This is tough but, just based on dev studios I'd have to be forced between Arc System Works and Ember Lab.
Arc System Works because no one does anime fighters like them, they have IP like GG which are pretty much synonymous with PlayStation, the vast majority of their audience are on PlayStation, they cover the fighting game angle and as DBZ Fighterz showed, they can have a mainstream hit with the right license. Imagine their take on a Marvel fighter with Spiderman in there for example, it'd be crazy huge. I also think they bring some needed variety to the 1P offerings from a visual and gameplay POV, and could definitely do some ambitious stuff outside of even fighters (like Vanillaware-esque JRPGs/beat-em-ups etc.) if they wanted.
Ember Lab has a lot of promise as a developer and clearly some great artistic eye. With Sony 1P resources and support, they could definitely do stuff even more ambitious than Kena and, again, bring a unique flavor that Sony's other teams (outside of maybe Team Asobi and Pixelpous) aren't necessarily going for. Very much worth bring that talent in-house and letting them flourish.
Honestly I couldn't pick between the two; they both add some usefulness to 1P variety. If I could throw a 3rd pick, it'd be Lucid; Destruction All-Stars may've bombed but it was more than technically competent and had some good ideas & potential. They could do some great stuff with another IP; if they're not involved with the Twisted Metal game for example, I would like to see what they could do for Jet Moto, or Wipeout etc. I think there's room to grow both of those IP and make them like Sony's Forza Horizon staple (but more innovative).
I don't see why Guerrilla Games couldn't do a more full-blown WRPG-style Horizon game. The current ones already have RPG mechanics in them, the team seems interested in those type of systems. I won't be surprised if Horizon 3 is even more in on the RPG mechanics, and the game universe itself has a lot of room for that to work.
Given that, do Sony really NEED CDPR? CDPR really just have The Witcher and Cyberpunk, not much else in terms of relevant IP. I just feel like CDPR would be redundant for Sony, let alone Microsoft, who are already saturated with WRPG studios between Bethesda and Obsidian. I think CDPR would function best remaining a 3P and maybe showing they can do more with Cyberpunk or have another pillar IP to run with.
Arc System Works because no one does anime fighters like them, they have IP like GG which are pretty much synonymous with PlayStation, the vast majority of their audience are on PlayStation, they cover the fighting game angle and as DBZ Fighterz showed, they can have a mainstream hit with the right license. Imagine their take on a Marvel fighter with Spiderman in there for example, it'd be crazy huge. I also think they bring some needed variety to the 1P offerings from a visual and gameplay POV, and could definitely do some ambitious stuff outside of even fighters (like Vanillaware-esque JRPGs/beat-em-ups etc.) if they wanted.
Ember Lab has a lot of promise as a developer and clearly some great artistic eye. With Sony 1P resources and support, they could definitely do stuff even more ambitious than Kena and, again, bring a unique flavor that Sony's other teams (outside of maybe Team Asobi and Pixelpous) aren't necessarily going for. Very much worth bring that talent in-house and letting them flourish.
Honestly I couldn't pick between the two; they both add some usefulness to 1P variety. If I could throw a 3rd pick, it'd be Lucid; Destruction All-Stars may've bombed but it was more than technically competent and had some good ideas & potential. They could do some great stuff with another IP; if they're not involved with the Twisted Metal game for example, I would like to see what they could do for Jet Moto, or Wipeout etc. I think there's room to grow both of those IP and make them like Sony's Forza Horizon staple (but more innovative).
I don't see why Guerrilla Games couldn't do a more full-blown WRPG-style Horizon game. The current ones already have RPG mechanics in them, the team seems interested in those type of systems. I won't be surprised if Horizon 3 is even more in on the RPG mechanics, and the game universe itself has a lot of room for that to work.
Given that, do Sony really NEED CDPR? CDPR really just have The Witcher and Cyberpunk, not much else in terms of relevant IP. I just feel like CDPR would be redundant for Sony, let alone Microsoft, who are already saturated with WRPG studios between Bethesda and Obsidian. I think CDPR would function best remaining a 3P and maybe showing they can do more with Cyberpunk or have another pillar IP to run with.
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