330°

Sony and Microsoft's Secret Weapon

GR's DeShaun Zollicoffer writes:

Normally everything is up for grabs at the start of a new console generation. Loyalty goes out the window and gamers go for the console with the cheapest price tag and best launch line-up. We all know someone who was a diehard PS2 fan, but now his or her console of choice is the Xbox 360. Brand loyalty was so easy to abandon back then, but not anymore. Here’s one simple reason Xbox gamers won’t convert to PlayStation next generation, and vice versa.

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geekrevolt.com
hazardman4132d ago

I would love it if they let us migrate xbl/psn accounts to new consoles. I have easily about $750/800 on psn(dynamic themes/avatars and games) and another $400 on xbl not including $99yr xbl sub. for 4 accounts.

MikeMyers4132d ago (Edited 4132d ago )

They should. If they don't it will be a massive fail. When you buy stuff off of Steam and iTunes it stays with your account regardless if you upgrading your computer or buying other hardware. Of course certain content on iTunes such as some games and apps are only functional on supported devices. I don't see why XBLA and PSN games can't continue on to new systems. It will be full Xbox 360 games on demand and full PS3 games that have some worried. That is why backwards compatible hardware is the way to go.

The article does make a good point and that is some people feel like they are held hostage staying with certain services because of all the content they bought. That's why it's hard for some IOS users to dump Apple and go with something like Android. Same thing with PSN and Live, some people have been members for years and to drop all the history and friends you've made is a tough decision.

hazardman4132d ago

shaggafukindelic man..you my friend are right in every way!

joab7774132d ago

Its not only that they should. Its suicide if they dont. Another reason is friends too. it is an online era and u r not going to buy a better or cheaper system if ur friends dont.

SITH4132d ago (Edited 4132d ago )

What makes you think you cannot migrate your xbox-live account to the new xbox coming out next year? I migrated my xbox live account to the 360 when it came out. Today it is ten times easier to do 360 console to 360 console. Games including xbla, themes, and avatars can all be redownloaded from subscription download history. If they are compatible with the new xbox, there should not be a single problem. Every xbox gamer who has bought a new 360 should know this and expect it. This article is ignoring history of the xbox, and xbox 360 account transfer. Xbla was not available during the initial launch of xbox live.

BlmThug4132d ago

Both XBL and PSN will migrate onto to their respective console. That is pretty much a certainty

Lazyeye794131d ago

That is true, but what about the content purchased? Ya on the PS4 I will be able to log into my same account, but will I be able to play the games I purchased for my PS3?

The article isn't stating whether or not XBL or PSN will be on next gen systems, but whether or not you can continue to use your content with the new system.

AngelicIceDiamond4132d ago (Edited 4132d ago )

"Here one Reason Xbox gamers won't convert to PlayStation next generation, and Vice Versa."

Isn't it obvious? If you build up an empire of achievements/Trophies a great community of friends. And most importantly, a huge back catalogue of games. I'm pretty sure You would want to continue your gaming career on your respective console.

kratos1234132d ago

it's not really a big deal if you think about it.
achievments and trophies are really not important at all, you don't need them to have fun with the same game.
as for online friends it's nice to have but also not really a must i can make new online friends everywhere.
not super hard at all.
just the games you may have bought online that's the biggest factor that will help me make my choice in choosing my next console. that is if it's worth it to keep them plus they will always be there on your previous console

Thatlalala4132d ago (Edited 4132d ago )

Some of the people on my FL I've known for almost 10 years now. I would not just dump them for a new console. Fuck, some of them stood up in my wedding and one was my best man. Friends are friends regardless of where or when you met. Pretty sad that some of you would just dump them because "OMGZ ps4 is sexies came out". Would not want to be your friend.

kratos1234132d ago

it's good for you that you have known them for that long, but you like the companies would like you to think you need their service to stay friends with each other. i don't need my ps3 to make friends it is really fun to get to know new people but i have other means for it. That's why i don't have the need to stay loyal to a certain company and to keep my choices open for the best choice. Plus if you are so good friend like you say for almost 10 years and more then you must have other means to connect to them like your mobile phone.

I just want to point out keep your options wide open you will benifits the most from that and don't let companies make that choice for you

rainslacker4132d ago

@Thatla

You don't really have to dump them though. Just may not have them on your gaming account anymore. It's silly to think that if you have friends that went to your wedding that you would suddenly not be their friend because of a game console, or any other real friend you have. Sometimes it's hard to severe those ties with random people you made friends with and socialize with, but in the end you have to do what is best to you, and if those people are important enough to you you find another way to stay in touch.

That being said, one should never discount the power of a loyalty program or social service, such as XBL, MiiVerse, PSN. They have powerful psychological holds on a lot of people, and people have a lot of time vested into their accounts. If you have ever played WOW, you know how hard it can be to leave a guild, or simply quit playing. Or it can be as simple as a supermarket loyalty program. People get invested in it, and it builds this psychological need for people to continue going there (along with some other marketing stuff).

@the article
I do think it is way under-estimating the effects that brand loyalty has on consumers. Brand loyalty plays a major role for these companies when their next systems come out. Not everyone that is loyal to a brand is blindly loyal, in fact most are not. That loyalty is built through years of providing a product that those people enjoyed, and would like to continue enjoying in the future.

DeadlyFire4131d ago (Edited 4131d ago )

I personally care nothing for achievements/trophies.

Friends can exist on more than one online platform. Some like to play more than one platform. Its not unnatural to see this happen. Likely if I preferred a new console that my friends did not and they like playing with me they might consider a purchase of said console at some point and vice versa for me considering their next console purchase as well. Depends on who holds more pull in the friendship if its locked to only one console purchase.

That is never the case though. As we are free to own as many consoles as we want or well Computers/Macs, etc. If the money exists.

WeAreLegion4132d ago

Thanks to PS Plus, I'm years behind on gaming. ^_^ That and Steam sales. -_- It's like they're GIVING the games to you.

Pillsbury14131d ago

Yeah I have so many games yet to play quantum conundrum, resident evil 5 and a whole bunch of vita games! Best 50$ I EVER spent.

TheBrit4132d ago

xbox live is a service - it will carry over - there is no way a new console will come out and make you start afresh - that would be committing suicide for either company.

BanBrother4132d ago

If either XBOX or PSN trophies did not carry over into next gen, there will be a lot of people switching sides. I don't think either of the 2 big companies would risk that.

I think achievements need to be improved (coming from an achievement and trophy hunter), as the Gamerscore does not mean crap. Some of the impossible achievements are worth 5gs, and some super easy achievements (like those in Avatar TLA, take about 10 mins all up) are worth hundreds, some as much as 500gs.

ALLWRONG4132d ago

Didn't MS say something about how they will continue to support gamertags beyond the 360? It's been years but I remember them saying something like that.

rainslacker4132d ago

Yeah. XBLive is an extension of MS Live. As such they have expanded support onto other devices, and even Windows itself. No doubt it will continue to play a role in the 720.

WeAreLegion4132d ago

If they can guarantee that all my purchased content and PS Plus stuff will transfer to my PS4, I'll pick it up day 1.

FunAndGun4132d ago

Yeah, I am curious to see how the Plus subscription transitions onto the PS4.

Will it include PS3, Vita, and PS4 content and then gradually focus on PS4/Vita?

aquamala4132d ago (Edited 4132d ago )

since PS4 is unlikely to have BC, probably not. maybe eventually PS1/PS2 classics will work (like how not all PS1 classics are available for Vita as of now), but not PS3 games.

hazardman4132d ago

out of xbl and psn. psn seems less likely to migrate. MS seems to be pushing hard for xbl to be in everything..console/pc/tablet and smartphones with the smart glass app. but only time will tell. ok before you disagree what has sony done or said that makes you think psn is making a new transition to ps4.

jukins4132d ago

well if rumors are true gakai will play a big part with backwards compatibility. supposedly we'll be able to stream ps1/2/3/vita classics to playstation certified devices. but of course im sure even if its true licensing issues will arrive and we'll get drip fed titles over time.

WeAreLegion4132d ago

Why would the PSN not migrate? That makes no sense.

I'm sure the full PS Store will be available day 1 on the PS4. Backwards compatibility via digital downloads is all I ask. I buy most of my PS3 games digitally.

rainslacker4132d ago

@hazard

PSN is currently available on 3 platforms...the PSP, Vita, and PS3. What makes you think that it wouldn't migrate? They're already including Vita support on the PS3 for PSN, and vice versa. Currently the only thing that isn't supported is a shared friends list between the two, and I guess PS Home.

Whether or not PS3 downloaded games will continue to work on the PS4 is not known since we can only speculate on BC. All the other downloadable content should work the same.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4132d ago
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230°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere9h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN6h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos4h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

PassNextquestion8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger6h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Profchaos8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto8h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos8h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long5h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel7h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator6h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (15)
120°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg10h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos9h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola4h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10111d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref10d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde10d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197210d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville10d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218310d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos10d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
isarai11d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref10d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan10d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00710d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197211d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

11d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

11d ago
11d ago
Zeref10d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde10d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197210d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197210d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier10d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto10d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218310d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto10d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
Hofstaderman10d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts10d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts9d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic10d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

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