FuturLab Explains How Sony Approaches Companies to Make Their Games Free on PlayStation Plus

As a big PlayStation supporter, FuturLab has already brought some games to PlayStation Minis, PlayStation Mobile, PlayStation Vita, and they’ll be doing a dual release when Velocity 2X comes to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. - PSLS

[TrendyGamers]

Step 1: Throw money at them.

Step 2: ???

Step 3: Profits.

[boybato]

Step 2: get more exposure....

[Transporter47]

Yeah which is really smart if you want your game to get known by free advertisement in a way : )

[beepbopadoobop]

and Step 2.5: sell more DLC, if available.

[Raoh]

Pretty much. I would never had played and promoted to my friends games like

Anomaly Warzone Earth, PayDay: The Heist, Shift 2, Renegade Ops, Sleeping Dogs, Spec Ops: The Line, The Cave, etc etc etc....

I did also get digital copies of my favorite games like Just Cause 2, Uncharted 3 and Demon's Souls.

Outside of The Last of Us, I play mostly my PS+ collection.

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

have no idea what all the disagrees are for. comment was hilarious.

[karl]

it was funny xD GO SONY

[hqgamez]

M$
Step 1: Throw Windows money at them

Step 2: Each trailer sponsor them

Step 3: Build a Rep (this only worked in the US)

Step 4: don't need profit, got windows money!

Step 5: lose little money, but hope the rep builds em to make money over time such as kinect & force gold to use netflix, etc.

(obviously this was the case for the 360. The rep got them good out there. It just wasn't enough rep to force users to pay out extra $ for the xbox one and those polices that would make you go broke. This caused the 180. Now M$ is hoping it didn't do damage, but its already been done. back to step 1

Truth behold.
Sony PS+ who knows, but the gamers win. It's worth it on the PS4 if the deals are similar. It might be a little slower to have the same deals like the ps3 has because the ps4 won't have a huge game collection yet, but well worth it with upcoming gaikai

[NeloAnjelo]

Well said, and completely agree...

I would add... content first on 360 so people feel like they are getting exclusives... as they have had any.

Secondly make them pay for services that that already subscribe to.

For XB1... Windows money to buy EA and third party exclusives, rather than actuallu MAKE a game.

[FamilyGuy]

It can help with notoriety as well as help to sell DLC if they have it. Dungeon Defenders was free on PS+ and if you really liked it there was DLC extending the game.

I'm a big fan of PS+, it only really hit its stride in the last year or so though. Started out not giving away games, then went to giving out PS1 titles and avatars, maybe a few themes and now we're getting games like Saints Row 3, Battlefield 3, Hitman Absolution, Sleeping Dogs and soon a slimmed down version of a brand new PS4 game in Driveclub.

It just keeps getting better.

[MizTv]

I love ps+
I have played so many good games I wouldn't of

[RytGear]

This is EXACTLY what they want, because now you try Game X and realise you actually love it, then Game X2 comes out you are far more likely to buy it, its a fantastic system!

[GrandTheftZamboni]

Same here. Would've never thought of getting Warhammer 40,000, Sideway New York... If they make a sequel totally getting it.

[GUYwhoPLAYSvideoGAME]

yep, i would have never otherwise experienced spec ops the line

[Tru_Blu]

Same just plat'd Sleeping Dogs, a hidden gem.

[ceedubya9]

This isn't surprising, but it is interesting to hear actual confirmation about how it works.

[OrangePowerz]

Obviously they don`t give it away for free to Sony without some sort of cash, that would be a very bad business deal for devs or publishers.

[ceedubya9]

Yep.It is a really smart business move. Sony is able to add value to its paid service, while the game makers earn some guaranteed money as well as exposure. Good deal for all parties involved.

[nevin1]

Correct me if im wrong, but most of the games PSN+ offers been out on the market for awhile?

[Lubu]

When it comes to retail games, yes, they are a little older. But PSN games are sometimes more recent. A few times, they are released free to PS+ members, the Simpsons Arcade game comes to mind. I thought I saw that the ps4 would launch with a couple free PSN games.

[nevin1]

I forget mention PSn games.

But since you reminded me and correct me if I'm wrong, those games dont have high budgets?

[PirateThom]

@nevin1

They don't have high budgets, but the developers also don't have tons of cash to throw around, so there's often a balance they try to strike.

[dcj0524]

Yes. Usually 4 months to a year+ for big aaa retaio games like spec ops, need for speed most wanted, sleeping dogs ect

[ginsunuva]

And by old he means ~6mo to a year, which is nothing.

[SmielmaN]

Trolling.
Just because a game doesn't have a big budget doesn't mean it's not fun or interesting. Also, a lot of the full AAA games have huge budgets. Maybe you traded them in a while ago and now have a chance to download it for free and play it again. Judt because a game is a few months old doesnt mean its not still awesome to play. PS+ is awesome. Get over it. I play so many free games that I never would have been able to afford or thought I would like. It's great.

[Williamson]

Good to see that Sony, the developers, and the gamers get something out of PS+.

[blackpanther25]

I just got a vita with ps+.......never would have gravity rush without it (Really good game btw)

[Williamson]

Yeah its a great game, also don't forget to try uncharted golden abyss and wipeout.

[AceBlazer13]

good to have confirmation on how it works

[HappyWithOneBubble]

Sony know how to do business.

[Misaka_x_Touma]

You need to get Tales of Graces f for free.

[blackblades]

It should it get more exposure for the tales series and start selling a lot better. I prefer xillia to be free cause its better and get people to like tales more then graces. Also lead ups to the sequel xillia 2.

[Inception]

In terms of gameplay, people should try Graces f first before playing Xillia. Imho, Graces f is the pinnacle of Tales battle system. ANd lots of Tales fans approved Graces f as the best Tales in terms of battle system.

[blackblades]

@Inception
I know I was thinking xillia cause graces f might be slow and boring in the beginning for some people out there If you get what saying.

[Inception]

Yeah, i knew what you mean. Overall, Xillia is a more balance experience compare to Graces f. It's a good idea though if Sony offer Xillia for PS+ member, so people who never play Tales can taste the awesomeness of Tales series :)

[kingPoS]

I love VetorDT Would of never heard of it if not for PS+.

[blackblades]

It works they gave farcry 2 free I enjoyed it and then I bought farcry 3, same for others.

[Double_O_Revan]

It does get games and franchises exposure. I downloaded Darksiders, a game I remember reading about, but didnt look too deeply into. I loved it, and immediately bought Darksiders 2.

Same thing happened for a few other games. It's not just about free games. It helps you try new things you wouldn't normally buy.

[Drainage]

i thought they gave it for free and screwed the devs of money

[hazelamy]

they pay the publisher, sometimes the publisher screws the devs though.

[Harpers_Ferry]

It's always been obvious Sony has to pay for this stuff, but exposure definitely plays a large part in what gets put up on PS+. Between advertising for upcoming sequels with free games, and kicking off a series-wide sale with a single free entry, you've got a lot of fun profit possibilities. Never mind the fact that it's a lot easier to justify purchasing DLC when you didn't directly pay for the game itself.

[Jamaicangmr]

I love me PS+ so many good a currently relevant games i've played. Now playing Hitman and it's better than i expected based on reviews.

[Dark_Overlord]

My biggest gripe with PS+ is they do not allow you to buy the game if you DL'd it when it was given for free :/ Unless you let your PS+ run out

I prefer to own the games I like, I wish they'd change this to allow for purchases too.