How is he self-absorbed asshole? He came across as pretty reasonable in that interview. You may disagree with whatever “messages” the last two games had, but that doesn’t make the guy an asshole.
To the contrary, I find it somewhat discouraging for our industry that one of the most talented and independent studios just decided to give up.
good point.
a company like Bungie comes to mind who always seemed to have a particulary strong independant/rebel streak to them (so much so that I remember when they were bought out the fanbase just went ballistic over the news).
I’m guessing the cash offers were hard to ignore coupled with the fact that the publishers who purchased them outright give them a level of creative freedom not normally enjoyed by the typical dev house, hence its a no-brainer for them.