To be fair I think Polygon have misunderstood the email.
Calling it “second run Stadia PC RPG” implies Microsoft thought it was going to launch as a Stadia exclusive for it’s first run. This was back in 2020 when Stadia was still a thing, and trying to sign up exclusives.
That doesn’t mean Microsoft underestimated it, but that it thought it’d already have had a run on Stadia which would make it less likely to be an important title for Microsoft.
Their publisher also expected the game to have about one-tenth of the actual players. I don’t think anyone knew how big it would be.
Absolutely.
The $5M also refers to what they thought Larian would want for it to be included on Game Pass.
Yes and that’s precisely my point. Because they didn’t see how successful the game would be. Otherwise, they would have thought of a much bigger number.
To be fair I think Polygon have misunderstood the email.
Calling it “second run Stadia PC RPG” implies Microsoft thought it was going to launch as a Stadia exclusive for it’s first run. This was back in 2020 when Stadia was still a thing, and trying to sign up exclusives.
That doesn’t mean Microsoft underestimated it, but that it thought it’d already have had a run on Stadia which would make it less likely to be an important title for Microsoft.
They surely misunderstood the second run Stadia/PC RPG mention.
What does mean Microsoft underestimated it is that part: Expected partner range: ~$5M range
Their publisher also expected the game to have about one-tenth of the actual players. I don’t think anyone knew how big it would be.
The $5M also refers to what they thought Larian would want for it to be included on Game Pass.
Absolutely.
Yes and that’s precisely my point. Because they didn’t see how successful the game would be. Otherwise, they would have thought of a much bigger number.