160°

PS4: Sony’s big gamble

Luke at CG writes: I own and enjoy pretty much every gaming machine currently available, but I have to admit that the PS3 edges it as my format of choice. This isn’t a place for me to worship at the altar of Sony and explain why but, in addition to this, I’ve finally abandoned Xbox Live and bought my first PlayStation Plus subscription instead due to the Xbox 360 experience (for me, at least) zooming downhill over the last few years. Happy as I am with my PS3 (and to a lesser extent, my Vita), I can’t help but look at what we know of the PS4 so far and wonder: Sony, are you sure you know what you’re doing?

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criticalgamer.co.uk
Moonman4063d ago

I bet E3 will make you at least half excited as I am already for PS4. :)

Knight_Crawler4062d ago

The PS3 was a bigger gamble than what the PS4 is since Sony launched it at $600 and invested tons of money into the CELL and Blu Ray - so if Sony could survive the PS3 they can survive the PS4.

Fair enough the PS3 did not rake in the type of money that the PS2 brought but Sony still made a profit with the PS3.

The price of the PS4 will be the major factor on how well it does in the next couple of years - if it launches above $450 Sony is in trouble.

Az1mov4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Well said! couldn't agree more

violents4062d ago

The ps4 isnt a gamble, they are using well known developer friendly hardware that is relatively cheap stuff. They are doing what they should have done with the ps3 to make it less of a gamble.

Honestly I would say sony has learned a lesson in risk taking on the ps3 and the ps4 is the answer to what they learned.

husomc4062d ago

i just hope they stick in a cheap cell (these things are selling at around 30$ in bulk) into the ps4 as their secret weapon.

Y_51504062d ago

That was a brilliant set of text! Ok guys lets give this guy his bubbles back, Well Said.

MysticStrummer4062d ago

PS4 isn't much of a gamble. Sony is playing it much safer now than they did with PS3 for sure.

DOMination-4062d ago

Man you guys are so awesome i am going to have to give you all bubbles because you said some nice things about a multi billion dollar corporation.

The PS4 is a gamble. They are focusing BIG on social. Social = Casual. And casual is bad. Also they are focusing on a kinect ripoff and I am told by everyone here that kinect is bad. And they need new games. Not Killzone, Infamous, GT...

Na Im joking guys. Chill. PS4 will not be the gamble that ps3ws as said above.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4062d ago
husomc4062d ago

this article is giving off such a negative vibe... i wonder if the author thinks that the games announced at the reveal are the only games coming out for the PS4.

Gimmemorebubblez4063d ago

Its a gamble alright but one that could be a huge pay-off for Sony and Im sure it will.

scruffy_bear4063d ago

If they get the price point right then it will pay-off hit the wrong one and it could finish Sony as a company

Shadow Flare4062d ago

It's not as big a gamble as the ps3 was. Cell and bluray were big gambles for ps3, if for the expense alone. Sony seem to be doing everything right with the ps4 so far, I'm impressed and I'm sure as long as the price is right (Sony are very conscious of not making it close to $600 again) then it's a safe bet ps4 is gonna be successful

MasterCornholio4062d ago

Hopefully the PS4 doesnt end up like the Wii U because if it does Sony is finished as a console manufacturer.

But i dont believe that will happen unless they severely screw up with the price or the launch line up. Im pretty optimistic especially with Kaz Hirai as their CEO and Yoshida as the head of their playstation department and since they are both gamers instead of nut jobs (Krazy Ken Kuturagi) the console will do well.

Ju4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Being a bit shallow here and judging by the headlines the last 4 weeks e.g. on here, I'd say there was absolutely no hype for the WiiU compared to the PS4 and based on this the situation is totally different. I also think PS3 owners are more excited for the next generation than Wii users were looking forward to the WiiU. So, again, no, I don't think this is another "WiiU" situation.

cyhm31124062d ago

next xbox actually is a bigger gamble, it is the first console not focused on gaming but entertainment and kinect instead.

MysticStrummer4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Agreed, and somehow on N4G MS will get credit for inventing the idea, after all the crap Sony took for "It Only Does Everything". But MS appears to be taking the focus much further from "hardcore" gaming than Sony did, which could backfire in a big way. 720 or whatever it's called will need to be substantially cheaper than PS4 to appeal to the audience MS appears to be going for.

Vickistheman4062d ago

Sony won't be losing $200-$400 at launch like they did with the PS3, since Cell and Bluray aren't really a factor this time.

That alone guarantees they'll be profitable at a faster rate than PS3.

If PS4 launches at $399 and Sony breaks even, or is close to breaking even, I think they'll do really well.

Muffins12234062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Im buying it and i bet allot of people will.Even in my high-school everyone is mentioning it....now with the next xbox,i think it will also be successful....with kids.Im thinking there going for 13 and under for there demographic especially when they have kinect built in with it.And the kid market is all open too :) Hardly any kid knows what a wiiu is but ive seen allot go crazy over that kinect.

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280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

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techraptor.net
ChasterMies18d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken18d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga18d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken18d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6418d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long18d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197218d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic18d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 18d ago
DivineHand12518d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91318d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer18d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit18d ago (Edited 18d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91317d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit17d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 17d ago
Christopher18d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6917d ago (Edited 17d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit17d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal18d ago (Edited 18d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher18d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken18d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197218d ago (Edited 18d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic18d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2318d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218318d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder18d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts18d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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80°

Sony May Soon Let You Decide How Much NPCs Talk In Games

Sony has patented to add multiple dialogue modes to let players switch between how many conversations with NPCs they want in the game.

blackblades24d ago

Sony is like the only ones outta the 3 that has atuff like like this pop up changing thing in ways.

just_looken24d ago

Sony in the past has always been first at bat with new ideas/tech but in the end never fully use it or just toss it away.

blackblades24d ago

I think they did use some but yeah most usually never happened but at least they thought about it. Sony seeks things like this and other, Nintendo seek different ways of playing going by there different controler designs and console designs.

just_looken24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

some of the other stuff sony want's/owns never used
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://www.eurogamer.net/s...
https://metro.co.uk/2023/03...
https://decrypt.co/114754/s...

monitor/adjust game difficultly as you play
https://www.techradar.com/g...

Sony nfts
https://www.theblock.co/pos...

Pay ai to play the game for you
https://thebusinessofesport...

Oh all the above last 12 months

I just imagine a evil scientist with test subjects when it comes down to sony recent patent reports.

Kaii24d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p

280°

Judge rules in PlayStation's favour in $500m patent infringement lawsuit

Genuine Enabling Technology was seeking damages, claiming the tech allowing PlayStation consoles and controllers to communicate infringes its rights.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
S2Killinit26d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde26d ago (Edited 26d ago )

Crazy to think the savings from this lawsuit allows them to develop one AAA game.

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

26d ago
Profchaos26d ago

Sounds like patent trolling they tried the same thing against Nintendo with the same pattern.

Motion and control input traversing over higher and lower frequencies seperate from each other allowing the controller to do both

Pyrofire9526d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia26d ago

So to recoup the money Genuine is going to take on Nintendo or Microsoft next. I hate patent lawyers they are some of the worst bottom feeders out there.

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