"We can get any IP" - Saber CCO on why reviving dormant franchises is the big, obvious secret the the publisher's success, and why Xbox could learn from it
It is no secret to those paying attention to the video game industry that Saber Interactive's fortunes have change dramatically in recent years. First surging into prominence with the release of World War Z, it has been thrust into the limelight with big hit Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 . Using that momentum, it has brought forward new entries in long-dead gaming series like Turok and…
Saber Interactive, a video game developer, has seen a significant surge in success recently. After launching with the hit game World War Z, they have revived dormant franchises like Turok and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Saber's chief creative officer, Tim Willits, believes the company can acquire any intellectual property (IP) they desire.
Willits explains that before greenlighting a project, Saber requires the IP to have the potential to generate four times its production cost. This approach has resulted in successful titles like Snow Runner and World War Z, which have both generated billions of dollars in revenue. Willits attributes Saber's success to their ability to identify opportunities for hits, such as the upcoming third-person action game Jon Wick and the smaller game Stuntman.
He also highlights the importance of having other stable businesses to support their high-risk, high-reward projects. With a wealth of old franchises available for acquisition, Willits believes other companies, including Microsoft, could learn from Saber's strategy and revive forgotten IPs.
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