franchise, and that’s the best I have.
8. Splinter Cell (Purchased by IO Interactive)
It still feels crazy to me that we haven’t had a Splinter Cell game in over a decade. These games were such a big deal at one point, and often some of the most critically acclaimed games of that era. People still love high-octane stealth games with cinematic elements. There’s no reason why a rebooted Splinter Cell couldn’t do numbers if done right.
I’m not sure how the IP for Splinter Cell works. Ubisoft made the games, but it is under the Tom Clancy umbrella. Regardless, we need to see something happen with this series.
I will say that I’m not sure if returning exactly to the old Splinter Cell formula would be a smashing success. Gaming has changed a bit. But this is where IO interactive could be perfect. I think a Splinter Cell that is in a much more open environment, like the Hitman series, could be awesome. Perhaps there could still be some disguises like Hitman, but maybe the emphasis would be a bit more on cool gadgets to give the game a unique flavor from the Hitman games.
IO Interactive seems to be doing pretty well with the Hitman games, and they also have a James Bond game in development, but I think adding Sam Fisher to the fold in addition to their other IPs and projects could really build another level of excitement for their brand.
7. Sunset Overdrive (Purchased by Sony for Insomniac)
This is one of the more obvious ones on the list.
Insomniac made Sunset Overdrive for the Xbox over 10 years ago, and I still think about that game. It was such a unique and fun mix of different elements, and there isn’t anything else quite like it. Unfortunately, the game didn’t sell enough to warrant a sequel at the time. From there, Sony ended up buying Insomniac. So a sequel truly looks impossible at this point unless Sony somehow acquired the IP from Microsoft.
There is probably no incentive on either side for this to happen. But I do think it would be a good move from Sony to go for it. Perhaps in our new multiplatform landscape, something could be arranged that is a bit more mutually beneficial than usual for this one.
Insomniac seems to be big enough to work on other games even when they are working on one of their big Marvel projects. They released their last Ratchet and Clank game in between Spider-Man games back in 2021. That game was quite successful, but I honestly think a new Sunset Overdrive has even more potential to do big numbers. Insomniac has always been a big deal, but I feel like the Spider-Man games have elevated their name value a lot more with the more casual gamer compared to when they made the first game. This IP needs to be back in the hands of the developer that crafted it, damn it!
6. Shenmue (Purchased by Sega for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio)
Playing Pirate Yakuza within 5 months of beating Infinite Wealth reminds me why it was always hard for me to actually get through all of the Yakuza games in a row like I had originally planned to after playing Yakuza 0. These are all very well-made games, but there is a bit of a “sameness” that carries over through each iteration. The substories often play into similar bits, and the main plot often falls into a lot of the same tropes. RGG is great at building to big moments and creating stellar characters, but there are a lot of Yakuza/Like a Dragon games. They definitely get old for me when I am exposed to too much of them in a short time span.
The switch over to new protagonists from Kazuma Kiryu still hasn’t fixed this problem (especially since the series still seems to have a hard time letting him go). The Judgement games do exist in a different universe, but they just haven’t clicked quite the same for me, and I don’t see the same levels of love and hype for that series.
I’d love to see RGG really tackle something different yet still in their wheelhouse, and I feel like taking on the series that probably inspired it would be a really cool collaboration. The Shenmue series is so in the toilet now that it might be pretty cheap!
RGG does its serious plot stuff quite well. It’s great at building to conclusions. What better task than to create a game that is all about a long build to an epic conclusion. Shenmue is a coming of age story, and RGG hasn’t quite tackled a story like that either. It would be a nice change of pace in both plot themes, as well as in tone. I also wouldn’t mind seeing RGG take a break from being quite as goofy with a new Shenmue game.
Realistically, at least some of the same infrastructure could also be used as well. But then I’d love to see them build on that infrastructure with their own take on Shenmue’s dynamic QTEs, as well as a battle system crafted more in the Shenmue mold.
RGG already seems to have come to this realization and is working on a new IP called Project Century that we don’t know much about. But I think just making new Shenmue games would actually be a cooler path.
5. Rayman (Purchased by Nintendo)
Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends are two of my favorite 2D platformers ever. I loved the personality, the art, the twists on the formula, and, of course, the core platforming.
I’ve always hoped for another one, but after Ubisoft Montpellier was disbanded after Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, that now appears to be impossible. Especially with Ubisoft being in very troubled waters.
But with Ubisoft in danger, perhaps it is time to move Rayman over to someone who might actually do something with it. Nintendo is a really easy and logical fit. I actually even thought that some elements of Super Mario Bros. Wonder were inspired by Rayman. Just give them the IP and let them cook with it.
Rayman would be an incredibly logical fit with Nintendo. A collaboration game would be neat, or maybe a standalone AA type game. Either way, at this point, this feels like the only way we could ever get another game that feels like those 2010s Rayman games.
4. L.A. Noire (Purchased by Don’t Nod)
This might be the most unrealistic one on the list so far. A French AA studio buying L.A. Noire from a behemoth like Rockstar is not happening. I think Rockstar is easily the best publisher that could make an L.A. Noire 2 happen, but since that doesn’t seem like it’s even a thought process, I think Don’t Nod has shown enough chops to take on the mantle.
Don’t Nod have some of the best storytelling out there right now, as they showed with Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. They also have surprisingly strong production values and voice acting for an “AA” type team. Their biggest weakness is combat, which is a relatively minor aspect of an L.A. Noire game.
They’ve also shown great chops with writing a mystery type of game. Don’t Nod could use a hit after Banishers didn’t sell as well as the company hoped. L.A. Noire would be a sure fire hit, as long as buying the IP doesn’t bankrupt them first.
3. Max Payne (Purchased by Remedy)
When I think about IPs that have changed hands over the years, Remedy is one of the main studios I think of. They are one of the few studios that I can clearly recall selling a major IP, as they sold Max Payne to Take Two back in 2004. They also have made moves in the other direction. They always owned Alan Wake but acquired the publishing rights from Microsoft several years ago. So, this might actually be one of the most possible ones on this list.
Remedy has always been a great developer, but I feel like they’ve evolved a lot in recent years. Control and Alan Wake 2 showed a real evolution in their storytelling and in their gameplay design. The Remedyverse is also a real thing now. Imagine Max Payne suddenly ending up at the FBC in the middle of a new Max Payne game. They could do a lot of cool and weird things. I also think Remedy is way better at set piece design now, which would fit in wonderfully with Max Payne. I think this reunion would rule, and I genuinely think we might see it one day in the distant future.
2. Sleeping Dogs (Purchased by WB Games for Rocksteady)
I didn’t play Suicide Squad when it came out last year, but what I heard about that game was pretty consistent. This game was still made by Rocksteady, a very talented developer. The game felt really good to play, but all the systems around that gameplay were terrible. This game had several reasons why it failed, but the online component was a very big one.
Now, as we look ahead to what is next for Rocksteady, it will obviously be a single-player game of some sort. Due to their track record, something superhero related seems likely. But maybe Rocksteady needs to go in a completely different direction. I’d love to see them take a stab at a new Sleeping Dogs game. Sleeping Dogs pretty much took the Batman formula for its combat anyway, so it’s a natural fit. The open world also fits well with them. Rocksteady has the skills and storytelling prowess to make a game that blows away the original Sleeping Dogs in that department as well.
And I think this sort of fresh direction would invigorate them as a studio. I would be excited either way if Sleeping Dogs 2 ever happened, but I would be hyped beyond belief if it was Rocksteady at the helm for it.
1. Pokemon (Purchased by Atlus for P-Studio)
I know a lot of people out there absolutely love the Pokemon games. I did, too. In the past, I was obsessed with Pokemon Red and Blue. I also really loved Gold and Silver.
Then, with each iteration, I’ve lost more and more interest. While obviously Pokemon needs to retain its core fans and it doesn’t want to rock the boat too much, I just feel like the game doesn’t do nearly enough to evolve in any capacity from one game to another. The games feel remarkably behind the times with both gameplay and tech. I have played a lot of exciting turn based systems filled with strategy in the past few years, yet Pokemon still has this outdated gym format that has always been mediocre and too easy to deal with. The games have never even tried to actually tell a decent story. And I really can’t believe how ugly these games are. You’d think with all the money Pokemon makes, that Game Freak would at least be able to deliver more aesthetically pleasing worlds. It’s very frustrating because it could be so much better. There are a lot of great core ingredients here, and of course, some nice nostalgia.
I was excited to try out the open world format in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and still got bored by it very quickly. I do appreciate that they tried to do something different with Pokemon Legends: Arceus, but that also didn’t really work for me. I want to see Pokemon games really shake things up and truly try and make something new.
This is one that will never happen because Pokemon could produce a plushie that is literally labeled “Pikachu Shit,” and that little poop would make Nintendo 10 million dollars.
But, IMAGINE if a real excellent AAA RPG studio somehow acquired Pokemon. Despite how popular Pokemon is, you really don’t see any games truly trying to copy its formula outside of indies and AA type studios. The closest major studio is probably Atlus with the Persona games. These games have a Pokemon flavor of sorts with their Personas.
Imagine P-Studio making a Pokemon game that perhaps takes place in a “Pokemon Academy” of some sort, where teens are learning how to be Pokemon trainers in a classroom setting instead of out in the wild as 10 year olds like the actual Pokemon games. That feels a bit more logical to me.
They could adopt the calendar system and have big classroom battle tests that you have to be prepared for once a month or so. They could have a much more dynamic and interesting turn-based system that still utilizes type advantages, but in much more clever ways. Just having all multi-Pokemon fights and things like more dynamic swapping could be really excellent additions to the action. They could also actually craft a decent story with compelling characters. They could even make Team Rocket more than just a joke.
I think it would absolutely cook. Of course, in a list full of unrealistic scenarios, this is by far the most impossible of them all. It’ll never happen. But god damn it, I can dream.
Big Nerd Gaming 
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