Machinarium Favours PSN?

Just when you thought the PSN couldn’t get any more awesome with the forthcoming exclusive releases of Joe Danger and Explodemon along comes news that one of the most magical titles I’ve played in a long time could be making an appearance on the PSN. Machinarium is one of the most critically acclaimed indie games of 2009 winning a string of awards for the PC, Mac and Linux versions, and it is the Mac and Linux versions that we have to thank for the hopeful PSN version.

Machinarium’s developer, Amanita Design originally submitted the title last year to Microsoft Studios to publish the game for the XBLA, however this was turned down because Microsoft Studios will only publish the game if it’s exclusive to their platforms. Amanita told Joystiq “They didn’t cite the Mac and Linux versions [as reasons for the refusal] but it’s quite clear that’s the reason” Microsoft (unlike Sony and Nintendo) doesn’t allow self published games to appear on the XBLA, so recommended to them to pursue another publisher, but this meant that Amanita Design would be giving up the lions share of their profits.

Now that Microsoft Studios have decided against publishing the game, Amanita is exploring Sony’s platform and have submitted it to them, hopefully for Sony to bring it to the PlayStation Network. If you can’t wait for the title to appear on the PSN, then you can check out the rather marvellous Flash demo here.