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Game Pass vs $70: The ‘MLB The Show’ Xbox Deal Is A Bad Look For Sony [Forbes article]

99Luffy

Banned
Why would MLB give them any money? Sony is not the publisher and doesn't own the IP, they literally have zero pull to demand any money for this deal. All their entitled to is the development costs to make the Xbox version of the game. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even find out about it until after it was a done deal.
Of course Sony is making money off the deal silly. For the same reason EA, Activition etc. make money when their games sell in Japan even though Capcom, Square Enix or some other local company publishes them.

Most likely Sony couldnt refuse and MLB threatened to take away their license.
 
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Stuart360

Member
Well, I would not say it's free. It is part of that $9-15 dollar subscription fee we are paying (I know, I know, many got theirs for a $1 or via some other promo.) But games available to us via PS+, Games with Gold and Game Pass are not free. There is a cost to it, just the value proposition is different. But yeah, it is not necessarily good for Sony from that perspective.
Oh i know, thats why i phrased it like 'free'. I pay £7.99 a month for PC Gamepass for example. People tend to say its 'free' because a game is added to somehting they are paying for anyway, but yes techniically its not free.
 
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Fredrik

Member
If Microsoft somehow manages to get more third party games to come to Gamepass day 1 then Sony could find themselves in an awkward position where the only reason to have a PS5 is to play first party games.
Personally I think Sony has been in that position for quite some time already. Same thing with Nintendo. Seems to do alright anyway.
 
Sony sell their first party games at a premium to prop up the loss they eat with the ps5 console

Spider-Man mile morales is your classic example....5 hour long dlc packaged and sold like a full game....we are also more than likely to get a similar treatment for god of war.

untl Sony breaks even with ps5 I wouldn’t be expecting any sort of gamepass for them
 

Hugare

Member
Yeah, terrible look for Sony

At the same time, I cant begin to imagine how much money MS is spending with Game Pass. I dont trust that its being lucrative. If so, show the damn receipts.

Sony strategy is probably "let's see for how long MS can maintain this shit".

They dont want a service like Game Pass, no way. Not when they can get a lot of money by selling their own exclusives.

So Sony is playing the waiting game. Dont hold your breath for something similar to Game Pass.
 
S6h5Hgc.jpg

Nicolas Cage Laughing GIF

oh, you think this is bad? Look what we in Europe have to pay:

pDdFdjc.jpg

That’s $117,58
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Oh i know, thats why i phrased it like 'free'. I pay £7.99 a month for PC Gamepass for example. People tend to say its 'free' because a game is added to somehting they are paying for anyway, but yes techniically its not free.
To me, the value equation and "free" depends on the gamers intent.

If someone was already going to buy a service, but ends up getting a lot more out of it, the extra value and extra cost is the key part. Not the sunk cost.

But if an offline gamer decides to sign up for Gamepass and gold for the first time due to wanting a sub plan then sure, whatever you pay to access it is the cost because before you were an offline gamer for years.

I always sign up for annual gold. So to me, Gamepass for 3 years is $1. NOw whether or not someone wants to get technical and say $1 + tax is not free, that's fine. I'll consider it free as I'm not broke enough to eyeball $1.13 as a giant cost.

If I buy a car for $40,000 and have a monthly loan and the dealership gives me a free spoiler for $1,000, to me that's a free spoiler. It's not a $40,000 spoiler.

Years back the Ontario government was giving away free Ecobee thermostats with free installation. All part of some green program and they had a limited number. I signed up and got it. I never knew this until later but these things cost $200. They look like a plastic piece of crap worth $20 but Costco sells them for like $180. To me, I'm already living here with a mortgage for years. That Ecobee is free IMO. It's not a $1 million Ecobee.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Of course Sony is making money off the deal silly. For the same reason EA, Activition etc. make money when their games sell in Japan even though Capcom, Square Enix or some other local company publishes them.

Most likely Sony couldnt refuse and MLB threatened to take away their license.
True.

Taking it a step further as armchair contract lawyers claim, if Capcom published an EA game in Japan, not only would Capcom get some money for helping out, but they'd also get full control.

So they would have free will to enter into regional PS+ and Games with Gold deals, make some more money, and EA would have no say even though it's their games.
 
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Zeroing

Banned
how sony allowed this to happen is beyond me
The same as other companies were allowed to continue doing worse or as bad things for us gamers!

- the as long is my “team” is doing it I’ll be ok with it! Mentally

it’s been like this for generations!
And It will keep getting worse!

I miss the day where we didn’t had to play for online, where gaming developers didn’t silence reviewers, no existence of lootboxes etc
 
Sony got paid for it to be on gamepass I'm sure... It gives gamepass subscribers like myself who never played it to see how great it is and possibly by it once it's eventually not on gamepass any longer. In the long term will likely be good for sony expanding the fan base for that game along with xbox possibly increasing the popularity and benifits of gamepass. So.... Win win for everyone?
You seem to not understand this is not a Sony property.
 

HTK

Banned
I'm not sure if it's a good look or bad look, I'm just happy Microsoft is bringing the competition this time around. I hope to benefit from both parties involved.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I'm not sure if it's a good look or bad look, I'm just happy Microsoft is bringing the competition this time around. I hope to benefit from both parties involved.
For most people, they don't even know The Show is coming to GP. And even if they are pissed, too bad. There's only about 1 million copies sold per year on PS systems, so even the user base is tiny. A Just Dance game probably sells more.

If any non-baseball gaming people on PS want to get mad because they don't like the holistic approach of multiplat gaming (with cross play too!), go blame Sony. The guess everyone is saying is the MLB strong-armed them to do a game for Xbox with GP or lose the license. Nobody even knows if that's true.

Even if that is 100% true, well Sony decided to stick with the franchise for the money while giving a competitor an exclusive as a package deal.

Nobody should blame MS. Not their call. They didn't hold the license or contract. Looks like they just sat there and waited for the fall out from Sony and MLB wheeling and dealing.
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I like how jimbo sony is keeping hush-hush and hoping this dies down.

this how they treat their 'loyal' fans going forward.. /nothing to see here :messenger_expressionless:🤞
Probably took a page from Sony San Diego. They never mentioned The Show 21 is multiplat.

Probably the first time in twitter gaming history, a studio didn't market or mention their game is on various platforms they made it for.
 
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Never bought MLB...
Stopped buying sports games a long time ago.
That yearly churn sports game was never worth full price to me.

But the article isn't wrong not a good look for Sony!
 

jroc74

Phone reception is more important to me than human rights
Game is now multi platform

But its a bad look for Sony....


Every game thats multi platform can show up on Game pass day one. This is no different than Outriders. Only difference is who developed the game.

Ppl need to calm down.

So what is Sony supposed to come out and piss the MLB off?
Dont bother trying to bring logic into this with certain users, its a waste of time.

Some ppl dont understand how licenses work. At the end of the day, Sony decided its better for them to keep making the game while its multi platform.

I'm just amazed no one thought this could be a possibility when it was announced it was going multi platform in 2019. That should have been enough to tell ppl Sony wasnt making the final call on going multi platform, it was MLB.
 
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Fredrik

Member
Probably took a page from Sony San Diego. They never mentioned The Show 21 is multiplat.

Probably the first time in twitter gaming history, a studio didn't market or mention their game is on various platforms they made it for.
Is the Xbox version made by Sony San Diego or is it by a port studio like Nixxes?

If it’s made in-house, imagine working late hours and optimizing a game for a competitive platform. It’s definitely a weird situation. The DF face-off should end with PS5 at the top at least or somebody will get fired lol
 

Three

Member
It is a big deal.

A product that is going to a competing service for the first time is not only $10 cheaper to buy it, but for millions of GP people already on the service, this game is added at no extra charge.

And it's even cross play. So the GP people will even play with the Sony gamers who paid full price. lol

In a way, you can say this is kind of similar to cell phone and cable providers competing for service. If you're an existing customer you get regular price or a shitty ongoing discount of 15% off a bundled service pack.

But that guy down the street who is using a competing provider just got offered by your cable provider a sweet 50% off deal and zero fee router and cable box to hook him in, while you (being a loyal customer for 10 years) is paying more than him.

Sony gamers are the existing customer. Just got to accept the fact competing customers will get a better deal to hook them in.
Where do you get the silly idea that it's $10 cheaper to buy? Its $70 on XSX too.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Is the Xbox version made by Sony San Diego or is it by a port studio like Nixxes?

If it’s made in-house, imagine working late hours and optimizing a game for a competitive platform. It’s definitely a weird situation. The DF face-off should end with PS5 at the top at least or somebody will get fired lol
Unless it's hidden, it's Sony San Diego. Wiki

Developer(s)San Diego Studio
Publisher(s)


[TR]
[TH]Series[/TH]
[TD]MLB: The Show[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Platform(s)[/TH]

[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Release[/TH]
[TD]April 20, 2021[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Genre(s)[/TH]
[TD]Sports[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Mode(s)[/TH]
[TD]Single-player, multiplayer[/TD]
[/TR]
 
Great marketing/move from MS on this one. Sony will be forced to follow I think.

Should MS continue to pull this move, then longer term Sony will have to answer Gamepass.

Longer still, MS may rue the day they forced Sony's hand. A Sony Gamepass with their own 1st party would be a tough opponent for MS.

Disclaimer: I dont really like the idea of gamepass as I'm unsure of the longer term consequences of it. Remember, when something's too good to be true.......

Luckily a Sony gamepass (ps now with first party titles) will NEVER be successful because I'm keep getting told by Sony fans that they don't like to 'rent games' and it's unsustainable.
 

sinnergy

Member
Yeah, terrible look for Sony

At the same time, I cant begin to imagine how much money MS is spending with Game Pass. I dont trust that its being lucrative. If so, show the damn receipts.

Sony strategy is probably "let's see for how long MS can maintain this shit".

They dont want a service like Game Pass, no way. Not when they can get a lot of money by selling their own exclusives.

So Sony is playing the waiting game. Dont hold your breath for something similar to Game Pass.
Like Sony waited and looked how MS introduced Xbox Live? Gamers win?
 
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kikii

Member
Is the Xbox version made by Sony San Diego or is it by a port studio like Nixxes?

If it’s made in-house, imagine working late hours and optimizing a game for a competitive platform. It’s definitely a weird situation. The DF face-off should end with PS5 at the top at least or somebody will get fired lol
1LHe6Hj.jpg
 

Derktron

Banned
Yeah, terrible look for Sony

At the same time, I cant begin to imagine how much money MS is spending with Game Pass. I dont trust that its being lucrative. If so, show the damn receipts.

Sony strategy is probably "let's see for how long MS can maintain this shit".

They dont want a service like Game Pass, no way. Not when they can get a lot of money by selling their own exclusives.

So Sony is playing the waiting game. Dont hold your breath for something similar to Game Pass.
Yes because people love ❤️ to pay $70 to $100 depending on market for a fucking game. That is why Microsoft is being extremely successful with Gamepass.
 

Derktron

Banned
Luckily a Sony gamepass (ps now with first party titles) will NEVER be successful because I'm keep getting told by Sony fans that they don't like to 'rent games' and it's unsustainable.
Yet data shows that PlayStation gamers don’t really play exclusives as they claim. They probably sell around 2 to 10 million units but no where near the sales of the yearly releases. Think about that.
 
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Three

Member
oh, you think this is bad? Look what we in Europe have to pay:

pDdFdjc.jpg

That’s $117,58
This confirms one thing for me, it's full of microtransaction "packs" and game currency 'Stubs' you can buy for real money. Makes total sense now why it's on gamepass.
Also explains the crazy price for the digital deluxe compared to regular standard edition because if you wanted those things you would have to pay $20+ for 25000 Stubs alone (on gamepass too) and we all know we have microtransaction spenders on gamepass (or do we have microtransaction games?).

This is one of those cases where the game is like a f2p mobile game at full price or offered to a bunch of paying subscribers for exposure. I don't understand why the enthusiasts here are ok with models like this but complain about any price hike for next gen version of games or mobile games.

Yeah, terrible look for Sony

At the same time, I cant begin to imagine how much money MS is spending with Game Pass. I dont trust that its being lucrative. If so, show the damn receipts.

Sony strategy is probably "let's see for how long MS can maintain this shit".

They dont want a service like Game Pass, no way. Not when they can get a lot of money by selling their own exclusives.

So Sony is playing the waiting game. Dont hold your breath for something similar to Game Pass.
The games that you pay a subscription for make money on microtransactions. They make money on data collection. Small budget indie games may even make money per play. It's the mobile model but with a monthly fee. Apple made a move on subs after gamepass too with Apple Arcade.

Big budget single player games with no microtransactions do not fit that model and will lose money. I think Sony will inevitably move to that model with their games being offered day one on PSNow but the type of games they offer will change drastically.

This is what Jim was saying:
“There is actually news to come, but just not today. [day one PSNow] doesn’t make sense for us. We are not going to go down the road of putting new release titles into a subscription model. These games cost many millions of dollars, well over $100 million, to develop. We just don't see that as sustainable.”

Their current games are what traditional games are. Games with huge budgets and no microtransactions but soon this may change. The business model when they set out to make new games will change.
 
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Eliciel

Member
Mid-Term Sony will need to start understanding more clearly how they position themselves vs. the Gamespass in these kind of situations.
 

Fredrik

Member
Yes because people love ❤️ to pay $70 to $100 depending on market for a fucking game. That is why Microsoft is being extremely successful with Gamepass.
Some actually do, in other threads fans are mocking people for paying to rent games with Gamepass and say that they would rather buy the games. Well, there you go!
 

dcmk7

Banned
The only way Sony can kill this noise at the moment is to release it free on PS Plus as an extra game.

It's not like the game isn't packed with MTX, they should recoup some lost revenue via that.

That is the only way they can save face. Let's see what they do.
 
Sony got paid for it to be on gamepass I'm sure... It gives gamepass subscribers like myself who never played it to see how great it is and possibly by it once it's eventually not on gamepass any longer. In the long term will likely be good for sony expanding the fan base for that game along with xbox possibly increasing the popularity and benifits of gamepass. So.... Win win for everyone?
How in the flying fuck is this a win for ps5 owners who have to buy it for 70 dollars , explain it to me
 

Three

Member
When you say huge numbers you mean what exactly?
Just players probably because the Gamepass evangelists hate to admit sales actually decrease even when a bunch of people on gaf say they will cancel their preorders.
I was just thinking we need another MLB thread. You guys do not disappoint.

Unfortunately you will get this. It's all about perception and competitiveness with a certain small group of people. Meanwhile there is very little tangible news for them.
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
The only thing remaining quite hilarious on the 100th similar thread posted on the week is reading all those “wow, you have to buy games, thanks to GPU I do not buy games anymore” as it alternates with all the threads where people swear blindly it would not help crater games perceived value and affect sales mmh mmh…
 
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Mmnow

Member
Yet data shows that PlayStation gamers don’t really play exclusives as they claim. They probably sell around 2 to 10 million units but no where near the sales of the yearly releases. Think about that.
Nobody plays anything. Attach rates are dismal. Even the impressive sellers - your Call of Duties - don't hit anywhere close to half of all console owners.

We're so used to this that if 5 to 10 per cent of players buy a game at any point during that game's lifespan, we call it a roaring success.

It's always a bit cringey when people talk about how "the games industry has always worked" when it's clear a lot of it hasn't worked for a long time.
 

Derktron

Banned
Some actually do, in other threads fans are mocking people for paying to rent games with Gamepass and say that they would rather buy the games. Well, there you go!
Ohh people love to be scammed only to bitch when developers add mtx or loot boxes.
 

MonarchJT

Banned
The only thing remaining quite hilarious on the 100th similar thread posted on the week is reading all those “wow, you have to buy games, thanks to GPU I do not buy games anymore” as it alternates with all the threads where people swear blindly it would not help crater games perceived value and affect sales mmh mmh…
Gamepass isn't free, it's an effect that by diluting the cost during multiple subs makes it seem (and ultimately it is) much cheaper. If the only weapon who people have to defend the 140€ which you need to play outriders and mbl on ps5 (in a period where the people has economic problems due to the covid) against 9.99 of the xsx is the devaluation of the perceived value of the games. Honestly, I guess nobody genuinely gives a fuck about devaluing the perceived value of video games hahaha
 
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