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[Bernd Lauert]

Actually Microsoft made PS4 so succesful with tvtvtv, always on, copy protection and number 1 reason: 100 bucks more expensive on release. Sony would have sold easily 90-100 million consoles without a single exclusive game.

PS4 sold something like 40 million consoles before having its first big dick exclusive out, so you're 100% correct.

 

[Demon2blades]

I listed the reasons why PS4 was successful earlier in the thread.

Yes and they will continue to do so with the ps5 especially If the rumours are true and expanding the brand to pc

 

[Alright]

PS4 sold something like 40 million consoles before having its first big dick exclusive out, so you're 100% correct.

So by this logic, Microsoft doesn't need exclusives, or console sales, to be successful?

That explains their market strategy

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Yes and they will continue to do so with the ps5 especially If the rumours are true and expanding the brand to pc

I listed 5 reasons, and 4 of those reasons don't apply to the PS5, and the 5th reason is TBD. That's the entire point of the "concern".

 

[turtlepowa]

So by this logic, Microsoft doesn't need exclusives, or console sales, to be successful. Phil Spencer must have gone to the same big brain business school as you

That explains their market strategy

Well they don't have exclusives anymore. I wouldn't call games on Xbox + Pc + smartphones + tablets exclusive games and believe me if Sony or Nintendo would allow Game Pass on their console MS would go for it.

 

[AdjudicatorHead]

All the clickbait websites and YT channels are just jumping on the Sony bashing bandwagon now...

 

[Demon2blades]

I listed 5 reasons, and 4 of those reasons don't apply to the PS5, and the 5th reason is TBD. That's the entire point of the "concern".

"Grow your platform by any means necessary
Get 30% commissions on every transaction on your platform
Sell monthly subscriptions to your various services
Sell exclusive games and hopefully make more money than you spent on the games"

They do all those though ? ... And pc expansion will come it's too much money to leave on the table

 

[Bernd Lauert]

"Grow your platform by any means necessary
Get 30% commissions on every transaction on your platform
Sell monthly subscriptions to your various services
Sell exclusive games and hopefully make more money than you spent on the games"

They do all those though ? ... And pc expansion will come it's too much money to leave on the table

The reasons why PS4 was successful were in a different post. Scroll up!

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Well they don't have exclusives anymore. I wouldn't call games on Xbox + Pc + smartphones + tablets exclusive games and believe me if Sony or Nintendo would allow Game Pass on their console MS would go for it.

They're Gamepass exclusive. That's how you grow your platform nowadays, you don't shackle it to a console.

 

[Alright]

Well they don't have exclusives anymore. I wouldn't call games on Xbox + Pc + smartphones + tablets exclusive games and believe me if Sony or Nintendo would allow Game Pass on their console MS would go for it.

of course MS would go for it. What kind of ridiculous statement is that?

"If British Airways got paid by Ryanair for taking British Airways passengers on Ryanair flights, British Airways would totally go for it"

What is this thread? Did the short bus just get WiFi?

 

[Calverz]

I have a crystal ball and I can see the future, by 2028:

- PS5 will be north of 100m
- Sony first party will still have a goty after goty that sells better than anything with MS.
- we will look back at such articles and laugh, just like we laughed at "selling 10m doesn't mean much" in 2014.
- MS will still be hiding their console sold numbers lol.

"Sony always wins baby"
- Chad warden

 

[Zoro7]

Same people embarrassing themselves over and over.

 

[ZywyPL]

So to sell more games and services that bring profit, a console company shouldn't focus on selling consoles, instead it should expand to non-console gaming devices to sell its games made for consoles.

The bolded is where you set yourself some expectations/demands which simply don't hold true anymore. Last time I checked the games are doing more than fine once ported to PC, and supposedly there are plans to port even more titles. The mobile devices would require titles made specifically for them just like Vita did, I give you that, but that's what they're also already setting up for.

 

[Alright]

They're Gamepass exclusive. That's how you grow your platform nowadays, you don't shackle it to a console.

This thread is amazing

 

[Bernd Lauert]

This thread is amazing

 

[Demon2blades]

The reasons why PS4 was successful were in a different post. Scroll up!

I wasn't on about the ps4 post but the post where you listed out how to be successful and i stated they do everything you listed

 

[turtlepowa]

of course MS would go for it. What kind of ridiculous statement is that?

"If British Airways got paid by Ryanair for taking British Airways passengers on Ryanair flights, British Airways would totally go for it"

What is this thread? Did the short bus just get WiFi?

I would like to answer this, but people that feel the need to insult others are just worth one more mousklick to me.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

I wasn't on about the ps4 post but the post where you listed out how to be successful and i stated they do everything you listed

They do. The question is about their approach. Last gen they lucked out by having a complete dumbfuck as a competitor. This gen is different so people are wondering if relying on a handful of best-selling blockbusters is enough to maintain the industry lead.

 

[Alright]

The bolded is where you set yourself some expectations/demands which simply don't hold true anymore. Last time I checked the games are doing more than fine once ported to PC, and supposedly there are plans to port even more titles. The mobile devices would require titles made specifically for them just like Vita did, I give you that, but that's what they're also already setting up for.

If games are doing "more than fine" on PC and supposedly more titles are coming, then Sony should shut the PlayStation department down and become a software company.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Maybe Sony should make more shit games then? Gamers seem to hate good games and are concerned.

 

[Schmick]

This is bullshit and you know it.
If you believe this crap you wouldn't cheer for Bethesda games to be exclusives

Exclusive to Gamepass which is available on console, PC and mobile

 

[SLB1904]

The Nintendo Switch made more profits in 3 years than PS4 in 7, while selling quite a bit fewer consoles. Your point makes sense for Nintendo since they heavily rely on exclusives, but it doesn't make sense for Playstation.

Dude, your ignorance is absurd. If sony cared about just profits and not grow the company. They could literally sit down for a year and not invest on anything and brag about profits.
Playstation made more revenue than ms and Nintendo combined.

Is like talking to a child at this point

 

[SLB1904]

Exclusive to Gamepass which is available on console, PC and mobile

"Exclusive" means not available on playstation. That's what exclusive came down to now

 

[Demon2blades]

They do. The question is about their approach. Last gen they lucked out by having a complete dumbfuck as a competitor. This gen is different so people are wondering if relying on a handful of best-selling blockbusters is enough to maintain the industry lead.

My opinion is this gens just started people don't know what's to come on the games front and Sony knows how much flak ms got for riding the same old exclusives , I see pc as the key battleground area between ms and Sony for growth this gen i expect both will put up a good fight

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Dude, your ignorance is absurd. If sony cared about just profits and not grow the company. They could literally sit down for a year and not invest on anything and brag about profits.
Playstation made more revenue than ms and Nintendo combined.

Is like talking to a child at this point

I know your "Sony spends trillions on developing games" narrative, but it's kinda boring since you can't prove it with actual numbers. For all we know they spent half their revenue on the Champion's League ads Bo is always bragging about

 

[Bernd Lauert]

My opinion is this gens just started people don't know what's to come on the games front and Sony knows how much flak ms got for riding the same old exclusives , I see pc as the key battleground area between ms and Sony for growth this gen i expect both will put up a good fight

Yeah that's the thing, nobody knows and people are speculating. I personally think Playstation is gonna be fine.

 

[3liteDragon]

 

[Reality Czar]

We get it the future is Game Piss and renting Skyrim until the year 2030.

 

[Leyasu]

Are we now complaining that Sony is making lots of BIG successful games? Where is the concern of MS almost not making anything worthwhile for more than a decade? Funny

Whilst I think that Sony already has this gen in the bag, and what you say is correct. I don’t think that you can see the wood for the trees.

The past is done. And one company is investing massively in new studios and its future, whilst the other seems content to continue thinking that the status quo is eternal.

Admittedly, nobody knows what the future holds. But Microsoft are making serious moves and Sony appears not to be. Hence all the talking about it recently

 

[Birdo]

All they need is brand loyalty to succeed. In Europe, Playstation is practically a religion. They could not release a single game for an entire generation and still be on top.

This is like one of hundreds of times people said that Apple were in trouble for a bad decision....... No, nothing can stop brand loyalty. NOTHING!

 

[Alright]

No mention of VR?

Sony deserve praise for taking a risk like that in the position they were in. In fact, any company deserves praise for that kind of thing.

I really hope MS and Nintendo take a bash at VR, regardless of success

 

[Negotiator101]

I too am EXTREMELY concerned over this strategy that made the Playstation 4 an overwhelmingly successful console.

Times are a changing my friend.

 

[ZywyPL]

Well they don't have exclusives anymore. I wouldn't call games on Xbox + Pc + smartphones + tablets exclusive games and believe me if Sony or Nintendo would allow Game Pass on their console MS would go for it.

That's exactly what they want tho, isn't it? More copies sold=more profit, more DLCs sold=more profit, more MTX sold=more profit, that's all those huge corporations are chasing for you know.

If games are doing "more than fine" on PC and supposedly more titles are coming, then Sony should shut the PlayStation department down and become a software company.

They are making games themselves since PSX launched, dunno what's your point here is... Seems to me you clearly don't understand how this business works, or that it is a business to begin with, don't you?

 

[b6a6es]

Maybe by 2028, some people will realize that selling consoles isn't the key goal of the console industry anymore.

Its the $$ Profits that matters, and I doubt investing over 50B$-100B$ on a 1$ service is ever gonna be profitable

 

[b6a6es]

Times are a changing my friend.

Tell that to the switch, no gamepass alternative and 60$ Ports of decades old games yet sales go BRRRRRRR

 

[SLB1904]

I know your "Sony spends trillions on developing games" narrative, but it's kinda boring since you can't prove it with actual numbers. For all we know they spent half their revenue on the Champion's League ads Bo is always bragging about

Does really matter where they spend?
I cant prove with actual numbers? What revenue is then?

 

[Schmick]

"Exclusive" means not available on playstation. That's what exclusive came down to now

You've gone of on one your rages again and forgot the conversation

Bernd Lauert said this;

Maybe by 2028, some people will realize that selling consoles isn't the key goal of the console industry anymore.

Then you said this

This is bullshit and you know it.
If you believe this crap you wouldn't cheer for Bethesda games to be exclusives

You seem stuck in the old ways. Bethesda is exclusive to Gamepass (albeit a few games exclusive to PS on timed exclusive)... Gamepass is available on Xbox Consoles, PC and mobile.

 

[Negotiator101]

Tell that to the switch, no gamepass alternative and 60$ Ports of decades old games yet sales go BRRRRRRR

"Changing"

 

[SLB1904]

Its the $$ Profits that matters, and I doubt investing over 50B$-100B$ on a 1$ service is ever gonna be profitable

Spot on.

 

[DavidGzz]

I like what Sony does. I'll continue to buy both consoles because they are so different from each other. I understand the concern though.

 

[BattleScar]

How to turn a profit as a console gaming company:

Grow your platform by any means necessary
Get 30% commissions on every transaction on your platform
Sell monthly subscriptions to your various services
Sell exclusive games and hopefully make more money than you spent on the games

How not to turn a profit as a console gaming company:

Sell consoles at loss or break even

You must have missed the part where PlayStation Network services brings in more revenue than the entirety of Xbox.

 

[Leyasu]

Its the $$ Profits that matters, and I doubt investing over 50B$-100B$ on a 1$ service is ever gonna be profitable

As if it is going to stay 1$ even for those that use the loopholes.

 

[Allandor]

I always liked Sony for investing into less mainstream games like:
ICO, SotC, Tha Last Guardian, Gravity Rush, Nier, Motorstorm etc.

Thanks to that we are got whole Souls genre - Demon's Souls is what it started. Beside huge AAA games they were always trying something niche and some of those games were trully brilliant. I really don't like focus only on BLOCKBUSTERS. I like Uncharted but is pretty medicore to me - fun shooting with good graphic. Bloodborne and Shadow of The Colossus on the other hand are masterpieces that I absoluetly love.

The problem is the game-developing cost are too high right now and it's better (from financial perspective) to do safe bet. But without those risks the PlayStation brand would not be where it is now.

The moment Sony stop making interesting new titles is the momen when they will start going downhill. You can see what happened to Microsoft when they tried to continue they brands like Gow and Forza for years withoout anything new... If all Sony has to offer is MORE Uncharted, GOW, Horizon, GoT - i think some players will burn out.

Well, yes. But I think the bigger problem with AAA titles is, that the development cycle is just to long now. Even a "remake" (so everything is more or less planned) does now need 3 years to develop. Game development just got much more complicated with the last generation.
You can see that when you look at Nintendo. New stuff is rare. Most things now are Remasters. Remasters are normally not bad (because there are always new player that didn't play those games before) but currently there are so many that not many new games get released.
The big problem with the long development time is just, that you plan a game that get released in 5-7 years. It really is hard to predict what kind of game/controls/gameplay/graphics... is needed at that point to not be outdated at day one. Also you must finance the whole dev-time, which make it impossible for smaller/independent studios to handle. And through all this time, many other things can happen. E.g. Zombies are no longer in so a large chunk of your target audience might be gone.

 

[TheGodfather07]

Maybe by 2028, some people will realize that selling consoles isn't the key goal of the console industry anymore.

sure to us its more about just playing games but you think these company's dont care how much they sell? thats always been the gauge for how sucessful a product is. if your talking about subscriptions than the more hardware you sell, the more subscribers to your services you will have. this "Sales dont matter" is dumb. is it ok if playstation only sells 20m units this gen than? sales dont matter right? sony will still have 50m sibscribers to plus! who cares if their console flops!? im sure nintendo were super happy about wii u too! can you explain to me what is success than if not hardware sold and record breaking revenue?

 

[b6a6es]

The Nintendo Switch made more profits in 3 years than PS4 in 7, while selling quite a bit fewer consoles. Your point makes sense for Nintendo since they heavily rely on exclusives, but it doesn't make sense for Playstation.

Fun fact: PS4 is *now* the second most profitable console ever after the switch, it made more money than DS & Wii

& Unironically, the only years Xbox were ever profitable were the Don Mattrick years (2008/2013)

 

[azertydu91]

Whilst I think that Sony already has this gen in the bag, and what you say is correct. I don’t think that you can see the wood for the trees.

The past is done. And one company is investing massively in new studios and its future, whilst the other seems content to continue thinking that the status quo is eternal.

Admittedly, nobody knows what the future holds. But Microsoft are making serious moves and Sony appears not to be. Hence all the talking about it recently

Even though !I mostly agree with your statement, I do remember that it is exactly what has been said befaore the gen lauched.
And people started to get worried or even concerned but in the end between both Sony was way more ready than MS, I mean look at the games and their upcoming slate of games.

And what makes me cautious is how agressive MS is with marketing and PR, look at the controller latency for example MS went overboard to talk about how it has the lowest latency than any Xbox controller and sony didn't say a thing and tests showed that the dualsense had lower latency.

It repeats again and again but the dog barking the loudest is more often than not the dog that won't fight, or as I would like to say do you want a girlfriend that talk about sex all the time but barely does it or the one that doesn't talk about it but is always ready to go.

Maybe when MS will have something more to show than Halo and CGI then I will be interested in some of their games but as of now there's nothing out for me on the horizon.

 

[Alright]

That's exactly what they want tho, isn't it? More copies sold=more profit, more DLCs sold=more profit, more MTX sold=more profit, that's all those huge corporations are chasing for you know.




They are making games themselves since PSX launched, dunno what's your point here is... Seems to me you clearly don't understand how this business works, or that it is a business to begin with, don't you?

it was sarcasm.

 

[Thirty7ven]

The only thing they are doing wrong is not expanding through acquisition of IP and talent.

 

[Papacheeks]

Yeah, that did wonders for MS when the Xbox 360 was selling gangbusters and the MS management believed they should only invest in their million selling AAA titles (Halo, Forza, Fable) because third party publishers would take care of the rest. MS even forced other internal studios to give up their own IPs to work on Halo or Fable instead. And let's broaden the appeal of the Halo brand by developing a Halo movie or tv show!

I see the same thing happening at Sony: no interest in Japanese niche titles, increased focus on their biggest IPs, developing multiple movies bases on these IPs, creating mobile games (probably also based on these same IPs), making their less important internal studios work on remakes of these IPs...

That's not a good sign at all. Sony today is just as complacent as MS was ten years ago when the whole games division went down the drain.

This is false. If this were true Shue would not be signing the deals he is with Indie developers which are now making similar niche games that are heavily Japanese inspired. Sony is constantly making deals for exclusive content from Japan.

Difference is they dont need to bleed money to support that type of library. Why do you think Nintendo outsources so much for capcom, sega, platinum games, Square? They could make their own stuff but they would rather either fund a game with a outside developer or just make a deal to have it on their platform.

Which is exactly what Playstation is doing.

The only thing they are doing wrong is not expanding through acquisition of IP and talent.

They literally bought insomniac a year and half ago? Sony has 2 teams per studio. SO at any point they can have 2 projects going at specific time in development.

 

[TheGodfather07]

So to sell more games and services that bring profit, a console company shouldn't focus on selling consoles, instead it should expand to non-console gaming devices to sell its games made for consoles.

console sales dont matter to microsoft, yet a majority of subscribers to gamepass are subscribed through an xbox console! if you take away xbox ones 50m consoles sold. how many gamepass subscribers would there be? if xbox one sold 150m consoles, how many gamepass subscriber would there be? think people! its pretty simple basic understanding! microsoft absolutely want to sell as many systems as possible! i get why hardcore xbox fans say the opposite but it just isnt true.