1050°

Report: "Forced" PS4 bundles by retailers mandated by Sony

It seems like it wasn't down to retailers to force bundles upon their customers.

Read Full Story >>
pixelenemy.com
Lovable3849d ago

Well that sucks...why forced people to buy games for your system? That's ridiculous.

Navick3849d ago

What is everyone talking about? There definitely was bundles but a standalone system was also available. And multiple bundle options were available for the most popular games. Let me guess people were going to buy the system so that it could look pretty under their tv?

Lovable3849d ago

Sony offers lots of free games on top of the free stuff you get from PS+.

pedrof933849d ago

Aparently this is a scandal.

A very lame one btw.

Eonjay3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

Did Sony also force the GameStop Xbox One bundles on us as well. Of course I'm kidding here. So what. Let me tell you something, if you waited this long to worry about a day one stand-alone unit, you better act like you know whats good and get you ass in line the night of Thursday November 14th at somebody's Walmart because nobody feels bad for you. Same with people who wanted the Day One Xbox Units.

Too bad. You lose. Take your gorgeous Killzone Bundle or get the eff in line.

gaffyh3849d ago

Lol this is an example of a mountain out of a molehill/storm in a teacup situation. Sony have created bundle boxes, and are mainly shipping those from now on, so people who preorder from now on will of course have to order a bundle. This is to be expected when the standalone unit preorders are fulfilled, and is why if you wanted the console on its own, you should have preordered early.

With that said, getting a bundle, for whatever console, is not necessarily a bad thing, because you are bound to be buying one of the launch games anyway.

nukeitall3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

The issue is that customers ordered standalone PS4, and there is a switch and bait scam going on. Which mean the retailer later tell you have to buy more stuff to get the console long after you pre-ordered. You know when the standalone console is no longer available.

We thought Simply Games (etailer) had tried to force onto customers extras. Turns out Sony was the one forcing it!

Why aren't anyone mad about this?

At least with Xbox One, you knew what you were buying.

@gaffyh:

"Lol this is an example of a mountain out of a molehill/storm in a teacup situation. Sony have created bundle boxes, and are mainly shipping those from now on, so people who preorder from now on will of course have to order a bundle."

That is not what the story is saying. It is saying Sony promised standalone units, but changed their mind and now changing the order to half bundle and half stand alone forcing retailers to force their customers whom already pre-ordered to order a bundled.

It is a bait and switch scam and Sony is behind it!

Eonjay3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

@nukeitall... because its nonsense. Of course the retailer is going to try to make it look like its Sony's own doing. Retailers receive a certain amount of stock to sell as pre orders. There is no way Sony is going to bait and switch a retailer. This is the simply a retailer being greedy and trying to capitalize on potential sales by bloating the price of a console like on Ebay.

Don't be fooled by their story, thats not how the pre-order business works. Microsoft wouldn't do this and Sony hasn't done this.

The fact that you can go to Amazon.co.uk right now and get a PS4 at 349.99 with a release date of 11/29/13 should let you know that this retailer is full of crap.

gaffyh3849d ago

@nuke - Well it's not happened with my preorder, and that's with Amazon. SimplyGames is one of the least reputable UK e-retailers. If it was Play, ShopTo, Amazon, or Game, then it would be a big deal. I didn't bother reading the article all the way through before, which is why I assumed the situation was like it was in my previous post.

Gasian3849d ago

@eonjay I will with my watchdogs bundle my friend. :)

thechosenone3849d ago

More worthless click bait BS.

"They haven't forced anything.

A lot of these bundles are recent developments, and it's not so simple to just say 'we're going to allocate 50% consoles only and 50% bundles only' or some nonsense. There are only so many units that can be manufactured. Certain retailers are offering bundle options to consumers as alternatives first before some of them start offering them to all other customers. It's to prioritise those people with the potentially better value options if it fits their needs. Certain retailers will also have better stock of the hardware so they're able to do the above.

Other retailers may not be given as much stock of the console on its own because everyone gets a different allocation, and most will be getting both console and bundles. Now, if a certain retailer is unfortunately not getting enough stock to fulfill day one pre-orders for sole console owners, that is unfortunate if they're having to offer the bundle option as a day one priority instead, but this has absolutely nothing to do with SCE forcing their hand. There certainly isn't some imaginary mandate by SCE.

There is more important shit to handle, no offence."

http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

DigitalRaptor3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

@ nukeitall

I guess you're so sick of Microsoft getting their comeuppance for their anti-consumer implementations and practices that you'll grasp at anything that you think will paint Sony in the same light, and hope it will become of anything?

Read up: http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

Your comment is cute.

Pogmathoin3849d ago

Ohiostatesman, you are crazy. Sony loves us so much! They do wonderful things for the Earth. That Malware was just to make sure we did not copy stuff or anything. It was within their rights to spy on you.... What? Sony? Sssshhh.... Cannot let that out, it would break a fanboys heart...

shadow27973849d ago

This is false, plain and simple. Here's what Sony had to say about the bundle:

[The company has told UK retailers to alert those who have pre-ordered PS4 that they now have the option to upgrade to one of these.

"It [the mega bundle] is in limited volume, and therefore it is probably going to go mainly to current pre-order customers, then follow-up volume may well be post-Christmas," Gara added.

"Starting yesterday, our retail partners are contacting their pre-order customers in order, so starting with the first, working up to when they run out of that special bundle, saying, we now have clarity on exactly what PlayStation 4 bundles we have to offer for day one. Would you like option A, B, C or D?

"Everybody who has pre-ordered in the expectation they're getting just the PS4, including the DualShock 4 and the headset - the basic configuration. But as we've worked through the details and worked through the options we've come up with some great bundle offers. And it is only fair the first people in the queue get first chance to get that.

"It's a brilliant thing to do for the gamer. In theory there could be some free on day one, but I think it's unlikely, because the people in that queue are going to say yes please."]

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

pyramidshead3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

Wow and all those people who screamed bloody murder when 'sony fanboys' jumped to conclusions.

Nice case of hypocrisy above! :)(Not directly above me, btw)

v6volume3849d ago

So only 1 retailer is claiming they were forced and not even a popular one. When Amazon, Gamestop, Walmart, etc announce this then we should fairly criticize it

lsujester3849d ago

This sounds to me like this one retailer screwed the pooch somehow and are trying to blame it on Sony.

worldwidegaming3849d ago

Rent? Borrow? Other options are avaliabke..maybe even cheaper ones...

FamilyGuy3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

LOL

This story is funny!
If a retailer up an told me I couldn't buy my pre-ordered launch day console the way I ordered it and would have to upgrade it to a more costly bundle I would either have them charged with false advertisement or drop that day 1 pre-order and get it in store (unbundled) on launch day.

In any case that ISN'T the situation, as pointed out by shadow2797 above in the REAL article explaining this http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

They are simply giving the first people that pre-ordered the option to get the bundle. If you don't want that bundle all you have to do is ignore the email. There is nothing being forced, just some retailer that didn't understand the what Sonys note said or blindly opt to grab those bundles thinking their customers would jump at the chance to change their order.

There's a few options here and paying for something you didn't order and don't want isn't the only one. It says "retailers" then only names one and has one anonymous. Why is one anonymous? What repercussion could there be to where this other source would want to hide?
These guys were taking day 1, system only pre-orders and are accountable to fulfill that agreement or it's false advertisement.

ziggurcat3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

@ nukeitall:

"The issue is that customers ordered standalone PS4, and there is a switch and bait scam going on."

no there isn't. i pre-ordered the standalone PS4, and i have not once been forced to get a bundle.

you're also taking an e-mail letting people know that they *could* upgrade to the bundle if they wanted to as sony forcing people to buy bundles.

i would give you an A for effort, but that was one of the worst attempts at spinning a non-issue into a bait and switch scam i've ever seen.

SegaSaturn6693849d ago

Larry Hryb, stop sending your spin doctors to submit articles you silly-willy ;D/

pixelsword3848d ago

Even if they did, so what?

G20WLY3848d ago

Duplicate: http://n4g.com/news/1367435...

Also, it's spun in a desperate attempt to get something, ANYTHING negative about PS4. Shame on Pixel Enemy and CustardTrout for spamming N4G.

user55757083848d ago

who cares if its forced...its bundled with a game and if you dont want the game dont buy the bundle. its not like they bundled a peripheral no one wants 0_o

+ Show (20) more repliesLast reply 3848d ago
andrewsqual3849d ago

This is true BUT it is 50% of the retailers stock that is the 2 Killzone bundles and the Watchdogs bundle. They are €500 and €440. There is very limited of the Mega Killzone one with the 2nd controller, Killzone and camera for €500. The first article was BULLSHIT claiming 500 sterling.
Who preordered the PS4 in the last 6 months and won't want to grab any one of these great money saving bundles? So nobody will be buying Watchdogs? Okay.

vigilante_man3849d ago

That's not the point. Give people choice not forced decisions. I ordered just the console at the start of June from ShopTo. They have sent me emails this week confirming my Day One purchase.

They have also told me of other Day One bundles should I wish to swap but this is only optional. I am sticking with my £349.99 purchase. Glad to have the choice, though. Well done ShopTo - one of the best!

It should be illegal to take your order then force you to upgrade. Sounds dodgy to me.

andrewsqual3849d ago

You didn't read what I said. FIFTY PERCENT OF ALL RETAILERS' STOCK WILL STILL BE STANDALONE CONSOLES. What do you think will happen to the bundle that you refused? It goes to the next person until there is none left. What happens when a lot of people don't refuse the bundles like you did (and I say this because already we are running out of the bundles)?
Nobody is being forced anything, it would be completely different if all PS4 stock was going to be the official bundles. You are reading it wrong like so many others. BTW you don't want Watch Dogs or Killzone at a discounted price? Are you planning on just staring at your console launch day?

gaelic_laoch3849d ago

Being forced to buy Killzone, a Controller and Camera is like being forced to have a Foursome with some of Heffs PlayBunnies!

TheTwelve3849d ago

I shouldn't laugh at this but this was too funny.

robotgargoyle3849d ago

Not quite. I'd take a playboy bunny anyday over any game console.

Pogmathoin3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

Either way gargoyle, they are full of silicone...

Gaelic, st pats for sure now.... :) Sadly you got more disagrees..... Site is full of dickless, humourless wet fanboys....

solid_snake36563848d ago

Only difference is killzone, a controller and a camera won't give you Std's.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3848d ago
Soldierone3849d ago

It's not for forcing the customers, it was forcing the companies to sell the bundles. If Sony didn't "force" it, then a majority of retailers would have just sold the hell out of the stand alone unit. Leaving people that wanted bundles to not be able to get them.

It also deters the morons that buy up all the stock to try and flip it on Ebay. Now they have to spend extra on games and accessories and try to get rid of those too.

And reading comments below, this statement is bs anyways since this store didn't even offer the official bundles....

MajorMayhem703849d ago

We gotta do what to sell what? Those bundles will sell out as well so people better hurry up and buy it. Cause once they sell out, it's time to see me and my "solus" on EBay.

SegaSaturn6693849d ago

One time sony forced me to have fun.

I still haven't quite forgiven them.

The nerve.

max05833849d ago

No way, Sony, Never, they love me they give me free games all the time,they pay my rent and my car.They are not business man trying to make money.NOOOOOOOOOOH WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY

Bundi3849d ago

My my, the defense force is out in numbers already. Yikes!

tiffac0083848d ago

Just like haters looking to grasp on some straws, yikes.

LackTrue4K3849d ago

Well this sucks!! What if they run out on Killzone bundles, and they want to force me to buy one with a game I don't want...?!?
I would be pissed about placing my pre-order....

Bundles are great, if they have what I'm looking for

UnHoly_One3849d ago

They have to try something to get people to buy games.

PS3 owners bought quite a few less games than 360 owners.

Unless that changed towards the end of the generation, but I never heard about it, if it did.

vigilante_man3849d ago

PS3 software is selling more this year than 360 software. That's a fact. So try to stick to the story at hand.

strifeblade3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

^^^^^^^^^^^OK maybe this year but try telling your facts about the last 8 years.

Fact alot of ppl bought ps3 for blu ray. fact ppl bought ps3 for netflix. FACT no ONE bought 360 for dvd or netflix. Get your facts straight its only natural 360 has the generally high attachment rate. Man sony fanboy defense force over here

BlackTar1873849d ago

It's nto a fact someone paid $400 for a netflix player. Get out of here.

here's one.

Alot of people only bought 360 because it was the only system out FACT.

Xbox only sold that many units becasue for a year or 2 RROD wasn't covered in warranty.

This is fun /s this is dumb you know nothing to state fact so just stop trying. As dumb as i look for those stupid points you look just as dumb the difference is my post is all sarcasm.

shadow27973849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

According to VG Chartz, X360 has an attach rate of 10.3 and PS3 has an attach rate of 9.2. So there is a pretty big difference.

Statix3849d ago

@shadow2797:

A difference of one game? OMG, that's a HUGE difference!

That's a far cry from the idiotic fanboy statements like "most people only bought the PS3 for Blu-ray, duurrrrr." The fact of the matter is, even your own link shows PS3 gamers bought almost as many games as X360 gamers did.

rainslacker3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

Attach rate is pretty even between the two. Just more people buy more of specific titles on the 360, as opposed to a broader range of titles like on the PS3. If it makes you feel better, the Vita and the 3DS both have higher attach rates than either the PS3 or 360 though. Chew on that for a while.

Also VG charts is saying they're both too high. Most sources put them at around mid 8's.

Also...lol at using VGChartz as a source.

tiffac0083848d ago

Attach rates depends by region. Who knows what the numbers really is because not all the markets are tracked and if you are using Vgchartz, take it with a grain of salt.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3848d ago
3-4-53849d ago

Wii U has bundles......XB1 has bundles...

Every console EVER had bundles.

Was this written by somebody who has played a video game?

thelaughingwiseman3849d ago

Some times (by which I mean most times) people don't want to pay extra money for forced bundles. I just want my console, I don't want to pay for extra shit I don't want. I am still looking for a PS3 Slime (500 GB) without a forced bundle attached to it.

max05833849d ago

Here we go,You just opened the flood gates of Sony Fan boys.Seems Internet are full of Loyal Sony lovers

max05833848d ago

Disagrees sure are telling signs

showtimefolks3849d ago

Every console maker does that nothing new

It's just like when other tech stuff launches there are always bundles

TruthBTold3849d ago

I call BS on this "report". Sony as a manufacturer takes orders for their PS4 consoles. Store A orders 100 standalone PS4s and when Sony takes that order that is the agreement. Sony must deliver those 100 consoles as per the purchase order placed by store A. The delivery time is a different issue. If demand has left certain last orders place with Sony on longer lead times, meaning they wont arrive by the release date. Sony might have bundle skus that have been in production and they can advice store A of these other skus they can deliver for release date. It is up to store A to say, "no, please try to expedite my current order or ship partials so I at least get some consoles by launch date" or they can say " please change my order from100 standalone skus to 50 standalone skus and 50 bundle skus". It is up to the store to decide what skus they buy from Sony as they are the customer. It works the same as you going to a store and buying a game. If they are out they tell you we are out and they might suggest another available game but they will never take your money and tell you we dont have your game fo you have to take this other one and you cant have your money back. There are laws that a manufacturer must follow and what this story indicates is that Sony is breaking them by changing orders and invoicing their customers more money. Sorry, not buying the story. I can believe Sony cant supply the standalone consoles and the store decided to order the bundles instead to be able to sell consoles on launch date. They promised consoles and instead of saying we wont get the consoles we ordered or we placed our orders past the deadline so we can only offer packages now to our customers. They just dont want to lose the sale and tell customers its Sony focing this which would be a lie as it would be illegal. Ti be honest not sure the story is even real. An annonymous source? Right. No manufacturer of any product can legally change a purchase order from a distributor/reseller. That would be a SOX violation. Only the customer can approve a change order.

GamerzElite3848d ago

Forced ? Are u serious! I pre-ordered only system on 16 june, planning to get games via digital download. But I never forced to buy a bundle.

Ps4Console3848d ago

I got a phone call Wednesday from GAME asking me if I wanted a Bundle I said yes of course here's my bundle , Ps4 with a years live with Drive Club plus KillZone SF all for £439 yeah .

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 3848d ago
kennyg37393849d ago

Imagine if Microsoft did this...

Lovable3849d ago

They are with kinect and people don't like it.

AlexanderNevermind3849d ago

If Sony is then they need to stop. They should honor the original agreement or give them some sort of bonus for having to upgrade. Say the camera for free...

Death3849d ago

Kinect isn't "forced" in a bundle, it is included with the system. The people that complain most about Kinect seem to be Playstation fans.

Xsilver3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

@death that straight BS and you know it xbox fans have been complaining about kinect for the longest so please stop u think they don't want the xone to be cheaper when it's beneficial to them most people would like that option.

Death3849d ago

The assumption you make is the system would be cheaper without Kinect. What is to prevent Microsoft from dropping the system price to $399 and still include the camera? The BS is people saying no one wants Kinect included. None of my friends have complained about it. I'm personally looking forward to what devs can do with it knowing everyone has it. That is the line between being a gimmick like the original Kinect and PSEye has been and will be.

Xsilver3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

@Death the amount of money MS put into kinect u really think that would be a smart business decision to sell it separately when everyone knows allot of people won't buy it, u call the PSeye a gimmick at least its only $60 and sold separately so who will complain about that, i want you to go on Xboxlive and ask people how many times they used their kinect today or for the whole year because i know a ton of xbox gamers who put kinect to the side and just play games with a normal controller matter of fact have u used kinect today or for the whole week i'm guessing no.
@xboxfun u will take anything from MS so be quiet.forcing a share button dufaq is wrong with you your just anti Sony everyday i see.

nukeitall3849d ago

@lovable:

There is a big difference though.

What Sony is forcing the retailers to do, is called a bait and switch scam. It is illegal!

MS isn't forcing you, because you knew what you were buying and agreed upon, even if you did NOT want Kinect One.

XboxFun3849d ago

I like it with Kinect.

If you don't want Kinect, get a PS4.

If you want a cheaper system then get a WiiU.

But don't sit here and say no one wants Kinect or Kinect is forced on you. It is no more forced on us than the a controller that comes with the system

Again, it's only the sony fanboys that seem to be looking out for the welfare of us Xbox fans and letting everyone know that they won't buy an Xbox One because MS "forced" Kinect on them.

Sony forced the share button on me, I never wanted that on my controller!

XboxFun3849d ago

@Xsilver

And you will gladly open wide for anything Sony shoves, so please stop.

A share button being forced is just as ridiculous as saying the Kinect 2 is forced. That was my whole point, but a tool like you who does nothing but slam MS can't see that.

If you don't want the Kinect, don't buy the Xbox One. Plain and simple right? I mean hell even a little child knows this. But for some unknown reason we get people like you spreading troll nonsense like "it's forced!" on the consumer.

Absolute stupid logic right there.

GTgamer3849d ago

@xboxfun are u comparing a product against a button and think that's smart logic well clearly your not smart your name is xbox fun clearly a troll don't know how u managed to have two bubbles.

malokevi3849d ago

MS didn't decide to include Kinect after everyone was done buying the console...

the amount of excuses being made on this page for Sony is ridiculous. You people are so predictable and transparent... if ever there was an article that demonstrated N4Gs obvious an senseless bias, it's this one.

lol. Insane.

UnHoly_One3849d ago

I can't believe even the insane Sony fans on this site can believe that this is the same as putting Kinect in the box.

You people are out of your minds.

Kinect is part of the console. It's one package that all comes together.

This is an article about forcing separate products to be bundled together.

What you are saying is like getting pissed at Nintendo because the put the Wii motion tracking sensor in the box.

GTgamer3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

@Un_Holy so Sony fans are insane for defending a rumor that might not even be true like what MS fans has always been doing i remember before Ms changed their polices when you guys first heard rumors of what they were planning you were quick to defend it calling it false and then still defended it when it all was true so does that make u guys insane too i guess but here comes you guys trying to put down Sony over a rumor hmmmmm why? Because Sony hardly gets bad news its called doing something rite. If this turns out to be false and it was just the retailer will Sony still be the enemy in your eyes i wonder.

ziggurcat3849d ago

@ nukeitall:

you don't even know what bait and switch means, do you...

http://4-akamai.tapcdn.com/...

UnHoly_One3848d ago

GTGamer, I wasn't even talking about whether the rumor is true or not.

Read my post again.

I'm talking about them comparing this to Kinect being part of the console, which is two COMPLETELY different things.

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 3848d ago
gaelic_laoch3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

What is with bringing M$ into every SONY article! It's like someone farting on the bus!

Edit:

@ falviousuk

Lighten Up!

“It's always funny until someone gets hurt.

Then it's just hilarious.”
― Bill Hicks

falviousuk3849d ago

you are ridiculous, you troll almost every xbox article then complain about someone in an article about the Playstation.

You are one of the worst types of people on here, not a real gamer, just someone who tries to hate on everything gaming.

Take some advice, don't buy any console, just go away and read a book instead. perhaps some of your crap will dissipate as your start to gain some intelligence

Wikkid6663849d ago

Almost as bad as you and all the GS fanboys on the MS articles.

CrossingEden3849d ago

"What is with bringing M$ into every SONY article! It's like someone farting on the bus!"
YOU HYPOCRITE!!

Convas3849d ago

You're joking with the sudden victim stance, right?

GiggMan3849d ago

I thought it was funny lol.

vigilante_man3849d ago

This story is fair game. Its about selling practices. Bad Microsoft doings are bad. Bad Sony doings are bad. Just unusual this year to see Sony doing anything bad. Its been a bad trail of green so far.

Sony, keep allowing us the freedom to make our own choices like you have done so far.

TechMech23849d ago

Every Microsoft article has Sony fanboys ripping on Xbox one because they have nothing better to do though.....so it really goes both ways.

DigitalRaptor3849d ago

What's with everyone taking gaelic_laoch seriously?

He's one of the most jokey folks on this site. Lighten up people.

gaelic_laoch3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

@ DigitalRaptor

Finally someone who can intemperate for me!!!! Can you tell your fellow earthlings I come in peace!

NANO NANO

http://forums.ilounge.com/a...

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3849d ago
AceBlazer133849d ago

And an anonymous source says Sony supplies al queda with weapons.I have emailed sony and have yet to receive a reply I'll keep you updated.

husomc3849d ago

sony supplied Iraq with WMDs, saddam stockpiled his warehouses with PS2s so u might actually have something there about al qaeda and sony :)

Deadpoolio3849d ago

Well except of course for the fact that Saddam and Al Qaeda had no ties to each other whatsoever...Nor would they when 1 is doing everything in the name of their religion and the other just loves himself lol

majiebeast3849d ago

So let me get this straight, Sony is the one forcing the non official PS4 bundles that only simplygames seems to offer on their consumers... Yeah i call BS this is all on simplygames. When we start hearing this from bigger retailers like Amazon and GAME then its Sony.

Xsilver3849d ago

so far this a Rumor and should be treated as such.

Deadpoolio3849d ago

Yeah Uh somehow I seriously doubt Sony is going to say something like "hmmmm lets force this little unknown pissant retailer to sell bundles"...If they were going to do anything remotely like that they would do it with actual big time retailers....

But it I guess sounds good to lie to your customers and tell them it's Sony forcing us to do this rather than tell them the truth that it was some manager or corporate guy somewhere that decided they would sell more crap that way

joeorc3849d ago

@majiebeast

exactly

"According to a retailer who wished to remain anonymous, it seems Sony themselves are forcing the bundles upon retailers — at least in the UK. We’ve included his statement in full below:"

lol, imagine.

So you order late and if the bundles is what is left, in the retail chain, you blame Sony?

DigitalRaptor3849d ago (Edited 3849d ago )

It's classic desperation. I've seen it before.

They are so sick of the criticism Microsoft is getting (deserved might I add), so they just want to destroy the balance we currently have. The sun is no longer shining on their side of the room, and its making them uncomfortable. They want Sony dragged down to Microsoft's anti-consumer level.. pathetic.

It's a good thing we use the organ in our skulls to communicate logic.

Show all comments (211)
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.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies14d 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_looken14d ago

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

Cacabunga14d ago

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

just_looken14d 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-6413d 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_Long13d 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.

Einhander197213d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic13d 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 13d ago
DivineHand12514d 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.

Joe91314d 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_Observer14d 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.

S2Killinit14d ago (Edited 14d 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.

Joe91313d 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.

S2Killinit13d 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 13d ago
Christopher14d 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.

CrimsonWing6913d ago (Edited 13d 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.

S2Killinit13d 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_Mal14d ago (Edited 14d 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.

Christopher14d 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_looken14d 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

Einhander197213d ago (Edited 13d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic13d 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.

romulus2314d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218313d 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.

S2Killinit13d ago (Edited 13d 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.

mastershredder14d 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.

crazyCoconuts14d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)
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.

blackblades20d ago

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

just_looken20d 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.

blackblades20d 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_looken20d ago (Edited 20d 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.

Kaii20d 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
S2Killinit21d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

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

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

21d ago
Profchaos21d 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

Pyrofire9521d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia21d 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.

Show all comments (13)