Generic Kunos being bought by Digital Bros

From my perspective, it is probably NOT a good thing for sim racers, in the long run.
For the simple reason that they bought it to make money. If turning AC to cater to "most people" (eg making it less hardcore -> arcade) can bring in more customers, than I think that Digital Bros management would pressure "Old Kunos team" to do so even though both Marco & Stefano are passionate about sim racing. Their passion could be thrown out of the window for profit.

 

I think the same and i hope we are wrong, and Digital Bros dont screw up the hard work to make a sim/game ! On the market of consoles dont have much hardcore games if Assetto Corsa takes Arcade Way ..im defenitly trow the consoles in the trash...and gone a make a High End PC...where we can find more Sim games in any style! (I hope Digital Bross put the money to the development aceleration , contracting more specialist in differend aspect of the game what miss...and make it better without touching the Physics and the FFB...) Assetto Corsa with corect direction can be the Best in all time...if corect desicions are maded for the future! I Still belive is that is posible...lets see what happen in the final... (the developers of any game must understand , the QUALITY products people enjoy and buy...the market is full with trash maded for benefits only...)

 

... probably.

 

I'm not gonna get stressed out because of this. The "fear" when AC went to consoles was unjustified IMO - AC stayed as pure and real as it was before.
I think this will remain the case even with this deal. The core staff in Kunos are no sell-outs: Chief developers replying to us low-lifes here on the Forum (ok...sometimes they insult us ;-), phyiscs coders working through holidays, constant changes in the very core of the physics model in pursuit of perfection...you get the point.

505 now has the cashflow under control. A worst case Scenario would be 505 throttling resources for physics improvement because it's "good enough to sell". A best case scenario would be 505 never questioning endeavours to improve on physics (USP!) whilst paying the bills to bring AC on par with the competition graphics- and gameplay wise.

AC with its physics is a jewel so I hope for the best case scenario.

And even if it goes down the other way - sim racing has proven to be highly profitable, gaining massively with better and more affordable wheels (brushless motors, Thrustmaster joining DD business) and VR headsets, which are suited for sim racing more than any other genre (ok, porn ;-).

So even if Kunos sold out, someone else will fill the gap. But I doubt Kunos will sell out

 

Stop it, now!

Get together, to make it, any better.
Don't spill the blood!

Don't, childishly, discuss a damned financial system. Work around it, to let all of us benefit!

Stop that notion, about everyone against everyone! Do it now...

 

Marco and Stefano are still apart of this so that tells me not much has changed except more resources at hand and less stress.

I don't think Stefano would have anything to do with this unless he was still aloud to do his job as before or picture him being a part of a video game project, taking orders of "do it our way or else", kind of guy.

But maybe I just don't know him as well as you guys do?

 

It's not about Stefano and Marco making millions...
By far, m8. They, and Aris, I must say, did a great endeavor. Lucca and the others, should be mentioned,too.

It's about the need to change the economical, and sociological system.
Go for it now, or it will be too late, welcome slavery...

 

I dont think AC is going to change much in the short time in physics.

Try to sell the actual Assetto Corsa: a very limited game in many areas with the best driving on the market.

Try to sell Assetto Corsa, lets say, with GT driving: rubish. Not at the level of the competitors in almost any area.

The new owners are not idiots.

 

Look at it this way..... not only are the physics great in-game but the politics are pretty exciting ride too!! If nothing else 2017 should be interesting!

Are you sitting comfortably? .....then we will begin!

 

I say goodbye to this "community " now, I can't stay it any longer.
It was great as long as it lasted.
Have a good life, all...

 

What are you planning on doing now?

 

It's well worth taking a look at the 2014 & 2015 accounts submitted by Kunos Simulazioni. The intrigue of the decision to sell now only deepens.

KS was a successful company with revenues of about 3.5m euros per year (Steam's 30% fee really shows here), paid 750k taxes, profits of 1.5-1.7m. In the business world they are some pretty impressive profits/return on investment. They had liquidity (cash) of about 3.2m at the time of sale, which is based on these figures until the 2016 accounts are submitted. By contrast staff salaries were just 500k of the costs (not sure I'd want to work for them if that really did cover 30 people...!). From the sale, in cash terms, they are in no better a position than they were at this point. The shares basically give them an extra 1m euros for the company but they are shares and a look at Digital Bros share history shows that they have as much chance of becoming worth far less as they do far more.

This makes why sell now a more intriguing question for me. They had created a successful profitable company and had complete control to do as they wished, it was their baby. Few business people would give up such a position, especially if it meant working for someone else. They had the available cash and income to employ more staff so I'm not sure greater investment is that big a concern. You might also note the Digital Bros statement they have not agreed any further lines of credit for KS.

For Digital Bros the purchase makes more sense, they made a net profit 9.5m in 2014 and 12.5m in 2015. Buying KS for 4m adds a potential 2m additional profit per year and also helps them achieve their goal of a global reach rather than rely on domestic sales.

There are a few circumstances that start to make sense of the situation:

1. The AC sales cycle is coming toward the end of life. KS revenues were far greater over the past 2 years. DLC aside, with a reported 500k Steam sales and 700k console sales there aren't many more sales to come. Look at other games in the genre and you'll see this to be about true. It's unlikely KS will see revenues of 3.5m in 2016/2017 with the same product.

2. AC2 is almost certainly a must if they want to repeat the level of success. They might well have not wanted to risk the 3.2m they made on AC investing in an uncertain product and level of sales. I'd fully understand that. I think AC2, just like Payday 2, is the reason Digital Bros have speculated with the purchase of AC. Following the Payday 2 model we can expect to see an eye-watering amount of paid DLC, that is Digital Bros monetisation and cash flow extension model. Take a look at the Payday 2 Steam DLC page if you want to see for yourself. Letting a bigger company take the AC2 development risk is a sensible decision.

3. The costs of producing the console versions and Porsche license may have changed the financial situation for 2016 dramatically. The value of the Porsche licence may also have made KS far more attractive for investment.

As for the future a look at the racing game genre in general also gives some insights. I know how wedded some of the PC players are to the hardcore sim so this isn't intended to upset anyone it's just an objective review of the facts. The reality is the highest selling racing games cater to a wide audience and I think Digital Bros will want a bigger percentage of that customer base. I think the great physics will stay, that is the USP, but there will almost certainly be more emphasis on presentation and playability. Read into that what you will.

Just my thoughts based on the accounts and position the companies were in and if I'm proven wrong all well and good. I wouldn't have personally given up a winning business position so easily but there may be many reasons I'm not aware of. The earlier Eurogamer article saying they weren't sure about a future in video games probably says a lot about the situation.

 

How about you guys wipe your tears on this:
There wasn't going to be an AC2 or any other project after AC because Marco and Stefano weren't going to gamble their life savings a second time. Now there is. Maybe the next project will be crap, maybe it will be awesome, but it wouldn't happen at all without this deal happening.

 

I couldn't care less who owns it, all I'm intested in at the moment is, is the console version going to be completed and when we getting the private lobbies, or are 505 going to do a SMS and bugger of to make ac2.

 

That is really the only reasoning that makes sense. Good luck to them I say.

 

The real question is why would a publisher who has already made the bulk of their money from the physical game sales want to invest further in this game? The fact the deal may not be complete until later in 2017 means we might see the improvements but equally we might not.

Imagine the response if private lobbies were to be a DLC pack...

 

Dilemma : putting you on ignore list or keer reading your posts as a reminder of what's out there???
Hmmm...choices...

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Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!

And I do mean 9 explanation points. Count them!

 

I can't believe anyone would buy Kunos with a view to dumbing down their main strength...e.g. The simulation aspect...sure the new owners will want to build the brand, but the obvious way to do that is to improve meaningfulness of the game element...leaderboards, better MP, better career, more content, new manufactures etc....its obvious to all us who play the game...I'm sure it will equally obvious to the owners....It probably means a sequel version but I'd happily buy that so personally I think it is good news all round.

 

Well said!!