850°

Sony's wider problems heap pressure on PS4

The pressure on PlayStation 4 to perform this Christmas is high, as a bad quarter scythed Sony's annual profit forecasts by 40 per cent.

Sony hopes PS4 will "contribute to profitability from an early stage by diversifying its revenue streams through various network services centred on the PSN and by offering rich user experiences".

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
Sayai jin3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

It'll sell well...no doubt about it.

edited: spelling

slimeybrainboy3819d ago

I honestly don't know anyone IRL whos getting an XB1 (UK), every one of my friends is going PS4 even if they had 360's only last gen. despite that Ms will sell out so will Sony.

Lalanana3819d ago

By not including DLNA and MP3 playback in an attempt to force users to subscribe to Music Unlimited and their other streaming services is one of the ways sony will profit.

decrypt3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

@Lalanana

Sony is a corporation after all and is in it for the money. Any device backed by a corporation looking to make profit obviously wont come cheap. For cheaper alternatives there are open platforms such as the PC.

LackTrue4K3819d ago

I think it's better then holding app's you pay for monthly, behind a pay wall....

shoddy3819d ago

Sony might loose money but they still deliver great gaming service

Thehyph3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

I'm desperately waiting for more news regarding the mp3/DLNA availability. I need to know now.
This could very well be a deal breaker for me. I'm sure I'll get disagrees, but this functionality is extremely important to me.

I've been living without a solid PC (just an old netbook) for a while now, so a next gen console must have a lot of media features for me. This is a step backwards because it means that ps3 has more capability in this regard.

Don't bother suggesting Xbox One to me. I live in Canada, and many of Xbox One's media features are already a write-off because of copyright and publishing. (Edit: this is because of Canadian law, and not the fault of Microsoft)

I'm not being a hater. I pre-ordered and paid for a ps4 in full back in June or July, and I've been anxious since then, but yesterday was like a kick in the guts.

I like to think that I'm fair and objective about next gen competition. Just look at my comment history.

To some people out there, even if only a few, this is a real issue. I'm not trolling.

sincitysir13819d ago

I'm so glad I could care less about music not on the radio! I do think the music thing sucks tho.

On topic: the ps4 will do wonders for Sony as a whole. Spoke to yosp and asked for the good word. He said were golden. Golden.

badkolo3819d ago

maybe people who want actual games, cause as of now knack is for kids and killzone is the only exclusive for the ps4, so not much to play except indie and multi plat games. so trust me, the xbox will sell well becuase people want actual games

Hellsvacancy3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

decrypt

Wtf, don't defend Sony on this one, Sony fu<ked up, it's bs, I will never sign up to Music Unlimited, half of the music I listen to won't even be available on the service I bet

Anyone here got access to Music Unlimited? do a search for me please

- Flugufrelsarinn by The Kronos Quartet (NOT Sigur Ros)

So much for custom background music

decrypt3819d ago

@hellsvancy

Lol why would i be defending blood sucking corporate. Open platform ftw PC.

gaffyh3819d ago

"decrypt

@hellsvancy

Lol why would i be defending blood sucking corporate. Open platform ftw PC."

Open Platform = PC
Most games on PC = On Windows
Windows = Microsoft's
Microsoft = Blood sucking corporation

decrypt3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

@gaffyh

Which is why we only buy a MS OS once in half a decade lol, that too on some discount. Id gladly jump at an opportunity to dump windows if Linux became somewhat more viable for games.

whitefang19883819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

@ slimey it's funny because I'm the exact opposite, I live in the UK but everyone I know is getting the x1 we all got xbox original and after that mainly stayed on Xbox. I've owned all PlayStation's and plan to own the ps4 just my multiplat console has to be Xbox because I'm so use to the control, all my friends who I enjoy playing with are staying on x1 and all my multiplats (achievements and saves exc.) Have been on x360. I think both consoles will be good though hurry up November!

NukaCola3819d ago

It sucks but coming from a guy like Lalannana, I find it ridiculous you would jump on this when every single thing on Xbox One Live is blocked behind a paywall.

Evil_Abed3819d ago

Really? MP3 playback is behind a pay wall on Xbox one? Show me.

MTEC83819d ago

The DNLA and MP3 situation is pure money grabbing bs on Sony's behalf. Purely to push it's Music Unlimited service, hope a update will address this sooner rather then later for this.

No, I will not be cancelling my pre-order because of it. I only really care about background MP3 for racers, but this has dampened my excitement a bit. Sony has been riding the positive pr train thus far, get back on it Sony and fix this damn it.

Magicite3819d ago

in my country (Latvia) there are hardly anyone whos getting X1 and not just cos its not supported at launch, but because most people dont care about all those cable box services and kinect features

ALLWRONG3819d ago

"Sony is a corporation after all and is in it for the money" According to PS fanboys here Sony is in it for the gamers. Or is that only the case in MS news?

Muadiib3819d ago

Unless you have 60 million friends you're opinion is irrelevant.

scott1823819d ago

Well, playing games at a good resolution is good for me. I know other features will be added in firmware and Sony has the best game companies imo...

Pintheshadows3819d ago

Whilst I agree that lack of DLNA and MP3 support sucks massively and I won't touch Music Unlimited as from a Thrash standpoint it is worse than awful, neither of those things are leading selling points for a GAMES console.

Frankly it seems like the usual suspects are bringing them up to really grasp at straws.

MysticStrummer3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

"I honestly don't know anyone IRL whos getting an XB1"

Same here (Texas). Every one of my gaming friends bought a 360, actually multiple 360s because of RRoD, but none want an XB1. They all switched to PS3 years ago and are happy with PS and PSN.

@Lala - Interesting that a MS fan like you would make a comment like that, since XB1 has so many features behind a paywall.

P0werVR3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

I don't see why this is a big deal. It's a corporation, it's all about profits. It's just other corporations know how to run a business.

Sony loosing money is nothing new. We've known this all along. So for them to go down the route of profitability is a GOOD thing. If not, you won't see another playstation. It's funny how these Sony fanboys claim they're only in it for the gamers...GTFO!

Sony gained a significant ground in the gaming industry because it was the ONLY major corporation during that time that was in the industry. But once the "big boy" Microsoft came into it, well the rest is what it is currently.

EDIT:

Also, this will make or break the playstation. Microsoft can duke it out, they have resources to last it out. Sony however is on the verge of the down side.

...another Sega?!

andygee19873819d ago

same with all my friends in uk,all jumping ship from 360 to ps4

FamilyGuy3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

The biggest issue is that the PS3 already has these features and MANY of us LOVE the PS3 for having these features. The PS4 was naturally expected to have them too but it seems Sony is trying to push more apps. It'd be nice to know if other music apps will work in the background but they only mentioned Music Unlimited in their faq. That lead many to think they aren't supporting MP3s for a greedy reason, which may very well be the case. If they allow TuneIn to work I'd be happy to listen to that free radio app but no free alternative was mentioned.

I'm personally not cancelling my pre-order over these issues but it IS a big deal to me. The media streaming aspect far more than mp3 playback. I'll just have to switch to my PS3 when I want to watch my digital content.
The thought that I could wait did cross my mind though, DriveClub was a big reason to get a PS4 for me and it got delayed. There are other good looking games coming and I might just use the time to play FF14 Arr on PS4 so I'd much rather keep my pre-order than struggling to find a PS4 once games that I REALLY want come out like DriveClub and Infamous SS.

Jumping ship to the X1 was never a consideration either, they aren't supporting media severs at launch and I have no interest in any of their games.

360ICE3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

@decrypt.
Ah, yes. The PC. The cheap alternative to consoles that is not backed by corporations. I'm sorry, what?

TricksterArrow3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

Didn't care when my Atari, Amiga, SNES, Master System, Mega Drive (Genesis), Nintendo 64 and Game Cube couldn't play MP3, will certainly not care now.

Sorry, I can see how this is a problem to some, but particularly for me, who am ONLY interested on a GAMING device for GAMING, this is no problem whatsoever. Anything else that the machine brings aside from gaming is a plus, sure, and I welcome it, but I won't make it a deal or deal breaker out of extra stuff. Just give me the games and I'm set.

shinrock3819d ago

ur friends with the whole world? wow ur popular.

Guitardr853819d ago

Lol since when did it become bad for companies to make money off of their products...Isn't that the whole point of a business lol?

MrTimesplitters3819d ago

OMG PS4 SUCKS AND WILL BE A FAILURE

WELCO
METOT
HENEX
TLEVEL

SEGA!

MrTimesplitters3819d ago

OMG THE PS4 WILL FAIL HAHAHAHAH DONT CRY SONY FANBOYS.

WELCO
METOT
HENEX
TLEVEL

SEGA!!!!

Anarki3819d ago

I know 1 person and he's a die hard Xbox Fanboy. Everyother Xbox fan I know has slated the Xbox because of what happened when they announced it.

When the price goes down, I'll eventually cave, just to have the best of both worlds but for now I'll stick to my PS4.

rainslacker3819d ago

@hellsvacancy

The Kronos Quartet is available on Music Unlimited. The label they release music under is owned by Warner Music Group, which is a partner in the Music Unlimited program. They have several albums available and you can look it up by going to

https://music.sonyentertain...

That particular song is available from TKQ and Sigur Ross btw.

Sony has an impeccable classics selection overall both on Music unlimited and in physical CD format. They even have a separate label they use for their classical music offerings. If you're into that, then I don't think Music Unlimited would be that bad for you if you want a service such as this.

Nowadays, almost all record labels work together to provide their music to as many people as possible.

I understand not wanting to have to sign up for a service to listen to music you may already own, but before you go off on these rants you've been going on since yesterday, do a Google search.

I'm sure MP3 and DLNA support will be added in the future. For all we know, the playback software just isn't ready yet, similar to the way the DVD/Blu-Ray isn't installed day one without an update.

TheDev3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

30+ message thread about something that was confirmed to be put back in the 2nd PS4 patch.

http://n4g.com/news/1384779...

It's a few articles down on this very website folks. I know, I know... those BIG article thumbnails are so attractive, the rest just doesn't matter. ;)

ChrisW3819d ago

Sony made about well over $500 million profit with the PS3... yet it's a small drop in the bucket.

+ Show (31) more repliesLast reply 3819d ago
Sayai jin3819d ago

LOL...The disagree for stating the obvious. Other than the Wii U, what console by the big 3 have not sold well in the last 7-8 yrs? ...Nintys Wii, the PS3, and 360 all did extremely well so why wouldn't the PS4 and XB1 sell. They'll both be selling as many units as they can produce.

decrypt3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

Economy isnt the same. More than 50million Americans are on Food stamps, count more than 10million on disability, the jobless participation rate is at an all time high, real unemployment in the US might be as high as 24%. Most widely generated Jobs in US today are low paying Mcdonald or barmaid jobs. Europe is pretty much in a simular situation.

Thus i dont see the next gen of consoles doing as well as the last gen did.

Golfcoachh3819d ago

Dont' worry decrypt, In America, land of buy now pay later, people on those programs always seem to find a way to purchase Iphones and big screen tv's. So they will find a way to get these systems too. My cut back on a pack of cigarettes and a 6 pack of beer each night and they will figure it out.

Sayai jin3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

The economy is not doing well for sure. So they may not sell as well, but they will sell enough for each company to be very pleased. Also, even though economies are bad...retail sales are doing well...to even say some are seeing record profit. The holidays are always huge!

decrypt3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

@sayai jin

What retail are you on about?

Check walmart sales they are dipping, same goes for some of the other big retailers. Retail is certainly not doing well.

Infact Americans are today more in credit card debt than ever.

For more details youtube economists like Peter schiff to get an idea on the economy. US eco is a disaster. Its the mainstream media that doesnt want Americans to know this. There is no recovery. Infact we might be on the edge of another crash which will make 2008 look like a walk in the park.

@hutch2355

The american dream is near its end, for the last 100 years the american monetary system has been hijacked by a cartel of private central banks. The federal reserve they call it, nothing federal about it. Since 2008 they have printed the USD into oblivion and the pace is accelerating getting goods on the back of a USD is a privilege Americans about to lose. Then it will be a world of hyperinflation where no one will be able to afford anything. The time isnt far. Do a bit of research.

1OddWorld3819d ago

@decrypt
50 million lazy bastards the government welfare program has spawned. Welfare broke up the family by only giving assistance if the father was not in the home creating single parent homes and several generations of kids who see welfare as a way of life. Regulate the program, drug test's, required schooling and limit it's use by making it a 2 year program. In two years a person who has no job should easily be able to train for a certification or an associates degree. I hate both political party's bunch of morons cant figure out how to fix our increasing debt and keep de-funding school programs and increasing entitlements. Idiots

Tell me the number of truly disabled people cause it's no where near 10 million. Fat is not a disability, Dumb is not a disability. Go to Walmart and see these bulbous fck's driving those handicap carts pisses me off. Get up and walk you fat lazy fck or die.

I am way off topic.

Theyellowflash303819d ago

Maybe cause the Xbox 360 launched at $299 and $399 and the Xbox One is launching at $499 in a bad economy.

I can't believe how many people think the Xbox One is just going set sales records with that price tag.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3819d ago
Volkama3819d ago

It's selling at a loss though isn't it? So it isn't so much a question of the console selling well, it's more a question of the games and services selling.

The early adopters are core gamers and will probably buy up playstation plus in a heartbeat. Will the wider audience be interested? Subscriptions to anything can be a hard sell, Microsoft and Sony are both going for it though.

TopDudeMan3819d ago

Well, logically since the announcement of the PS4 people probably stopped buying PS3s. So this'll be them claiming back the revenue of a years worth of PS3 sales since people were likely waiting for the PS4 to release.

Anon19743819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

As much as I expect the PS4 to sell well, again..another article overstates the importance of one device that Sony sells. Revenue generated from their games division is relatively small when compared to Sony as a whole. The entire division could cease to exist and shareholders probably wouldn't blink. Same thing goes for Microsoft's games division. Not that they're not generating a whole pile of money, but when compared to the entire company it's easy to see why most financial analysts don't even bother mentioning games when discussing the larger picture. Sony needs to turn around their TV division before they'll stop the bleeding. It's was getting better but this was disappointing news all around.

Also, it's funny to see Eurogamer throw up Microsoft figures for comparison, as if Sony and Microsoft were even remotely in the same business overall. Hell, why not through Toyota and Disney in there too.

And learn to read, Eurogamer. There were 2 million PS3's sold, not PS3/PS2 combined. Sony dropped the PS2 numbers from that figure last quarter. Right on the slide, at the bottom "PS2 is not included in Q1, Q2 FY13 and FY13 FCT"

I really think that the PS3 has a shot at outselling the Wii when this is all said and done. Wii numbers aren't going anywhere as the console is no longer in production, but the PS3 will continue to be supported for the next couple of years at least. It's very possible it could break 100 million before this is all over, and then it's only a couple of million more to take the Wii's crown this gen.

http://www.sony.net/SonyInf...

FunkMacNasty3819d ago

Ps4 will definitely sell well at launch!!

I mean, I can't even pre-order one at any brick and mortar store in the US right now! So much for me getting one at launch :-( And, as a matter of fact, the demand seems so high, that I'm afraid I won't be able to get my hands on one until the summer :-(

Belking3819d ago

Dude that really doesn't mean much when you aren't making money on those sales. Its gonna take years for them to see any profits from the hardware.

Anon19743819d ago

According to Sony, the losses incurred from selling the PS4 hardware at a loss will be made up with subscription fees from PSN+ out of the gate.

And let's be realistic here. We already know the PS4 isn't nearly as expensive to make compared to the PS3 when it launched. The slight losses on hardware being predicted aren't going to last.

rainslacker3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

And they'll get back profits from each game sold through licensing fees. I'd imagine most people are going to buy 2-3 games when purchasing a new system, and last I saw the licensing fees for most games are around $10 per copy sold.

1st party games make them even more money, and currently KZ:SF has really high pre-order numbers. I saw a stack of 50 or so of them sitting on the counter at GameStop tonight, so GS must expect it to sell since the store I go to hardly ever gets enough copies to meet demands on any game not COD or AC. To Sony, those 50 copies are already sold, regardless of if GS sells them or not. Now multiply 50 x 6,600 stores you get 330K copies sold to GameStop alone. Include Amazon, Best Buy, etc in those numbers, and they have already made their money back.

Then there is all the peripherals they sell at a profit day one. Controllers, cameras, possibly Move, all those little extras that people buy because of launch hype. All those overpriced Sony branded products are nothing but huge markup. My local GS has about 30 DS4's on the sales floor right now, and quite a few GS people have posted saying their stores have about 50 or so in stock. Again, those are sold units to Sony, and I'm sure those have a decent mark up on them at $60 a pop.

PS+ is another profit for them.

So yeah, I don't see it taking years for them to be making back that money. Last report I saw said they were losing about $60 per console sold, and it was only an estimate.

You don't include R&D costs into profit of a sold unit. Those are written off, and I believe they wrote those off that quarter where they sold that building you used to mention all the time.

fear883819d ago

I think its time for sony to seriously consider spinning off the entertainment division. I feel as though the movies and music division would be better as its own separate entity. Sony is doing exceptionally well in the mobile market after severing ties with erricson and the playstation division is managed properly and is about to turn a profit there. But the movie/music division in particular needs to go. Its been a drag on Sony for a long time and if they spin the division off, it will bring in more money for Sony.

mediate-this3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

Yes it will sell well. But sell well enough to keep the whole of sony afloat is another question. Sony needs to stick with what makes them money, and sell off or produce less what hemmorrages them money.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3819d ago
come_bom3819d ago

With all the help they are getting from Microsoft, PS4 is going to be a success with out a doubt.

MynextGen3819d ago

Geez you are in denial XboxOne has money Ps4 has peanuts lol

hollabox3819d ago

MS could buy both Nintendo and Sony if they wanted to. I'm surprise Apple has not made an attempt to buy either or since I've rumors about them getting back into the gaming business.

ZBlacktt3819d ago

Yet, biggest fail rate console in history. Copy Blu-ray player 7 years later, never won a overall Game of the Year exclusive, been outsold by Playstation every Gen, being outsold already in pre orders 2 to 1, 1080 vs 720p, lessor powerful console. Forced to change everything about the X1 policies by Sony not forcing them on gamers.

The facts could go on for days. Hope you are not in denial.

swerve1213819d ago

I think ZBlacktt here must of forgotten that MS own part of Blu Ray via the Codecs.

phoenix_dusk3819d ago

It has almost no flaws as a console system.

phoenix_dusk3819d ago

I see the Xbone astroturfers are downvoting the truth. Living in denial is not a good idea. I guess living in 720p multiplats and their endless paywall of services is such a bitter-sweet thing to do just to deal with reality. LOL

majiebeast3819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

Who knows at this point.

smokeyjoekenobi3819d ago

How can any console-only gamer play the superior technology card, seriously?

come_bom3819d ago

Nop. It has flaws. It just doesn't have as much flaws as the competition.

Hicken3819d ago

Roughly 130 of them, give or take.

Where's the flaw?

majiebeast3819d ago

Damn the pictures division really made some bombas this quarter. Who ever greenlit After Earth is probably looking for a new job right now.

phoenix_dusk3819d ago

Yeah, I think that's where mostly Sony got all their losses. The gaming division is doing so well and I guess Sony pictures kinda went to sleep after Skyfall.

Evil_Abed3819d ago

The gaming division didn't make any money, in fact it lost 8 million
Yeah, it is doing sooo well -___-

TheEnigma3133819d ago

GGJ

Check your facts before you spew nonsense. Sony only reported a loss in gaming because the development of PS4 and The gaikai investment. Money loss is normal when gearing up for a new gen console.

Evil_Abed3819d ago

People have been using the development of ps4 as an excuse for no profits for a lot of quarters now. Truth is, it made a loss. Bottom line.

Why it made a loss is neither here nor there. Last Christmas when they made only 6 million in profit everybody claimed it was PS4 R&D, now it's still PS4 R&D almost a year later.

How exactly is it doing so good?

TheEnigma3133819d ago (Edited 3819d ago )

Oh so what you're saying is it took ps4 only a year to be created? It doesn't need advertising, production, R&D? -____-

They also have to pay for games that are in the works for ps4. They have way more 1st party developers than MS; that costs money. Kaz just took over and the company is heading in the right direction, But I guess you know more than the stock holders?

Death3819d ago

R&D costs for the PS4? They paid Cerny to pay AMD for the design. This was by far the least expensive console Sony has created. It's all subcontracted out.

The biggest challenge Sony will face this Holiday will be moving enough software and services to offset the losses on the hardware. The decision to make Plus mandatory will help in the long run, but I would imagine the majority of early adopters will already be Plus subscribers. The PS3 software and hardware are really going to need to step up to pull Sony through the next quarter.

I think in hindsight Sony would have been much better off including the $60 PSEye and matching Microsoft's $499 proce point. They would have retained the performance advantage and offset losses during an already critical launch quarter.

rainslacker3819d ago

R&D costs are written off at one time in most cases. Typically once at the beginning of the process, and then once near the end.

R&D costs aren't a measure of how much money they make off each system, and those costs are expected with any electronics device, even the X1.

Overall profitability is taken over the long term, not on a quarter to quarter basis. I'd suspect that the quarter that contains this month will show a huge increase in revenues, and depending on how many extras/games people buy for the PS4, they may show a profit. PS3 isn't doing to badly either in the games department, and I'm sure GT6 will bring in a tidy sum.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3819d ago
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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.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies11d 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_looken11d ago

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

Cacabunga11d ago

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

just_looken11d 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-6411d 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_Long11d 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.

Einhander197211d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic11d 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 11d ago
DivineHand12511d 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.

Joe91311d 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_Observer11d 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.

S2Killinit11d ago (Edited 11d 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.

Joe91310d 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.

S2Killinit10d 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 10d ago
Christopher11d 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.

CrimsonWing6910d ago (Edited 10d 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.

S2Killinit10d 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_Mal11d ago (Edited 11d 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.

Christopher11d 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_looken11d 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

Einhander197211d ago (Edited 11d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic11d 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.

romulus2311d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218311d 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.

S2Killinit10d ago (Edited 10d 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.

mastershredder11d 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.

crazyCoconuts11d 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.

blackblades17d ago

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

just_looken17d 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.

blackblades17d 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_looken17d ago (Edited 17d 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.

Kaii17d 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
S2Killinit19d ago

Big victory for Sony. And a long time coming.

DarXyde18d ago (Edited 18d ago )

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

Make it Bloodborne 2, please and thank you.

18d ago
Profchaos19d 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

Pyrofire9518d ago

Patents suck. Most of them are complete garbage.

Knightofelemia18d 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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