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OPINON: Sony Not Offering Performance Upgrade To Ghosts For Free Feels Anti-Consumer

Is Sony justified charging $10 more for performance upgrade when other platforms do it for free?

  • Yes

    Votes: 97 23.2%
  • No

    Votes: 232 55.5%
  • Yes but only if tied with new exclusive content not related to resolution/framerate (give examples)

    Votes: 89 21.3%

  • Total voters
    418
  • Poll closed .

TheAssist

Member
Bad pricing is Anti-Consumer and its not just a sony thing
here is the actual definition

Definition of anti-consumer


: not favorable to consumers : improperly favoring the interests of businesses over the interests of consumersanti-consumer practices
By that definition everything should be free.

Sony is upfront with what you get for the 10 bucks. You are not forced to upgrade, since you can just buy the DLC for the PS4 version which got a free 60fps boost. This is just some people saying that they dont like the price, which is not the same as being anti consumer. Are all luxury products anti consumer? Is every "brand" anti consumer because cheaper off brand alternatives exist? No. They are more expansive than some alternative, but its not the same as being anti consumer.

Its anti consumer if you split the entire market with your competition and then dont compete, so you can freely set prices. Something american ISP's do. You could also argue that putting EXP boosts in a full priced single player game is anti consumer, because the consumer did rightfully so not expect there to be free to play mechanics in a full priced game.

However, as much as you might not like the price tag, Sony is very upfront with what you get for the money and offers you the choice to not upgrade. Hence its not anti consumer.

I myself might not do the upgrade but still get the DLC, depending on how much of an improvement there is. And I think that's fine. If I later on decide that it might be worth it, I can still buy it. I absolutely fail to see were this is in any ways anti consumer.

You also have the option to wait for a sale.
 

Bartski

Gold Member
Threads like this is why we will never get free support like the game received until now, free DLCs like Legends - a perfect platform for selling MTX with zero MTX, ever again. Why the fuck should anyone bother.
 
Threads like this is why we will never get free support like the game received until now, free DLCs like Legends - a perfect platform for selling MTX with zero MTX, ever again. Why the fuck should anyone bother.
People keep mentioning that they added this in.....the MP mode may not of been ready on launch which is why it was probably free
most of sonys first party action games last gen that had multiplayer that was part of the game on release and from all indications TLOU2 is no doubt going to get the "Directors cut" experience

The MP is ghosts is great but people are saying that this was seperate addon are probably the same people that are going to call Apple revolutionary when it puts chargers back in their phones after they removed them from their latest models citing environmental reasons.
 

Stooky

Member
True. Let's hope the upgrade charges are worth the good will they are eroding from their customer base.
Lol I guess artist shouldn’t get paid for their work lol. They animated all the dialogue to Japanese language. Eroding the base lol
 

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
No, it's not anti-consumer. It's actually very odd to expect free upgrades when there is substantial work involved by devs.

Besides, Sony/Sucker Punch has already offered a FREE 60 FPS performance upgrade for Ghost of Tsushima. Not to mention the entire Legends mode for free.

Now they are asking $10 for additional PS5 features that obviously require extra work: haptic feedback, 3D audio, adaptive triggers, etc. If devs worked on those features and spent considerable hours, they deserve to be paid for it.

When was the last time any of us worked for free for our clients, customers, or companies?
 
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EDMIX

Member
People keep mentioning that they added this in.....the MP mode may not of been ready on launch which is why it was probably free

lol just stop man.

Something not being ready for launch doesn't automatically mean LEGALLY IT MUST BE FREE and Sony was just following the law or something. Its free cause Sony wanted it to be free, JUST like Sony is charging because they want to charge for that DLC coming out. Keep that same energy. When its bad, Sony is doing it on purpose cause greedy greedy, but when its good its only free cause it was not ready for launch........as if no one has ever made paid for DLC post launch.....amazing

Lots of DLC is "not ready for launch" that is paid for with the intention of literally making money.
I mean shit, why not just delay it if Sony is so greedy? Doesn't fit your narrative or?

The MP was never even announced before release, to even argue it was suppose to be at launch because what evidence exist that it was ever planned for that in the first place and what evidence points to it being free solely cause it wasn't at launch?


The MP is ghosts is great but people are saying that this was seperate addon are probably the same people that are going to call Apple revolutionary

Except that isn't a matter of opinion.

Its literally a mode, ADDED ON TO THE GAME FREE OF CHARGE.

So people are calling it factually what it is.
 
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bender

What time is it?
Lol I guess artist shouldn’t get paid for their work lol. They animated all the dialogue to Japanese language. Eroding the base lol

lol eroding good will lol not eroding the base lol now I sound just like you lol a complete tool lol
 

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
People keep mentioning that they added this in.....the MP mode may not of been ready on launch which is why it was probably free
most of sonys first party action games last gen that had multiplayer that was part of the game on release and from all indications TLOU2 is no doubt going to get the "Directors cut" experience

The MP is ghosts is great but people are saying that this was seperate addon are probably the same people that are going to call Apple revolutionary when it puts chargers back in their phones after they removed them from their latest models citing environmental reasons.
Stop. Please.

After the game already received critical and commercial success, what was stopping Sony from charging $20-$30 for Legends?
 

FranXico

Member
The hypocrites just don't sleep, do they?

I could swear that Ghost of Tsushima already runs at 60fps on the PS5 at no extra cost.

BTW, why not a thread about how Psychonauts 2 not getting a PS5 version is anti-consumer?

Or how about a thread about MS charging higher fees on top of their rental service for online multiplayer? When Sony includes MP in PSNow games, that is very anti-consumer!

BTW, where were you when the online multiplayer paywall scam started all the way back in 2003?
 
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The hypocrites just don't sleep, do they?

I could swear that Ghost of Tsushima already runs at 60fps on the PS5 at no extra cost.

BTW, why not a thread about how Psychonauts 2 not getting a PS5 version is anti-consumer?

Or how about a thread about MS charging higher fees on top of their rental service for online multiplayer? When Sony includes MP in PSNow games, that is very anti-consumer!
  • Because Microsoft is not charging you $70 for what essentially is a ps4 game with a coat of paint in some parts
  • or $30 if you own the ps4 game
  • Or $10 if you bought the directors edition on ps4 and want to upgrade to the ps5 version
 
I'm not sure what the issue is here? This repackage of Ghosts comes with new expansion correct? So you're paying for new content not an enhanced version correct? So is the only issue that the PS5 version is £10 more?
 
Welcome to the free market, buy something if you want it and you feel it's worth it to you and don't don't do if it isn't. That's the magic of having a free market, prices take care of themselves.
I'd like everything to be free to me and all companies to make exactly what I want them to make but I also realise that's just not sustainable and as an individual I'm little more than an annouyance who stands between them and my finances. If the company isn't doing so well and their products/services are not in high demand then they'll offer me more to get at my money (PS3 generation + all Xbox generations but 360) but if they're doing well and there's more demand for their products/services then they don't need to go out of their way because people already want what they offer.
I know it will always be brought up in places like this but places like this just aren't relevant to the larger market.
 
None of that justifies the bolded.
Sorry wrong reply..if they charge for a ps5 upgrade then we would have a precedent but its more likely to have some sort of resolution scale depending on what platform its on
and they probably wont slap directors cut on it and charge you $70
 

Lupin25

Member
If Sony was truly "For The Players", they would have rewarded loyal customers who purchased the game with the free PS5 upgrade and then simply sold the new content separately as DLC. This "Director's Cut" should have been for people who never bought the game on PS4 originally.

For players who’ve already bought the game on PS4, they “are” essentially purchasing the separate DLC through the $20 upgrade path, I believe.

The “Director’s Cuts” are for users such as myself (hi, I’m new and not an ALT lol), who has never bought the original game and wants to experience it first and best on next-gen hardware.

$70 makes sense, personally. You’re getting the original game (which was $60), with all of this additional content for an extra $10.
 
I understand your entire point and I'm sure this wasn't your intended outcome, OP, but I feel the options you have in the thread poll, kinda splits up the "No" camp into a similar but a slightly extended "Yes but only if tied with new exclusive content not related to resolution/framerate (give examples)", i.e. another "No" camp, which aims for the same opinion tbh.

To your question though, it's a straight up NO. No console maker or 3rd party publisher should charge for a next gen upgrade "fee", PERIOD. Just think about the scumbaggery if EA or Acti charged $10 for you to use RTX features on new gen GPU's.

Sony should do what Coalition did with Gears 5 and it's campaign DLC. Provide the upgrade and the native next-gen version for free (not lock it behind paywall) and just charge for the DLC.

Edit - If possible, OP and everyone, request the mods to just merge the votes of the third option to the prior "No" option, as they both serve the same purpose.
 
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NahaNago

Member
Bad pricing is Anti-Consumer and its not just a sony thing
here is the actual definition

Definition of anti-consumer


: not favorable to consumers : improperly favoring the interests of businesses over the interests of consumersanti-consumer practices
Isn't that pretty much just business? I mean why would a business price things favorably for the consumer instead of favorably for the business.

on topic it is mostly just kinda crappy but this is pretty much business as usual for console games. I don't expect video games on console to give free upgrades to their games unlike pc. Outside of fixing bugs any other upgrade on a game your going to have to pay for it.
 

LMJ

Member
Christ people...this isn't anti consumer...

Sony was upfront about the price

Sony was upfront about the upgrade requirements and what they're for (DLC/PS5 upgrade etc)

Some might consider it scummy (understandably) but they were honest about it (and did offer a 60 FPS PSV upgrade for free)

Something that is anti consumer is an action that could be considered detrimental to it's consumer base in the name of greed etc.

Definition of anti-consumer

improperly favoring the interests of businesses over the interests of consumers anti-consumer practices

Key word there is "improperly" as in what Sony is doing may seem greedy, but is hardly an improper action...



If you need an ACTUAL anti-consumer event just take a look at our friends at Activision...

When Crash Team Racing remake was released there was a store front that seemed awfully mobile in nature, but alo and behold it was free from the dreaded "microtransactions" and nearly every item could be won through hard work or advancing the story...

Sadly shortly after the games first online event MTX were indeed implemented and the prices (wampa fruits) to purchase vehicles went UP substantially (a new cart could run up to 9999 wampa fruits or $10)

THAT is anti consumer (see also EA and Fallout 76)
 

ZywyPL

Banned
I liked the idea of the rumored Ghost of Ikishima expansion much more. Like, you want an extra content? Here's the standalone thing. But the PS5 upgrades like 60FPS, 4K, high-res texture pack etc., should be free, same for stuff like DS support or 3D audio, because after all those are the things Sony's whole marketing is based on, those are the features they market the PS5 with, that's why people buy it for, and turns out they need to pay for those marketed features per game basis, like with Spider- Man Remastered, soon DS and GoT DC, which is just absurd...

But then again, we're talking about Sony here, the "pioneers" of re-selling old PS3 games with nothing but a res bump on PS4 for 40 bucks, so what to expect, you let them smell the money, now they're not letting it go anytime soon. Thank god at least the 60FPS patches are free, but you never know, they might dump them too in favor of paid DC editions. But hey, it's that what makes people happy, then be it. Just be sure to not to call EA or Acti greedy for doing the exact same thing.
 
If the dlc really is 15 hours than what exactly are people complaining about? You expect that for free? Actual new content will always have to be paid for.
 
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nbkicker

Member
I think the price for the new area etc to play is acceptable, but the ps4 to ps5 upgrade price when u already getting nearly 4k(checkerboard) at 60fps anyway and all u seem to be getting is 3d audio (deffently not as good as they trying to make out) , dualsense support (nice but not really noticable when playing) and japanese lypsync (is anyone really gonna use) for me if it had been better high res textures, or real time refelectuons etc then would be worth it but they charging a upgrade price for something every other company would just give as a free upgrade
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
Christ people...this isn't anti consumer...

Sony was upfront about the price

Sony was upfront about the upgrade requirements and what they're for (DLC/PS5 upgrade etc)

Some might consider it scummy (understandably) but they were honest about it (and did offer a 60 FPS PSV upgrade for free)

Something that is anti consumer is an action that could be considered detrimental to it's consumer base in the name of greed etc.

Definition of anti-consumer

improperly favoring the interests of businesses over the interests of consumers anti-consumer practices

Key word there is "improperly" as in what Sony is doing may seem greedy, but is hardly an improper action...



If you need an ACTUAL anti-consumer event just take a look at our friends at Activision...

When Crash Team Racing remake was released there was a store front that seemed awfully mobile in nature, but alo and behold it was free from the dreaded "microtransactions" and nearly every item could be won through hard work or advancing the story...

Sadly shortly after the games first online event MTX were indeed implemented and the prices (wampa fruits) to purchase vehicles went UP substantially (a new cart could run up to 9999 wampa fruits or $10)

THAT is anti consumer (see also EA and Fallout 76)

Chance to say Arrogant Sony is Back or Sony Is Anti-consumer even out of context? The only thing making some posts better would be a GamePass plug. Although to be fair the OP was not really that console war drama fuelled, still disagree with the premise.
 
Sony's blog post specifically mentions "4K resolution options** and framerates targeting 60 FPS. **4K display required" in their blog post concerning PS5 enhancements. That would insinuate there's additional enhancement in the PS5 version under PS5 exclusive features. Or does the blog post mean something different?
The PS4 Pro version was already advertised to have "4K resolution" and if you have a PS5 you already get 60fps in the "4K" mode. To me it looks like they are saying that's what you get with the PS5 version of the game.
 

Skifi28

Member
I also don't agree with the 10 dollar upgrade, which is why I'm most likely only buying the expansion, the game will still be 60fps as that was patched for free. I wouldn't call it anti-consumer since you are given options, just shitty.
 
That actually makes the $10 extra look worst, because then you have to really ask what the extra money is for. Japanese lip-sync and Dualsense functionality? The former is very questionable and the latter is just a flat-out bad reason for charging $10 more IMO.



Nah, they are definitely not the only ones doing it and I wasn't trying to imply that in the OP. But it's just the most recent example of a publisher doing it with a console game, and in Sony's case they're the only ones to have upped the price of their current-gen 1P content.

They're the only platform holder that's emboldened/encouraged third-parties to also bump up their base prices for current-gen games by doing so themselves, that puts them in a unique situation.



Exactly. Paying for expansion content, especially substantive story campaign content, is not an issue (as long as it's not the price of a full game). It's for the performance upgrades...not even that, really, because apparently Ghosts is already checkerboard 4K60 on PS5.

So the $10 is literally for Japanese lip sync and Dualsense. That's crazy; might as well add $5 on top for the new box art!



Well hopefully more people do (constructively) bring up their issues with such things going forward. Well, they generally don't have an issue doing it when Microsoft does some stupid business practice or attempts to. There is still more resistance to affording Sony that same type of criticism when they make dumb business choices or don't keep to their word on things (it's still crazy that there's no update for 3P SSD installs for PS5, eight months post-launch).

Nintendo seems to have the most built-in resilience to criticism for questionable business practices, but I think in a few years time that will start to slowly change. And at that point we could start seeing more sane choices from the platform holders on some of these things. And it's very important for platform holders to set the standard here because that will greatly influence what third-parties try to do and what they think they can get away with.



But again, that just makes the $10 extra look even more questionable. What is the extra $10 getting you? Lip sync and haptics/trigger support? How is that worth 1/6 of the cost of the actual game AND the dynamic 4k/60 support for PS5, already covered in the $60 that ALSO contains the expansion story content?

It is simply not a justified extra cost, in my honest opinion.
The great thing is YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE $10.00 if you don't want the lip synching and the dual sense stuff, the other things were already given for free, you can play the game in "4K" at 60fps now and that will not change when the "PS5 version" of the directors cut comes out. I can't believe people, they added multiplayer stuff FOR FREE for everyone, they made it so the game plays at 60fps in resolution mode on PS5 but somehow they are anti consumer because they want you to pay for things that cost them extra to do.
 

Gediminas

Banned

Is Sony justified charging $10 more for performance upgrade when other platforms do it for free?​

Is a Man justified stealing from other people because other do it too?

we can go on and on with examples. didn't your parents teach you anything?

That's 100% astroturfing. i hope it helps to fill a day quota of 'sony is bad guys' with this astroturfing.
 

EDMIX

Member
Isn't that pretty much just business? I mean why would a business price things favorably for the consumer instead of favorably for the business.

on topic it is mostly just kinda crappy but this is pretty much business as usual for console games. I don't expect video games on console to give free upgrades to their games unlike pc. Outside of fixing bugs any other upgrade on a game your going to have to pay for it.

True, but shit even PC doesn't do that 100% of the times.

This is business regardless of where its at. I don't see why a team would add extra content, work on enhancements and then proceed to not want to be paid as if it makes any type of sense.

I have nothing against the teams that can do this for good will, but by no means is it the norm.


So sir, as someone that games on PC, even those free upgrades wasn't a norm thing, it happened for a few games, it was NEVER a standard, by default, majority thing or anything even close to that.

I recall Skyrim and Bioshock collection having some free thing for PC if you owned the original copy on Steam or something, but please......lets not pretend that was a default idea that all remasters, game of the year editions, specials editions, enhanced editions did or anything like that. So respect to the teams that did that btw, but it was a nice thing because IT WAS NOT NORMAL, it was NOT what all publishers did on PC. So that isn't a "unlike PC".

edit. Ok even Skyrim wasn't just a free thing if you owned the game. You needed to own the original AND ALL THE DLC to get that free upgrade.

https://www.express.co.uk/entertain...-Bethesda-free-PC-upgrade-DLC-PS4-mod-support

I actually forgot all about that.

You think EA on PC is just giving all shit for free cause its PC? So if EA does stuff like this on console, you telling me on PC they have no remasters and just do all things for free or? Do you not see how this is based on the actual publisher?


hmmmmm maybe they made a mistake cause I don't see free listed there. /s

As someone that games on both, this is a myth that just needs to die. I literally say this as a person that is currenly playing Baldur's Gate remastered on PC sir =)
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Its hilarious, this is a game that was praised for being good value at launch, praised more for adding a free multiplayer mode post launch, praised again for offering a solid performance upgrade for PS5 again for free... But now is "anti-consumer" because of a $10 PS5 feature upgrade and a $20 expansion pack!

Proving once again, you may as well nickle and dime users from the start, because you won't get credit for giving stuff away and as soon as you charge a penny extra any "good-will" generated will be forgotten instantly.
 

Derift

Member
Lol at people jumping to defend a company charging for what their direct competitor offers for free.

Anyway, "anti consumer" is hyperbolic. It's not like they are taking away features from PS4 overs or something like that.

It's just a shitty move from their part. Something that would make me as a customer feel unappreciated.

Sony is slowly going the Nintendo route. Turning into a shitty company you put with because they have some great people making games for them.
Does the direct consumer have anything like ghosts of tsushima?? Or dual sense etc come on this isn't even comparable if you don't want these features then don't upgrade you can still just pay for the dlc and forgo these ps5 enhancements... you already get the framerate and res bump so why all this belly aching
 

GymWolf

Member
We already had a performance patch to play the game at 60 fps.

The disappointing thing is that the paid upgrade is lame as shit with a bit of resolution bump, some controller gimmicks and a fucking lip sync...

I could pay for upgrade textures and other noticeable stuff, but not for that shit.

Hopefully the 20 euros expansion is gonna be as big as frozen wild expansion but i have my doubts.
 
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GymWolf

Member
because you can get the DC for PS4 but in order to play the DC on PS5 you still have to pay up the $10

to upgrade the base game TO the expansion and all that directly on PS5 it is $30.
Wait, if i have tsushima phisical on ps4 and i want to play the expansion on ps5 i need to buy the upgrade?! Can't i just play the ps4 version of the game on ps5?!
 
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I dunno why folk get their knickers in a twist over this. If you think what is being offered isn't worth $10 then don't upgrade? You still have the 60fps option on PS5 and can get the DLC separately for $20. Anti-consumer would be if Sony locked out the BC option on PS5 and forced the upgrade, they hardly have a gun to your head now. It's not as if free upgrades are an industry standard either after a few generations of paid remasters & HD collections.

Wait, if i have tsushima phisical on ps4 and i want to play the expansion on ps5 i need to buy the upgrade?! Can't i just play the ps4 version of the game on ps5?!

No you just play the PS4 version of the directors cut in BC with a 60fps upgrade.
 
Non. Sony should have either:
- not make a PS5 version and no next gen features to please Nintendo and Xbox fans on Gaf (because shure, they are the target), 🤡
- or create a PS5 version only and charge 99$ for it (again to please Nintendo and Xbox on Gaf) like somewhat they did with ps3 and ps4. 🤡

You don't like what is Sony doing, deal with it. Don't get their games, don't get their hardware, don't give a shit!
People are crying over a 10 or 20$ upgrades, that is not mondatary to play the game anyway, just after spending 500 or even more for a new PS5!

Hear me GAF, I've sold my PS4 copie to get the PS5 box (box, Gaf, I said box game, box game, a box game 🤡). Ahhhh!
People do what they want with their money. Don't like don't get.
 

Kokoloko85

Member
  • Because Microsoft is not charging you $70 for what essentially is a ps4 game with a coat of paint in some parts
  • or $30 if you own the ps4 game
  • Or $10 if you bought the directors edition on ps4 and want to upgrade to the ps5 version

Dont ou get a new island and enemies etc. Its not just a performance patch right?
Im confused at this thread
 

Mr Moose

Member
If you don't think it's worth it have you tried not buying it?
Or just buy the PS4 version?
Wait for a sale?
You have options.
 
I got no problem with them charging 10 or 20 bucks for extra content. I can take it or leave it. The problem is that they are walling off performance upgrades.

The base game is a first-party flagship title that isn't even that old. The kind of game that attracts people into the Playstation ecosystem. Any and all PS5 enhancements should be free.
 
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