740°

Marketing deals and how Sony are destroying Microsoft at their own game

Sean @ FG: With the launch of Project Scorpio looming on the horizon, Microsoft should be partnering with as many third parties as possible to scream to the world that their new console really is the best place to play the biggest upcoming games. Instead, Sony are pulling the rug from underneath them and are dominating them at their own game.

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fingerguns.net
SpaceRanger2524d ago

This on top of exclusives. The best place to play is on PlayStation, plain and simple.

Overload2524d ago

It's even more embarrassing when you look at the fact PlayStation produces more exclusive software too, by a lot.

BiggerBoss2524d ago

The difference wouldn't be so huge if Microsoft would stop cancelling their games. It's like they have no confidence in their studios.

uptownsoul2524d ago

For the most part, I tend to agree with all above. Marketing deals alone is one thing. When you pair that with the quality AAA exclusives PS4 has been bringing, along with the sheer number of quality AAA exclusives. All I have to say is...Damn

chrisx2524d ago

Ps4 is gearing up and about to go on overdrive mode

2524d ago
candystop2524d ago

The best exclusives for the past few years in my opinion goes to Sony. Now of course the best place to play is subjective but something tells me Scorpio will be the best place to play everything.

Nitrowolf22524d ago

@epic

Wipeout, crash, potentially god of war, gtsport

Thats just off the top of my head, i know theres more

OMGitzThatGuy2524d ago

@BiggerBoss Microsoft has only cancelled 2 games this gen.

uptownsoul2523d ago

@OMGitzThatGuy "@BiggerBoss Microsoft has only cancelled 2 games this gen."

Microsoft cancelled 3 bigger games (Scalebound, Fable Legends & a NEW Phantom Dust) & 1 smaller game (Project Spark) this gen.

Overload2523d ago (Edited 2523d ago )

Stormlands which was a RPG by Obsidian (Kotor/Fallout NV) was cancelled as well.

OMGitzThatGuy2523d ago

@uptownsoul Project Spark was actually released in October 2014 but they just stopped supporting it in August 2016. So no, it wasn't cancelled. Forgot about Phantom Dust.

RiPPn2523d ago

Also there was Shanghai which was being developed by Black Tusk Studios before it was scrapped and Black Tusk Studios was renamed to The Coalition and became a Gears of War only studio.

Chaos-Dad2523d ago (Edited 2523d ago )

@EpicBuffet
Sony early 2017:
Horizon Zero Dawn, Persona 5, Gravity Rush 2, MLB 17, Nier Automata, NiOh, Farpoint...

Sony 2017 (rest of the Year):
- Uncharted: Lost Legacy, Gran Turismo: Sport, Crash Bandicoot, Knack 2, Ni No Kuni 2, Everybodys Golf and more (God of War? Days Gone?...) ^^

What does Microsoft have for 2017??? what is "exclusive"? :´D

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 2523d ago
2524d ago Replies(23)
Why o why2524d ago

Sony learned a lot last gen. . This gen they pretty much swung most of their deficiencies into efficiencies. . The results are there for all to see.

Imalwaysright2524d ago

Yep. Pretty much every mistake they made last gen was fixed this gen. Combine that with the worldwide strenght/appeal of the playstation brand and its not surprising that the PS4 outsold its competitors throughout this gen.

Tussin1872523d ago

And we also seen what happened when they released at the same time. Something everyone wanted to see last gen but PS3 got delayed because of parts. I believe it was the Blu-ray lazers or the cell. Can't remember which or was it both?

Anyways, you guy get my point. Will that ever happen again? I know one company that's up for the fight.....

YEP4142524d ago

Give me Microsoft over Sony I'm sorry Sony not my thing. Third party exclusives who cares I'm getting the game!

2523d ago
GrubsterBeater2523d ago (Edited 2523d ago )

@Epic

You Just described the ONLY saving grace of Xbox... The fact that they actually HAVE 3rd party games... if only they had exclusives, not to mention even exclusives you can even look forward to. (Hint, Epic, you NEED exclusives first in order to have good ones or even ones to look forward to). In What BIZARRO, backwards, delusional world are you living in, kid?! I am baffled at the ignorance and lack of any knowledge whatsoever that you are displaying here, while also giving all the other fans in the XBox community a bad name. It's the little kids like you that is one huge reason I will NEVER join the XBox community. So many 12 year old kids like you yelling "I f $#%@& your Mom!". Little unintelligent, immature kids like you are what plagues the XBox community and you need to have your balls drop, grow up, and maybe do a little bit of research on the subject that you obviously have SOOO little knowledge of.

I am still baffled at how completely backwards and delusional your comments are. That's not even including how factually incorrect they all are...

There's about 75% of the XBox community, everyone. Epic is the prime example.

This HAS to be trolling, because there is no way anyone is this stupid and bereft of any intellect whatsoever

trooper_2523d ago

You guys failed to mention both 1st and 3rd party games. That's what Sony fans can look forward to. I rather have fresh IPs and 3rd party exclusives than regurgitated franchises.

Tussin1872523d ago (Edited 2523d ago )

That's your choice. Not going to disagree with you if Xbox is your system of choice. At least you were honest and didn't type some off the wall fanboy dribble.

I could care less about 3rd party deals either. You can still get the game on other systems.

I used to be a HARDCORE Nintendo fanboy. You know back before the internet. Then the PlayStation came out and changed my world and I've been with them since day one. Don't get me wrong, I still loved​ Nintendo but I felt they weren't growing up as I was.

The GameCube was my last Nintendo console. Parents bought a Wii and never really played it. Also had the original Xbox and 360. Loved​ the OG. Started to buy most of my multiplatform on it especially the Tom Clancy series and Ubisoft games of course.

Really liked my 360 as well but went through 3 of them and I just stopped playing it. All this time however Playstation was still my favorite but I admit that the OGXbox(especially) and the 360 got plenty of love.

Really a long story for saying your entitled to whatever you like. Give me Sony over MS any day. But that doesn't mean I don't respect your choice. Happy gaming and I'll say thanks for at least not going all in on the fanboy dribble.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2523d ago
Actually2524d ago ShowReplies(1)
OB1Biker2524d ago

There's supposed to be some big marketing deal from Ms announced at E3 though, maybe more. That said yes I find it a bit amazing that PlayStation is even more bullish than last year in getting most third party partnership and Ms pretend its their choice. Aren't they supposed to have deep pockets like many fans have benn saying?

XanderZane2524d ago

I have a feeling M$ is looking to buy a few companies before the 9th generation starts. It probably won't be little Indie companies either.

https://68.media.tumblr.com...

I expect a few surprises at the E3.

UCForce2523d ago

@XanderZane It have to take more than that.

Princess_Pilfer2524d ago (Edited 2524d ago )

The PS4 has 103 exclusives. The PC has 4457. (*not* counting the flood of garbage on Steam in the last 3 or 4 years.)

The PC can and will play most games at whatever framerate you want.
The PS4 is almost always locked to 30FPS

The PS4 has paid online.
The PC has free online.

The PC will play all your old games, both console and PC and going all the way back to the 70s for free.
The PS4 attempts to resell you games you already own by charging for individual emulated games and no full backwards compatability.

The PS4 doesn't give you the option to sacrifice graphics if you prefer performance, or vice versa. (and no, 1 game doing it doesn't count when the other 1000+ don't.)
The PC lets you pick a level of performance and fidelity that suits your needs/desires.

You can only mod games on the PS4 in a very limited capacity and only with Sony's explicit permission.
You can mod virtually every game on the PC (ranging from community big fixes to texture improvements to having the whole game essentially redesigned.)

Bored now, but there is more I could list. Suffice it to say, no, PlayStation is not the best place to play. It's only the best place to play if it's the only place to play because it's an exclusive game, otherwise the best place to play is PC.

UCForce2524d ago

Sure, but those PC exclusive games don't have AAA budget and some of their game can be hit or miss.

Princess_Pilfer2523d ago

Yeah, WoW and Guild Wars 2 and Starcraft 2 and Civilization 6 and Total Warhammer and Dawn of War definitely didn't have AAA budgets.

That's not even getting into, and follow me on this, AAA games are rarily the best games. Sure some games only really work well on an AAA budget (like The Witcher 3) but for many that's just not the case. Pillars of Eternity is miles ahead of AAA fare like Dragon Age Inquisition. Demon's Souls and Dark Souls (1) were both AA at most because Fromsoft didn't really have the clout to get AAA funding for their niche titles yet. Life is Strange isn't AAA. Transistor isn't AAA. Catherine isn't AAA. Undertale isn't even A.

All games are hit and miss. Do you think people can name all 100 PS4 exclusives? Do you think all of them are amazing? Do you think all of them are AAA for that matter? No, people just only remember the really good ones.

Mr-Dude2523d ago

@Princess

If you have sooo much games why do PC fans start petitions too have PS exclusives on the PC...

-Bloodborne
-Demon Souls
-Nioh
-Horizon Zero Dawn
-The Last Of Us

And continue....

Princess_Pilfer2523d ago

Why do you think current and former PC exclusives (Xcom 2, Warframe, Divinity OS) keep showing up on consoles? The number of games and quality of games on a system is literally not a factor in people wanting to play quality games that aren't on their system.

Dark_Knightmare22523d ago

Dude I would take Sony or Nintendo exclusives over that steam green light garbage pc players call exclusives any day of the week not to mention most of exclusives that are worth their salt release on consoles anyway

Princess_Pilfer2523d ago

I was specifically excluding the steam greenlight stuff. I used a source that stops at 2013. (Steams floodgates didn't open till 2014 or 2015)

Refer to previous point about PC "not having AAA exclusives." And then add to it that lots of exclusives are both very good and not AAA. (ie Pillars of Eternity and Tyranny both come to mind more recently)

rainslacker2523d ago

K. Well that's good and all, but for someone looking for a console, and for the topic at hand being a marketing deal that compares CONSOLES, how is your comment relevant?

Dragonscale2523d ago

What does this article have to do with pc gaming?

AmUnRa2523d ago (Edited 2523d ago )

And ladies and gentleman whe have a PC masterrace dude, ranting around. I know that theres gonna be more Masterace comments like this, wait for it...
Nobody cares, i know that i dont care. I have a PC but i am playing games on my PS4 cous theyr are so many good games to play that i dont have time playing on my PC.

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen2523d ago

@princess
Developers are porting PC games to PS4 to reach a larger audience not because PS4 owners are begging for ports. On the other hand, there have been several well known instances of PC gamers begging for Horizon Zero Dawn, Yakuza 0, Tlou, Persona 5, Mlb The Show, Uncharted 4, and the most notable example of port begging, Bloodborne. No one is begging for PC mobas and mmo's

Aenea2523d ago

This article is about Xbox and PlayStation, why bring PC gaming into the mix?

Princess_Pilfer2523d ago

And developers bringing console exclusives to PC is what exactly? reaching a smaller audience?

There are also known instances of console gamers "begging" for random PC exclusives. Like this one for Xcom 2
https://www.ipetitions.com/...

The only difference is on PC no company involved with an exclusive has anything to lose (hypothetically or in reality) if there is a significant demand for the game to come to consoles. Sony, on the other hand, would much rather the PC gamers buy a PS4 and so refuse.

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 2523d ago
PistolsAtDawn2524d ago

Seems like you're just seeing what you want to see. SONY has had some great exclusives...but it's pretty much Just JRPG and Uncharted with different skins on rinse and repeat most of the time. Horizon was a breath of fresh air...but I can only take so many JRPGs (pretty much Just Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts at this point) and Uncharted was a good series...but the whole gamestyle is getting a little overplayed now....and the last Uncharted should have stopped at the 75% mark instead of the nightmare it was for the last 25%. Now would be a great time for them to bring back Syphon Filter or it's likely I won't even touch a PS again until Days Gone or God of War....nothing else looks interesting exclusive to PS IMO and all multiplat gaming will be on Scorpio....now that it has the best controller, network, UI, software support, ...and adding power and best place for VR (AR). So most of gaming is subjective...but saying Sony has the best exclusives can't really be said with the same certainty it used to ....sure they have a string of great SCORING games...but outside of Japan...almost no one cares about those games....so what's the point?

CoinOrc2524d ago

PS4 exclusives that are not JRPGs or Uncharted: Nier: Automata, Gravity Rush 2, Yakuza 0, Horizon: Zero Dawn, MLB The Show, The Last Guardian, No Man's Sky, The King of Fighters, Guilty Gear, Street Fighter V, Ratchet and Clank, The Order 1886, Driveclub, Infamous: Second Son... These are just off the top of my head, and I am not even counting remasters and timed exclusives like The Last of Us Remastered and Rocket League.

Dark_Knightmare22523d ago

Actually it can be said with certainty considering Sony has the most critically acclaimed exclusives released in the last twenty years according to metacritic so what were you saying?

Chevalier2523d ago

No one cares outside Japan? That's an idiotic thing to say. Maybe travel a bit more and check out Europe and other countries before you say stupid things like that. There's a reason PS4 is successful worldwide whereas Xbox has ONLY U.S., U.K and maybe Australia. You sound like and uneducated ignorant ethnocentric individual.

AmUnRa2523d ago

Dude stop making a fool of yourself🙄

notachance2523d ago

and outside of US no one cares about xbox

Phill-Spencer2523d ago

Pistol of dawn

Yet these games sell as much or even more than games like gears, which used to be on of xbox' flagship games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2523d ago
DashArrivals2523d ago

Too true. I've never been more certain of anything in my life.

UnHoly_One2523d ago

Playstation has a few great exclusive games, and right now they have the much more capable machine, by a long shot.... I won't argue that.

But I can't switch to them for multiplat games until they give me a decent controller. Every iteration of the Dualshock is worse than the last.

Everyone copies things from everyone else, they need to suck it up and copy Xbox's controller. Just do it, and I'll join the PS team, seriously.

nX2522d ago

The DS4 is superior to that bulky, asymetrical mess in almost every way, maybe you are the one who should suck it up? Or you know, be smart for once and buy a Xbox shaped controller for your (clearly non existent) Playstation?

UnHoly_One2522d ago

Look up my PlayStation tag before try to tell me I don't have a PS4. UnHoly_One

Go ahead, I'll wait.

There is nothing "bulky" about the Xbox controller, it's actually slightly smaller than the DS4. Study up a bit before you attack me with your ignorance.

Yes, I could spend 150 dollars to buy a half assed Xbox controller replica, but it's not worth that to me, especially since it is wired.

And LOL @ symmetrical. What a stupid argument. I can't believe people still spew that nonsense.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 2522d ago
Thatguy-3102524d ago

There's nothing new with publishers taking sides with the console that has the largest install base. This generation the ps4 is obliterating the competition so there is no surprise there. With the huge third party backing(exlusive content) and top tier first party exlusives and Sony is pretty much replicating the ps2 era.

Kingthrash3602524d ago (Edited 2524d ago )

Yeah but fanboys think it's sony eating before MS has a chance, when really it the devs who are going with ps4. No matter what, the install base is king and development teams know that this is where the money is. Money talks bull**** walks.
Goes to show how much power really means to developers. It's always about the money. Extra power is redundant.

XiNatsuDragnel2524d ago

Pretty much, Sony won this generation. Even streamers know it.

BiggerBoss2524d ago

Well when every multi platform game sells far better on PS4, what do people expect Publishers to do? They're gonna go where their games will sell best, and that's on PlayStation.

Bruh2524d ago

@KingTrash

Clueless lol, these marketing deals aren't who developers want to date, its based purely on whose bidding the most for those marketing rights. Sony is out bidding Microsoft with major publishers, which is an obvious reflection of how healthy one gaming division is over the other

rainslacker2523d ago (Edited 2523d ago )

Marketing deals are generally paid for, not just given to the console with the bigger install base. While any company would take any free marketing if it can't sell it, they would much rather take some money in the form of marketing support from the highest bidder. When it comes to actual sales, it rarely has an impact on reducing or increasing overall sales, it just tends to shift the numbers to have the higher sales on the console which has the deal.

At least this is the case when all things are equal. When it's not, then it still shifts some, but either way, the publisher gets some money.

Marketing deals are generally the publisher approaching the console makers. They know they have something to help market the consoles, and they often go to the console which is stronger in the market first. On occassion they do actually take bids though, although I don't know which one's do that. Exclusive content deals are much the same way, but only in that they typically start as marketing deals, and grow into exclusive deals over the course of negotiation.

chrisx2524d ago

Every1 is joining the winning team simple as that really

Relientk772524d ago

I think it's exclusives first, this is secondary

Overload2524d ago

Both categories are completely lop sided in favor of PS4.

BiggerBoss2524d ago

I had hoped that Microsoft was really going to invest in first party IP like they claimed, but all they've done is cancel the more experimental games to push focus back on their staples like Halo and Forza.

2523d ago
GrubsterBeater2523d ago

@Epic

Funny, because based off your comments, we all assumed you WERE a little 12 year old girl...

italiangamer2524d ago

Just like in the PS2 era, publishers loves it when Sony dominates because they can earn tons more money. Sony wins = publishers wins

XiNatsuDragnel2524d ago

Pretty much PS2 Era all over and it's beautiful

Markusb332523d ago

I agree there were so many great games on ps2 and they really had variety and diverse genres. When people can't see the variety and say I don't want any Sony games they can't be real gamers and fooling themselves.

VoodooProject2523d ago ShowReplies(13)
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Bethesda Needs to Reduce the Gaps Between New Fallout and Elder Scrolls Releases

Waiting a decade for new instalments in franchises as massive as Fallout and Elder Scrolls feels like a waste.

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gamingbolt.com
-Foxtrot10h ago

Microsoft have Obsidian but I feel it's Bethesda who just don't want to play ball as they've always said they want to do it themselves.

Once MS bought Zenimax in 2020 they should have put the Outer Worlds 2 on the back burner, allow Bethesda to finish off its own Space RPG with Starfield (despite totally different tone why have two in your first party portfolio with two developers who's gameplay is a tad similar) and got Obsidian for one of their projects to make a spiritual successor to New Vegas.

When the Elder Scrolls VI is finished Bethesda can then onto the main numbered Fallout 5 themselves.

The Outer Worlds 2 started development in 2019 so putting it on the back burner wouldn't have been the end of the world, they'd have always come back to it once Fallout was done and it would have been nicely spaced out from Starfields release once they had most likely stopped supporting it and all the expansions were released.

If they did this back in 2020 when they bought Zenimax and the game had a good, steady 4 - 5 years development, you might have seen it release in 2025.

We are literally going to be waiting until 2030 at the very earliest for Fallout 5 and all they seem bothered about is pushing Fallout 76.

RaidenBlack8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Its not just only Todd not playing ball.
Obsidian have made a name for themselves in delivering stellar RPGs, but most famous once have always been sequels/spin-offs to borrowed IPs like KOTOR 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Stick of Truth etc.
Obsidian wants to invest more in their own original IPs like Outer Worlds or Pillars of Eternity with Avowed.
Similar to what Bluepoint & inXile wants to do or Kojima is doing (i.e not involving anymore in Konami's IPs).
So yea, even if New Vegas has the most votes from 3D Fallout fans, Obsidian just wants to do their own thing, like any aspiring dev studio and MS is likely currently respecting that.
But a future Fallout game from Obsidian will surely happen. Founder Feargus Urquhart has already stated an year ago that they're eager to make a new Fallout game with Bethesda, New Vegas 2 or otherwise. Urquhart was the director of the very first 1995's Fallout game after all.
And don't forget Brian Fargo and his studio inXile, as Brian Fargo was the director of Fallout's 1988 predecessor: Wasteland

KyRo4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

Obsidian should take over the FO IP. They're do far better with it than Bethesda who hasn't made a great game for almost 15 years

Duke194h ago(Edited 4h ago)

I disagree. Part of these games is the support for the mod community. If they move to releasing a "next game" every 2 or 3 years, the modding support plummets and the franchises turn into just another run of the mill RPG.

Make the games good enough to withstand the test of time, to keep people coming back to them and expanding on them with mod support.

--Onilink--1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

I dont think anyone is saying they need to come out every 2 years (not to mention almost no game is released that quickly anymore)

By the time Fallout 5 comes out, it will be more than 15 years since Fallout 4 came out (same with ES6 coming out 15 years after Skyrim). Even if you want to use F76 as the metric for the most recent release, that one came out in 2018. It will be a miracle if F5 comes out before 2030

The point is that for a studio that doesnt seem to operate with multiple teams doing several projects at once, that their projects normally take 4-5 years as a minimum, and that now they even added Starfield to the rotation, it becomes a 15+ years waiting period between releases for each series, which doesnt make sense. Imagine that Nintendo only released a mainline Mario or Zelda game every 15 years…

They either need to start developing more than 1 project at a time, let someone else take a crack at one of the IPs or significantly reduce their development times

Duke197m ago(Edited 3m ago)

Why should someone else take a crack at one of the IPs? Look at what happened to Final Fantasy as a recent example - there is pretty clear FF fatigue setting in because they are now pumping out titles in the franchise every few years. Pumping out more games faster doesn't always make a series better.

There are plenty of options to make new games, not just create more titles in the same universe at a faster pace.

mandf1h ago

Yeah I’m going to say it, who cares about the modding community when making a game? Half the time developers only tolerate modders because they fix there game for them.

Skuletor3h ago

Yeah, let's all advocate for smaller gaps between series' releases, then we'll probably get headlines about how the series have dropped in quality and they could have benefited from more time in the oven. Let them cook.

SimpleSlave2h ago

"how the series have dropped in quality and they could have benefited from more time in the oven" So every Bethesda game then? Got it.

Listen, I would agree if this was about From Software or something, but Bethesda?

🤣

C'mon now. What timeline are you from?

Skuletor1m ago

Think about it, they're already bug filled messes on their current schedule, can you imagine how much worse it would be if they rushed things?

Duke196m ago

I mean you aren't wrong. People are going to complain about anything

isarai2h ago

Hows about you focus on quality, just a thought 🤷‍♂️

Sciurus_vulgaris1h ago

Bethesda [or Microsoft] would have to reallocate internal and external studios towards fallout and elder scrolls titles. Bethesda has the issue of developing 2 big IPs that are large RPGs on rotation. If you want more Fallout and Elder Scrolls, development will have to be outsourced.

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