660°

Director confirms Days Gone 2 was pitched, but won’t verify Sony rejection report

Days Gone’s director has responded to a report claiming that plans for Days Gone 2 were rejected by Sony.

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videogameschronicle.com
P_Bomb1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

Must read article for fans.

Commercial success vs Sony not having MS or Fortnite cash/renewables, to the critics’ bloodbath and the state of 120 man AAA. Bonus: shared universe mp in the pitch.

Finally, says never say never.

Sonic-and-Crash1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

what i m seeing is big efforts to slander Sony game development, without knowing a sht about what is happening inside the companies and with hidden agenda which favors the competitors (who by the way havent showed anything worthy for their next gen consoles)

the same "wannabe Journalists/insiders" why they didnt dig up the whole 343 studios demotion fiasco after Halo Infinite uproar about its qualtiy?

Atom6661111d ago

I'm seeing big efforts to needlessly defend a corporation's obvious business model. I'm interested in how it's a hidden agenda to report on what devs are telling a reporter, though.

Some might say trying bury the story is signs of an agenda...

But as much as I dislike Schreier for other reasons, his reporting is actual real reporting when it comes to this stuff.

He talks on and off the record to people at these studios. You even saw him get the nod from Jeff Ross yesterday as repeated in the article here.

But it's always a conspiracy or rumor when the perception is bad for a certain corporation.

Also, I've read constant reports about the cluster at 343. In fact, it was Schreier who broke the story about Chris Lee leaving in the first place.

Whataboutism doesn't work too well on that one.

SPEAKxTHExTRUTH1111d ago

Any proof of that? Links? Source? Or just more fanboy garbage?

CaptainHenry9161111d ago

Facts. We don't know anything behind closed doors. Just rumors if you ask me.

specialguest1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

Hey everyone, look! We have a surviving member of the SDF(Sony Defense Force) from a decade ago. Ok we get it, everyone's out to get Sony and bring them down. It's a conspiracy! Lol

bouzebbal1110d ago

This game is hands down my last gen favorite.. I hope it comes back, and I know it will!!

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1110d ago
peppeaccardo1111d ago

Thanks for suggesting reading the article .. very informative indeed.
I loved thsi game and I played it on the PS5 at 60 FPS and it looks and plays amazingly.
Probably one of the best open world out there and very engaging story.
Was so looking forward to a sequel .... finger crossed !

-Foxtrot1111d ago

I wanted Days Gone 2 but

Co-op

Online elements

A shared Universe

That is not something I wanted, you can’t beat a good story focused single player game

Christopher1111d ago

Yeah, none of that would appeal to me. As soon as games move onto those elements, I move elsewhere. If they want a post-apocalyptic zombie world, get one of the many that already exist from third parties. Don't reinvent the wheel.

P_Bomb1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

Perhaps they could’ve done it like the Division. You see ppl at safe zones but not as you walk around the map, save for the dark zone. Perhaps in this case, areas lost to hordes?

Then like the Division, or even a Resistance, you could choose to party up or join some kind of Resistance 2 co-op thing? A DG version of GoT: Legends?

1111d ago
Kornholic1111d ago

Yeah, everytime a game is designed to have a co-op, it compromises the narrative and the single player experience. Too many games are created with co-op in mind these days.

-Foxtrot1111d ago

@PrineGam3r

Still what’s the point wasting time and resources on that when you need to focus on the single player given the first games rocky start

I liked it, solid 8/10 but I want to see time put into making that a 9/10 or 10/10 before doing online shit you can find in a dozen other titles

SlothLordPootus1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

I enjoyed Days Gone (personal 8/10). But I don't necessarily need a sequel either. The secret ending showed sequel potential, but for me, I'm more interested in a new IP from them. Also I don't think Sony has any interest in Co-op, multiplayer games. There's too much to compete with in that space at this point, whereas single player only games have a better chance. In an online game when a community is deemed "dead" no one buys it, for single player games, people will buy those for years after release.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1111d ago
neutralgamer19921111d ago

So if you were to believe the rumors then it says Sony did not want to do a sequel for days gone but then they allowed a new IP. Maybe you are being naive as new IP is much more risky and more expensive than doing a sequel. So it seems Sony has confidence in Sony bend

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1110d ago
monkey6021111d ago

So it was true. Sticking other teams on Naughty Dog IPs is a poor move. I loved the Uncharted games but I'd much rather a new IP at this stage or a sequel to a less developed property. Days Gone 2 would have definitely appealed to me. Although Co op would have worried me. The 1st game's 71 metacritic score is criminal

P_Bomb1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

Hopefully the PC release pads the bank for a potential sequel. All the DLC for the first game was free. Problem then becomes not having those MP style renewables to keep cash flowing for budgets on the brink.

1111d ago Replies(2)
Christopher1111d ago

"Asked to comment on the report, Days Gone director Ross denied suggestion that Bend was being positioned as a support studio for Naughty Dog, claiming that this was “never the reality” and that its relationship with the Uncharted studio was “collaborative” (the author of the Bloomberg story, Jason Schreier, has since suggested Ross is overstating the situation)."

It's like people don't read anymore and just go with the narrative they want.

Atom6661111d ago

Indeed.

"Thanks to everyone who attended the podcast with Jaffe. I wish I could have been more forthright with some questions. Just remember @jasonschreier is a journalist who takes his craft seriously. And he has the luxury of being able to be more honest than I’m allowed."

Christopher1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

@Atom666: Yet, for this specific item discussed, he says that what Jason said was not right in his characterization of the situation. Interesting choice to not notice that but go ahead and post that bit you did for this specific item as if it somehow changed what he said to clarify what Jason had claimed.

Jason: Bend was forced to work for Naughty Dog.

Dev: That characterization isn't true.

monkey602: OMG, what Jason said was true!

Me: Dev didn't say that, said it wasn't true.

Atom666: But he did say that the journalist was able to be more truthful, therefore what the dev just said isn't the truth even though he specifically countered what Jason said.

Sounds logical to me.

Atom6661111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

He literally says the article was true during his interview. He talks about perceptions being different based on who was interviewed, and admits that the devs who were interviewed likely characterized it in the manner it was reported.

The point you quoted doesn't even contradict Monkey's comment. He openly discussed the support role with ND. The only part you take issue with is the perception relayed by some devs that they were being positioned as only a support studio or forced into it.

You can try to be snarky all you want, but your own confirmation bias is blaring.

You: But.. this one part is seemingly different than the original report. Should I consider what he means by perceptions of the devs might be different than what he was privy to? No, there's no time!

Let me ignore all of the confirmations of the story's accuracy. Afterall, this goes against my own little rants I made when failing the original story.

Christopher1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

@Atom666:

"So it was true. Sticking other teams on Naughty Dog IPs is a poor move."

He specifically said they weren't stuck there. He specifically said they collaborated. Even further, Jason implied they did that instead of making their own IP, which he also stated in this article that they were working on outside of Naughty Dog.

***You can try to be snarky all you want, but your own confirmation bias is blaring.***

My confirmation bias of prioritizing what a dev says over what Jason said, which was inaccurate. Yes. I agree with that sentiment.

***Let me ignore all of the confirmations of the story's accuracy. ***

Please note where I said Jason wasn't accurate in some things or that the dev didn't confirm some things? I can't find it. But, on this specific item, he refuted how Jason not only characterized it but also the fact that they were working on ND IPs and not their own.

And, do realize, that you continued this ridiculous line of reasoning on a single point in which the dev specifically said Jason was wrong. At no point did I say Jason was wrong on everything or deny that the dev didn't agree with him on some things. But, on this specific bit, which monkey brought up and you threw in a pointless quote to try and invalidate what I posted as the quote specific from the developer, that's not how it is.

Atom6661111d ago Show
monkey6021111d ago

What are you talking about? I don't "want" any narrative. I took the rumour posting with a grain of salt prior to this but it has been confirmed now as at least mostly accurate.

The level of hostility on this site has become sickening and Christopher you only seem to insite it. You could definitely do better to lead by example here.

1111d ago
gravedigger1110d ago (Edited 1110d ago )

@Atom666

Don't let Jason Schreier brainwash you. 2 things from Jeff ( which was a director for Days Gone ) contradicts Jason statements in the article

Jason said during 2019 Days Gone was pitched. Jeff said Days Gone 2 was in the development before he left Bend 4 months ago - also, very important thing, Jason called Jeff a liar basically because of that on ResetERA :

https://www.resetera.com/th...

2nd thing is that Jason said Bend's developers feared they might be absorbed into Naughty Dog as a support studio - Jeff claimed that is FALSE.
He also said that Bend was helping Naughty Dog in a limited way, collaboration he called it
It was to give some devs at Bend something to do while they had nothing else going on early in pre-production

It's clear Jason's article was designed to try to push a narrative that would cause drama, but in fact, everything that was in his article was totally normal by industry standards, and nothing is wrong at PS Studios. I expect Bloomberg reporting to be above this kind of 'tabloid' style drama reporting... I mean look at the narrative that the headline even tries to push!
The “accuracy” of what he said is not so much the issue, but rather how he tried to frame it as “unrest” at PS when in fact, Jeff said that Sony gives their studios lots of creative freedom, Jim Ryan and Herman Hulst are brilliant at their job, Bend employees helping with other projects during the downtime was great as it meant they kept their jobs and didn’t have to downsize when in between projects etc. Jason tried to frame this in a completely different light to try to get clicks and create a scandal, when in actual fact, everything that was going on was completely normal.
Turn 10 become a support studio for 343i to finish Halo Infinite. Is there a problem in that? Nope. It is normal in gaming industry.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 1110d ago
TheTony3161111d ago

"Asked to comment on the report, Days Gone director Ross denied suggestion that Bend was being positioned as a support studio for Naughty Dog, claiming that this was “never the reality”

And Naughty Dog, Bend Studios and Santa Monca are working on a new IP.

Silly gameAr1111d ago

Who needs facts when we have rumors and misinformation, and people willing to spread those rumors and misinformation?

gravedigger1110d ago

Actually, Jeff said for Bend to be support for Naughty Dog is false, Jason Schreier mentioned the opposite in the article.

Quote :

I loved the Uncharted games but I'd much rather a new IP
......

Bend is literally working on a new IP.

monkey6021110d ago

@gravedigger

See that's an excellent response. Full of facts and your own personal take on something without turning to sly remarks or insults.

I had read they had returned to an original IP alright but thought maybe that was a result of some fallout from the original move. Didn't really consider that being the norm I guess

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1110d ago
patriotZero1111d ago Show
waverider1111d ago (Edited 1111d ago )

I dont agree wth the sales argument on the news. Days gone was one of the biggest seller of a new ip in 2019. Box and digital. The sales were much higher then many thought, because of poorly reviews. Just shows that reviews and sales dont mean much. But a new game that sells 4.5 or 5 millions arent low. But its funny to see now so many saying how amazing Days Gone is. I think the game is cool, but i read so much stuff from people that didnt even play the game...

1111d ago Replies(2)
Christopher1111d ago

@waverider: You do know that

1. A $60 game sale doesn't mean $60 profit for Sony, let alone for the dev studio as there are costs in various areas (publishing and marketing).
2. Those sales include sales for much lower than $60.
3. The game was delayed twice and was ramped up to a team of 120 just to complete, which is AAA size and budget numbers.

Atom6661111d ago

He addresses this in the interview. Sales success is relative. The budget grew over time.

Return on investment is more than just being profitable in Sony's business model. Size of profit is what matters.

Levii_921111d ago ShowReplies(3)
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200°

Days Gone, 5 Years Later

Almost unbelievably, Days Gone has just turned 5 years old after launching on April 26th, 2019. What's changed in that time?

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culturedvultures.com
mkis00723h ago

Such a good game to me. Crazy how different peoples opinions can get.

Crows9023h ago(Edited 23h ago)

For me it wasn't that surprising. There was some bad press before. There's also the matter and element of a person's disposition when trying out a certain game. Sometimes you're just not really into the type of game that you're playing so you put it down because you don't like it. Not necessarily because it's a bad game but because you're just not up for something like this. Reviewers have a tough because no matter what they feel like playing they've got to play what's releasing.

I have many times gone back to games that I put down only to thoroughly enjoy them the second time around because either there wasn't another exciting game coming out around the same time or I just had no other games to play and haven't played that type of game in a while. I'm not the type of person that can just play a souls game through all this iterations one after the other without getting burnt out on the formula.

In my opinion this game was great from the start. Some bugs here and there but nothing worse than the most AAA releases during the same time after and before. All I did was wait one week and I had a phenomenal time with the game. No other zombie survival game comes close to how I thoroughly enjoyed this one

Cacabunga9h ago(Edited 9h ago)

game is outstanding. I was addicted to it until I got that platinum to pop.

i understand some people who find it thin in terms of content in comparison to RDR2 which released 1 year before it but DG has very fresh good ideas.

it has been my favorite PS4 game......until I played RDR2.
PS have one more gem in their crazy catalogue of exclusives...

-Foxtrot21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

Yeah I thought it was pretty decent, it had its flaws but for their first big console single player open world game it's a solid 8/10.

I have never seen an AAA "zombie" game feature as many enemies as the horde sections did, you really had to think about your surroundings and plan carefully.

I feel journalists had an issue with this game from the moment it was announced, they really didn't like the Biker characters and the overall Biker gang theme. If they were anything else I feel it would have had a better chance or at least they'd overlook some of the flaws like they do for certain other open world games. They don't mind waiting weeks or months for a patch knowing its coming but a game that has it Day 1 it's suddenly a big no no? Yeah this was one of those moments that showed you how they cherry pick who to suddenly decide to go harsh on when they want to.

mkis00721h ago

Ill never forget the reviewer who tried to claim the "ride me like you ride your bike" line was anything but a joke...they (sarah and deacon) explicitly call it a joke and the reviewer still misinformed the reader about it as if it was a literal thing.

Michiel198921h ago

the score on metacritic is 71 from journos, its 9 points lower than your review so stop making stuff up. They didn't hate it from the start, they on average just liked it slightly less than you.

-Foxtrot21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

@Michiel1989

I'm not making anything up, they held a grudge against it and made stuff up themselves like mkis007 has just pointed out. That 71 on Metacritic is why it didn't get a sequel.

Anyway how can I make anything up when I didn't even mention metacritic in my original post?

Michiel19899h ago

@fox it was maybe 2 outlets that made a stupid woke statement, not every journo. Not even close.
I think the director himself crying about that the game should have gotten better reviews might have had something to do with not getting a sequel. That was just a pathetic display on his part.

anast8h ago

Most reviewers are a certain type of person that won't allow them to explore those types of themes.

PhillyDonJawn7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Nah the game is 7. The only good thing you even said about it was the horde/enemy count. If that's the only positive it's not an 8 lol

Crows906h ago

As you can see...some are so blind because of fanboyism that they honestly can't see the writing on the wall. It wasn't just 1 or 2 reviewers...it was a lot of them. Some more direct than others ..just like with stellar blade.

They all coordinate with each other...especially evident seeing as they start submitting the same type of article over the exact same issues within 20 minutes of each other or nearly the same time..that's not a coincidence.

We all know it happened...some are just oblivious so feel free to ignore them.

BISHOP-BRASIL3h ago

Why are we pretending there's some huge difference between a 7 and a 8, don't both of them mean "above average/good"? On a 5 star system they would both be 4 stars, no? Heck, I simply put games on either of 3 cateorgies, it's either bad (don't play), good (play once if you can), great (make the effort to play and keep it), it's enough for me to make a logical decision or to recomend a game to someone or not... I'd say Days Gone was something between good and great but closer to good, so 7 sound fair to me anyway.

At the end of the day the reviews, be it journalists or users, on average or a punctual review, decimal or star based or whatever measuring stick we get... Reviews simply weren't the reason the game didn't get a sequel, it's performance on the market was. Reviews could say it was dogshit or the second coming, it wouldn't make a difference, or at the very least they are not the deciding factor, the game selling under Sony's expectations was the real issue... Heck, I'm sure the studio's issues and the lead director running his mouth figured way higher on the list of reasons for not making a sequel than any review ever was.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
Babadook715h ago(Edited 15h ago)

I concur. It’s main problem of frame rate slowdown is gone with a ps5.

Leeroyw23h ago

Second act of that game far surpassed the first. Which is why people felt it didn't live up to the hype of the trailers. Personally I loved it. But it was a slog to get your bike and weapons up to skill.

Pyrofire9512h ago

I hear it's big enough that it could have just been 2 games. Maybe that would have worked out better, with some changes to make it fit that mold better. Idk, I haven't played it much.

mkis00710h ago(Edited 10h ago)

Just the first section was a slog...but I never found it boring if that can make sense. You don't have much of an arsenal until after about 6 hours if memory serves. Some more half-step bike upgrades and a few more weapons could have filled the gaps.

Inverno22h ago

Was gonna post a brick wall of text but I'll keep it short. Pardon my French but f**k the media for the hate they gave this game. If you have a PC to play it on you can get it as low as 10 bucks, and if you have a PS then it's a no brainer. Totally worth a play.

phatak22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

I don't even comment here often but had to for this game, I still stand by my opinion that this was one of the top 10 games of the ps4 generation, I preferred days gone over god of war, horizon and last of us 2, the launch version was definitely piss poor and that messed up the reviews for this game, honestly some games deserve a re-review or post patch review as the metacritic score stays forever but the reality is its not even the same game anymore, the ps5 patch is amazing and the pc version which I play on nowadays is one of the best looking games ever, complete shame that we wont get a sequel, god of war got one, horizon got one, last of us got one, spider man got one,ghosts of tshushima about to get one but this game wont get one, sucks to be honest.

Ps3/360 era had some hidden underated games for me it was shadows of the damned, alice madness returns that deserved more sales and a sequel/ higher scores, and similarly for the ps4 era it was days gone, and dying light 1 that deserved much more love, dying light atleast got a sequel, everyone needs to play this game once and judge for themselves, for me its officially the most underrated game of the ps4 era, go play it if you haven't.

andy8521h ago

Awesome game. Just bought it for my laptop last week

Show all comments (44)
130°

15 Biggest Unresolved Video Game Cliffhangers We May Never Get Answers To

Cultured Vultures: These 15 unresolved video cliffhangers could be solved in the future, though if we’re really honest with ourselves, we all know there’s no chance in hell of that happening.

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
Fluke_Skywalker76d ago (Edited 76d ago )

Never say never, I really didn't expect to ever see Space Marine 2 and 12 years later its almost here.
So there is still hope for all these games.

Chocoburger76d ago

I've completed 5 of the games on the list, but the author forgot to include Advent Rising. It was supposed to be a trilogy, but it bombed hard, and the two sequels never got made. It was Mass Effect, a console generation before Mass Effect.

The game is buggy and unpolished, it needed a few more months of development, but the potential was there. At the end of the game, you have all these super abilities, I remember the stomp attack that created a shockwave being especially powerful.

shinoff218376d ago

I personally think days gone will recieve some sort of sequel at some point. I'm personally also hoping it's not the rumored multiplayer online stuff. I'd think most that enjoyed it would rather thisnto.

Knightofelemia76d ago

Sony needs to dust off Sly Cooper and Days Gone so needs a sequel two of my favorite Sony titles. Bulletstorm I love great game wish it also got a sequel. And I wish Namco would finally give Enslaved a sequel another great game.

170°

Days Gone | Trailer [GOG]

Days Gone is now available DRM-free from GOG

shinoff2183184d ago

Such a fun ass game. I enjoyed it alot more then I thought I would.

ravens52184d ago

We need a part 2 doesn't even have to be Deacon. But I had no problems with him either, he was a dude on a mission.

Cacabunga183d ago

My second favorite PS4 game after RDR2 hands down

neutralgamer1992183d ago

I think with Jim Ryan gone we may get a sequel down the road. It has become a cult classic

andy85184d ago

This was so fun I love the hoards. People need to stick with it because the start is very slow

MrDead184d ago

Has a really good PC port too, I wasn't expecting much from this game but I had a blast. Wish it had a part 2 as the story was building well.

jznrpg183d ago

It does take some time to get some weapons ,skills and a few bike upgrades up to feel like you got a rhythm going but then it really starts to click and the game is a lot of fun

shinoff2183183d ago

I was sad when it ended. I wanted more. I'd have to look but I think that was one of the few games I platinumed to. I only got like 4. I don't go out of my way for trophies though

Abnor_Mal183d ago (Edited 183d ago )

@shinoff same I only have 4 plats and one is Days Gone, and I also don’t go out of my way for platinums.

Was a very fun game and wish there would be a sequel, maybe one day they will come back to it with a different pitch that Sony will approve.

They probably rejected it he sequel because it might not have been the direction they were going for with gaas games and the like.

jznrpg183d ago

@shinioff I had the same feeling when I got the platinum. I need more. Hopefully they make a sequel and leave multiplayer out of it unlike the last pitch for Days Gone2.

got_dam183d ago

The critical reception had Sony relegate Bend to a support studio. Thank God the fans spoke up and Sony reversed that decision.

jznrpg76d ago

They have been working on a game for some time now and have said so

Knightofelemia183d ago

One of my favorite Sony titles too bad there is no sequel.

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