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Do you think Sony will announce something to 'counter' Game Pass this summer?

Do you think Sony will announce something to 'counter' Game Pass this summer?


  • Total voters
    285

yurinka

Member
Like a year or two ago Sony mentioned in a IR meeting they planned many PS Now improvements to scale it up for this next gen, from improving its pricing to its catalog, to release it in more devices like mobile or tablets, to include PS5 games, to release it in more countries or to improve its resolution, input lag or image quality. They even hinted something similar to Stadia targeted to those who don't have a console: to buy games for streaming, a third option added to buy a game on retail or for download.

Some of these things already have been implemented at least partially, other ones appear on multiple Sony patents: techniques to improve input lag/image quality to stream via 5G, support on mobile/tablets/smart tvs/HDMI dongles, etc.

There are still some of these features to be officially announced, and in a recent IR meeting they plan to boost their services in the short term. So maybe they will announce and release them soon, and maybe use them to relaunch PS Now, now that with Virtua Fighter 5US they also started to include day one games there, and it has many stuff that many people doesn't know, like the fact it has hundreds of games more than Game Pass not only to stream, but also to download on console.

Many people gets PS Plus for the online multiplayer, but many people gets it for the monthly games and now in PS5 for the PS Plus Collection, so they may merge that part with PS Now in some way to boost them. And who knows, maybe they announce they will start to include more (maybe all) 1st party games on PS Now/PS Plus even if a few years after release (I think it isn't realistic to expect them to put their 1st party AAA games day one on a subscription, many people ask them to do it because it's what MS does even if I consider it doesn't make senses business wise specially Sony is already breaking many gaming history records including revenue made by a console platform.

What do you think? Do you think is going to announce something soon? What would you want them to do? What do you think they are going to do? Maybe nothing because they are already dominating MS including in revenue from game subscriptions? Discuss, GAF!
 

GHG

Gold Member
Yes $80 games

If that means more high quality games then good.

hold you down GIF by DJ Khaled
 

Tschumi

Member
I wouldn't put it past them, but as far as I know gamepass is 'yet to turn a profit' (according to the last thing i remember reading about it) so yeah maybe they'll think it's not for them..
 
They can just start doing what Nintendo did and put PS1, PSP, PS2, PSV games with trophies on PSNOW. Make them PSNow Exclusive for 3 months. Let the trophy hunters eat.
 

yurinka

Member
Why would 1st place copy the guy in 3rd place?
Sony is making more money than them from game subscriptions and have more subscribers (at least the ones paying a proper full price subscription), and also has a way bigger catalog and is the only one who streams games to console.

But Game Pass is growing very fast in subscribers and amount of games (and many of them are new even if many of them kinda suck), so even if business wise may be a mess maybe soon -if not already happened- would have more subscribers than Plus+Now.

So they may to continue dominating them and have a stronger leadership to make sure that not only MS, but also Stadia, Amazon Luna or similar can't compete with them.

Improvements for PS Plus or PS Now wouldn't need to mean they copy MS, they could improve their offering doing different stuff.

And Plus or Now could be improved not because of MS/GP, it could be just part of the overall Sony strategy where they want to boost all their services (including the not gaming related ones), or the natural path of he ongoing improvement of the service, plus the natural path where Sony always improves every generation all their stuff.


They can just start doing what Nintendo did and put PS1, PSP, PS2, PSV games with trophies on PSNOW. Make them PSNow Exclusive for 3 months. Let the trophy hunters eat.

I agree. As I remember there are more PS2 games on PS4+PS5 (can't remember if PS Now too, but I'd say yes) than Xbox OG games on Game Pass/Xbox BC, and also patented a way to implement trophies on games from old platforms and I'd say they implemented it on the digital PS2 classics + PSP to PS4 ports/remasters (Parappa Remastered, Locoroco Remastered, Patapon Remastered, etc).
 
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Fox Mulder

Member
PS Now is already there to be rebranded or marketed if they want to pump that up. I think they already have better streaming than MS when I tried both.
 

lh032

I cry about Xbox and hate PlayStation.
Sony cant compete with Microsoft in the gamepass modal.
Gamepass is not even profitable for Microsoft yet .

Alot of money is needed to invest in gamepass, which I prefer Sony to utilise on 2nd party IP.
 

Arsic

Gold Member
Nah. 0 need. Their IPs sell gang busters and that's far more money for them then giving people access to older third party games at a loss or giving up their fat profits at launch for their exclusive IPs.

Why even do it now ? Wait until there's a demand and Microsoft does all the tooling in the dirt until its profitable.

If it works out for Microsoft then they can follow up if needed with a better version to get to profits quicker avoiding the same pit falls Xbox has gone through.
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
I hope they improve Psnow. Add more ps1-3 games. Let us download those games on ps4 or at least on ps5. They have golden egg. they just dont know how to utilize them sadly. In my opinion, Psnow has better value compared to gamepass, due to those ps1-ps2 games. But because its stream, and not download, Gamepass simply wins easily. I didnt had a chance to play ps2 and ps1 games.
 

reinking

Gold Member
No. They have their streaming service. Trying to copy Game Pass would be a fools errand and a money sink. Both of Sony's subscription services have been growing. What Sony is doing is working. As long as they continue to bring decent titles to PlayStation Plus I am okay with their approach.
 
Microsoft has succeesfuly fooled their own customers into thinking Xbox is now a smashing success. All by hiding their sales numbers. How many more of these "How will Sony respond now that Xbox is no longer coming third in gaming" threads are we going to have? And how many times have they being told "no, Sony isn't going to respond to competition that is so far behind them"?

And of course, once again we are getting thread titles that are a yes/no question. And the answer to such titles is 90% of the time, NO.
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
Microsoft has succeesfuly fooled their own customers into thinking Xbox is now a smashing success. All by hiding their sales numbers. How many more of these "How will Sony respond now that Xbox is no longer coming third in gaming" threads are we going to have? And how many times have they being told "no, Sony isn't going to respond to competition that is so far behind them"?

And of course, once again we are getting thread titles that are a yes/no question. And the answer to such titles is 90% of the time, NO.
dude go back to your hide. quite your fanboism. Both company are doing their own things. Hell you guys will fry sony, if they release last of us to pc. At least xbox fans are ok with sharing their games with pc players. Bunch of bootlickers who nobody gives a crap about.

I love both of their gamepass, but i am not gonna waste my time defending them like this, by slandering their completive.

Sony needs to compete with Microsoft on gamepass. this will be a win for PlayStation players, since they will be getting good deals, instead of paying 70$ (last deal sale, demon soul was 60$. I managed to grab the last of us 2 and ghost of tsushima for 73$ after taxes.).

when you find common sense next time, argue with me as a gamer, not as a fanboy.
 

supernova8

Banned
Microsoft has succeesfuly fooled their own customers into thinking Xbox is now a smashing success. All by hiding their sales numbers. How many more of these "How will Sony respond now that Xbox is no longer coming third in gaming" threads are we going to have? And how many times have they being told "no, Sony isn't going to respond to competition that is so far behind them"?

And of course, once again we are getting thread titles that are a yes/no question. And the answer to such titles is 90% of the time, NO.

Also I wonder what happens to the Game Pass active subscriber numbers when all the people riding the "3 years for a $1" etc. trains realize they can only keep playing if they pay $15 per month.

Either Xbox gets a massive revenue boost or shit loads of people cancel their subscriptions and Xbox conveniently stops reporting subscriber numbers.
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
Also I wonder what happens to the Game Pass active subscriber numbers when all the people riding the "3 years for a $1" etc. trains realize they can only keep playing if they pay $15 per month.

Either Xbox gets a massive revenue boost or shit loads of people cancel their subscriptions and Xbox conveniently stops reporting subscriber numbers.
If i give you unlimited pass to a disney land, or any entertainment for a small monthly fee, are you gonna take it? That is gamepass. Once people experience the magic, I doubt they will leave. as of now, it doesnt have great games, that will wow people. But 2022 is where hard choice will start. hell blade 2, avowed and starfield for 15$ might be a steal for xbox people. and as for me, the service does what i need. Try as many games as I can. I might find the game i am looking for. So far, my only favorite game is splinter cell series. Havent found a game which will make fall in love with aside of elder scroll series (Mods PC).
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
PS+ gets better games than PSNow and GamePass IMO.
Not day 1 games. I like ps+, But it isnt close as gamepass. I missed that Control ultimate, and i would have missed ff7 remake, if it werent for gamepass headline, and seeing ff7 remake as ps+ line up from r/gamingleaksandrumor's sub reddit. Its a hit or a miss. neverthless a good service, not the same as gamepass. Both depend on what stage you joined. I only started both service this year, and missed Kingdom heart gamepass, since it went under my radar, and wasnt able to buy it on time.
 
dude go back to your hide. quite your fanboism. Both company are doing their own things. Hell you guys will fry sony, if they release last of us to pc. At least xbox fans are ok with sharing their games with pc players. Bunch of bootlickers who nobody gives a crap about.

I love both of their gamepass, but i am not gonna waste my time defending them like this, by slandering their completive.

Sony needs to compete with Microsoft on gamepass. this will be a win for PlayStation players, since they will be getting good deals, instead of paying 70$ (last deal sale, demon soul was 60$. I managed to grab the last of us 2 and ghost of tsushima for 73$ after taxes.).

when you find common sense next time, argue with me as a gamer, not as a fanboy.
People are paying money to buy Sony games because they want to. If they think it is too expensive then they will stop. The market would take care of it. Just as Nintendo wouldn't keep their games at full price for ever if that didn't work out for them.

If you are short on money, there are numerous games that are literally free to play that are fighting for your time. The fact that those games are not THAT good is beside the point; a deal is only good if the game is good.

You are not fooling anyone, if what you are offering is so good the price of entry would have been higher.

If i give you unlimited pass to a disney land, or any entertainment for a small monthly fee, are you gonna take it?
No, because that would be a monthly expense i don't need. I have a few hours a day i have spare, I am not going to waste it on subpar entertainment and also with most of the paid hours not used. And trying to compare Gamepass to Disneyland is silly, that just shows how out of touch you are on the true size of Xbox Division.
 
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supernova8

Banned
If i give you unlimited pass to a disney land, or any entertainment for a small monthly fee, are you gonna take it? That is gamepass. Once people experience the magic, I doubt they will leave. as of now, it doesnt have great games, that will wow people. But 2022 is where hard choice will start. hell blade 2, avowed and starfield for 15$ might be a steal for xbox people. and as for me, the service does what i need. Try as many games as I can. I might find the game i am looking for. So far, my only favorite game is splinter cell series. Havent found a game which will make fall in love with aside of elder scroll series (Mods PC).

Well PS5 seems to be outselling Xbox despite not quite having Game Pass (or rather not shouting from the rooftops about it). I think that answers your question right now. People are willing to forego the benefit of "unlimited" games (it isn't unlimited, there are only about 200 titles and if you're an avid gamer it wouldn't take that long to finish all of the games that are actually worth playing (there is shovelware on there, let's face it, I've seen the list).
 

bitbydeath

Member
Not day 1 games. I like ps+, But it isnt close as gamepass. I missed that Control ultimate, and i would have missed ff7 remake, if it werent for gamepass headline, and seeing ff7 remake as ps+ line up from r/gamingleaksandrumor's sub reddit. Its a hit or a miss. neverthless a good service, not the same as gamepass. Both depend on what stage you joined. I only started both service this year, and missed Kingdom heart gamepass, since it went under my radar, and wasnt able to buy it on time.
It’s had plenty of day 1 games. Much more than either PSNow or GamePass have received since this new gen started.
 
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Spidey Fan

Banned
People are paying money to buy Sony games because they want to. If they think it is too expensive then they will stop. The market would take care of it. Just as Nintendo wouldn't keep their games at full price for ever if that didn't work out for them.

If you are short on money, there are numerous games that are literally free to play that are fighting for your time. The fact that those games are not THAT good is beside the point; a deal is only good if the game is good.

You are not fooling anyone, if what you are offering is so good the price of entry would have been higher.
🤦‍♂️. Honestly I have no idea where your brain is. Not everyone buys new game, because they want to. people wait for sales. Nintendo fans already accepted the fact that Nintendo wont ever reduce their games. so they buy it full. I on other hand know sony games get to sales pretty soon. I bought Spiderman 2 with all dlc for 20$. I bought both lou2 and got for 70$ (Price of ps5 games). I bought cyberpunk 2077 early, and i want my money back. That game runs like crap on my pc. work good on stadia, but not on my pc.

and if i microsoft offer free games to their players, that is good for them. they win with net income, and their players get free games for cheap, including day 1 games with the service. Its mutual benefit system. Not parasitic system.
 
🤦‍♂️. Honestly I have no idea where your brain is. Not everyone buys new game, because they want to. people wait for sales. Nintendo fans already accepted the fact that Nintendo wont ever reduce their games. so they buy it full. I on other hand know sony games get to sales pretty soon. I bought Spiderman 2 with all dlc for 20$. I bought both lou2 and got for 70$ (Price of ps5 games). I bought cyberpunk 2077 early, and i want my money back. That game runs like crap on my pc. work good on stadia, but not on my pc.

and if i microsoft offer free games to their players, that is good for them. they win with net income, and their players get free games for cheap, including day 1 games with the service. Its mutual benefit system. Not parasitic system.
Microsoft is giving their games away because they couldn't convince people to pay for them full price. They are doing what they need to do to sell an inferior product. This is not about being parasitic, Gamepass is cheaper because otherwise no one would pay for them. This is the same reason why Xbox One is now cheaper than PS4. Xbox is not offering a better deal, just a needed price cut due to lower demand.
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
Well PS5 seems to be outselling Xbox despite not quite having Game Pass (or rather not shouting from the rooftops about it). I think that answers your question right now. People are willing to forego the benefit of "unlimited" games (it isn't unlimited, there are only about 200 titles and if you're an avid gamer it wouldn't take that long to finish all of the games that are actually worth playing (there is shovelware on there, let's face it, I've seen the list).
I bought ps5 for my little brother. he doesnt know what demon soul, returnal is. all he cares is playing with his friends, whether its destiny or cold war.

and ps5 outselling xbox is guarenteed, when ps4 had 110m ps4 last gen. People like new shiny stuff. they go crazy for whatever trend in the market (my sister wanted iphone 12, since her friends had it, me and my brother bought it for her.).

All that matter is what these new business bring. at the end of the day, i am pc player, and will get both system in the future. My PlayStation games will come to ps4 (hfw, gow 2), and xbox supports pc, so i will get their games there.
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
Microsoft is giving their games away because they couldn't convince people to pay for them full price. They are doing what they need to do to sell an inferior product. This is not about being parasitic, Gamepass is cheaper because otherwise no one would pay for them. This is the same reason why Xbox One is now cheaper than PS4. Xbox is not offering a better deal, just a needed price cut due to lower demand.
hahahah. A trillion dollar company makes their games cheaper, because no one wants to buy them. hahahahhahaaha. thank you for the laugh.
Green Arrow Laughing GIF
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
It’s had plenty of day 1 games. Much more than either PSNow or GamePass have received since this new gen started.
I wasnt there, so i cant attest to that. but with recent oddworld soulstorm day1, i will believe it. still gamepass has the 1st party games day1.

both service are great. and i hope they duke it out. so we gamers can benefit from this kind off rivalry. More games for us, more happy we are.
 

supernova8

Banned
I bought ps5 for my little brother. he doesnt know what demon soul, returnal is. all he cares is playing with his friends, whether its destiny or cold war.

and ps5 outselling xbox is guarenteed, when ps4 had 110m ps4 last gen. People like new shiny stuff. they go crazy for whatever trend in the market (my sister wanted iphone 12, since her friends had it, me and my brother bought it for her.).

All that matter is what these new business bring. at the end of the day, i am pc player, and will get both system in the future. My PlayStation games will come to ps4 (hfw, gow 2), and xbox supports pc, so i will get their games there.

Putting to one side your anecdotal evidence (which is neither here nor there), I think the point is that PS4 continued to outsell Xbox One even when you could literally get an annual GamePass subscription for $1.

It could be a lack of publicity/bad marketing but the bottom line is that Sony doesn't need to offer a competing service to Game Pass. At least not for the foreseeable future. If people start to switch from Playstation to Xbox (and there is clearly data showing that) then maybe Sony will do something.

As for the theme of this thread, No they will not announce something this summer.
 

Spidey Fan

Banned
Putting to one side your anecdotal evidence (which is neither here nor there), I think the point is that PS4 continued to outsell Xbox One even when you could literally get an annual GamePass subscription for $1.

It could be a lack of publicity/bad marketing but the bottom line is that Sony doesn't need to offer a competing service to Game Pass. At least not for the foreseeable future. If people start to switch from Playstation to Xbox (and there is clearly data showing that) then maybe Sony will do something.

As for the theme of this thread, No they will not announce something this summer.
Gamepass 1$ is not infinite. you have to wait certain month to use it again. or you need to make alot of xbox accounts, and use your debit card again and again. Once people see what is there, they wont leave it, unless you are old player, who has alot of games.

Ps4 outsold xbox, because of certain e3. tv tv tv, is what made xbox bad to gamers, and lack of exclusives (5 dev team).

Sony hasnt sold more than 20m sales except on spiderman (Big IP), which was 20m+ on 110m console. People generally buy the console for other games.

I am not looking down on PlayStation for this. Most people (casuals) arent interested in their ip that much. and just want console to play with their friends. ps4 was just the hot topic in the town, since xbox gained bad reputation in e3 tv tv tv.

This gen is quite different. that XSS is what is gonna win this gen, if Microsoft played their card. Both PlayStation fans, and casuals will buy it. with gamepass, its gaming machine (5$ xlive, 10$ gamepass).
 

Spidey Fan

Banned

Chukhopops

Member
It won’t happen anytime soon because Sony is making more than enough money without having to change their business model. There’s no pressure from their user base either.

I personally like that brands do something different and while I can’t imagine myself not using GP in the future I think it’s better if Sony sticks to their strengths.
 

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
I think Sony will improve its PS Now services a bit more in the future. But that would be just to improve their offerings -- not to compete with Gamepass.

Microsoft introduced this Gamepass model, but they have yet to prove that it is sustainable and profitable. Until they do that, it is useless to expect other companies to abandon their tried-and-tested profitable strategies and adopt someone else's unproven strategy. It doesn't make sense.

Personally, I think Sony should continue doing what they have been doing, but they should also combine PS+ and PS Now. This will simplify their subscription services as currently, it is confusing. Second, despite the substantial increase in PS+ monthly offerings, it does not get the mindshare because of the monthly rollouts and expiration of games.

Combining the PS Now downloadable section + PS+ collection + adding new games that would be added either permanently or for multiple months would allow them to stay in the news and market their subscription service more effectively.
 
I would like Sony to merge PS+ and PS Now into Playstation Ultimate with lots of enhanced PS1-PS3 Classics on demand.

Still I predict it ain't gonna happen.

Edit. I predict that PS+ Collection will get more games and Sony will make a big deal about how many customers the service has and say: "we will improve the service in the near and distant future with more features which we'll share later."
 
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