Sony’s Live Service Triple-Down Is A Dangerous Road For PlayStation

While Microsoft has struggled to produce first-party hits anywhere close to the scale of PlayStation, Sony itself is no longer satisfied with just selling tens of millions of copies of critically acclaimed games. They want to get into live service.

[Magog]

People complain but CoD, Fifa, Fortnite, etc is all casuals play. Then there is the hardcore crowd playing Destiny, Ovewatch, Dota etc. 90% of people's game time is on these "second job" games so Sony would be crazy to not try their hand at it. They are still pumping out the best single player and VR games in the business so there is something for everyone.

[shinoff2183]

While I don't like it I think your right magog , they'd be dumb to not try. Personally I haven't really seen these multi-player games taking away from the single player game studios all like that besides naughty dog, but I believe that was being worked on well before sonys decision to go try gaas games. We're not gonna miss out on single player games like some would have you believe.

Just wanted to add. I don't play any online gaas game, I do dabble in madden and 2k when their cheap enough but single player sh only. The rest of I can kick rocks but I understand millions fall in

[-Foxtrot]

This isn’t really “trying” though it’s literally going all on in

Trying would be doing like one game to start off with but they are literally wanting 10 GaaS games by 2025 or something.

It’s insane and worrying

No one wants to see Sony part of the GaaS crowd

If their GaaS stuff is successful we’ll be waiting longer for single player games as the other teams will be busy

[Hofstaderman]

I agree with you. Sony built their success on single player story driven games and this direction will definitely reduce those if successful. This is a sign of what happens when Sony has absolutely no competition in their space. MS needs to step up for ALL our sakes. And Sony needs to consider a new CEO for next gen, Jim Ryan served his purpose well but we need somebody with Layden’s outlook going forward.

[Flakegriffin]

What people want and what people get are two different things.

[senorfartcushion]

It’s annoying how people resort to “well I can’t blame them.”

Well, they can blame them. It’s potentially terrible news for their AAA output. It means that we will go from:

Spider-Man, Wolverine, God of War, Uncharted and The Last of Us

To:

Live service game, Spider-Man 2, Wolverine 2, Live Service Last of Us game, Live Service game, Live Service game, Live service game.

Sacrifices have to be made to incorporate these live service games into Sony’s yearly schedules.

[S2Killinit]

I have zero issues with Playstation making live service games. They need to have them unless you want them to fall behind. Whether you or me like it or not, live service games are a thing. As long as PlayStation understands its consumers and continues to deliver its mega single player stories, it cannot avoid live service either when the competition is all focused on it.

[Imalwaysright]

S2Killinit

Falling behind whom? Tencent is the only publisher that is more profitable than Sony. Sony's focus on single player has done wonders for them and that's perhaps because single player games allow for more consistency in terms of revenue/profit than live service games whose space is usually dominated by a handful of games that are extremely successful while the vast majority of them are miserable failures.

[1Victor]

I find it disingenuous that it’s “a dangerous road for Sony “ while Microsoft get a pass ( no pun intended) for doing the exact same thing in worse form 🤦🏿
If the game is as fun as Warhawk (PS first online only mmo) or Starhawk its sequel I will play it.
There’s no harm on trying a game and see if you like it after you did your homework on it and maybe try a demo

[derek]

@Foxtrot, Sony is trying to create a variety of games that appeal to a variety of tastes. Why go half-heartedly into something that you want to succeed in. They are looking for growth so they're making an investment now they hope will payoff down the road.

[shinoff2183]

Succes could equal more staff. So we truly don't know.

[Knushwood Butt]

MAG was cool too.

The big difference is Warhawk and MAG were a one-time cost, and you never hit any paywalls. I think Warhawk may have had a bit of DLC, but it was optional and not essential or pay to win.

These days you have to go into these games knowing you'll have to pay to keep playing.

[Stanjara]

It would be crazy. The problem is that their first party single player studios are making these and wasting time with it.
Veteran devs and talent will flee, just like in Bioware, 343 studios, Bethesda...

example: Omg I work at Naughty Dog I can't believe... the best single pla...
ND: Ok guys so we hired you because we are making Live service microtransac.... Co op... game with support for 10 years... are you excited?

Veteran dev: No fuck that...I made Joel, see you never ND
New developer: Ok but I don't know how a dog works in a game... it jumps I guess.

ND: We need more of these new talent guys... hire more!

Game releases, doesn't work... end up broken. Red Fall

Sony: Shuts down the project and all the devs... NOW it promises single player game that will release in the next 8 years.

Me: What a waste of time.

[Shane Kim]

You could rival Stephen King with a nice, made up story like that. Now lets wait and see what actually happens.

[Magog]

Naughty Dog have made multi-player a part of their games forever.

[derek]

@Stan, it was naughty dog who pursued a bigger multi-player game than what was originally planned not Sony. Sony has purchased mostly new studios to support this move into gaas to create new games not buy existing ip

[Saigon]

The only problem with this argument is that ND already stated they are working on a new single-player experience.

[TOTSUKO]

Interesting. I just realized about the fact that Sony revealed Fairgame$ (Haven Studios) and Concord (Firewalk) at the showcase at all. That means Bungie approved what they saw right?

I’m just trying to connect the dots. Those two studios were acquired after the Bungie deal. Deviations game was cancelled and they’re obviously not acquired. Would it be crazy to think Bungie has almost full control building Sonys whole Live Service talent pool too?

[Fiddlerblue]

The last Sacred Symbols podcast episode seemed to suggest that yes, Bungie passed Haven and Firewalk's games but failed Factions. Dustin Furman's theory is that Naughty Dog are such perfectionists and take so long to release anything that Bungie might've been skeptical that they could keep up a pace of content release that would keep players engaged.

[Bobertt]

Hardcore aren't playing Destiny and Overwatch.

[senorfartcushion]

Stop talking in a business-sense. You don’t work for them in one of their higher up divisions.

You buy the games.

This means that your consumer complaints and sulking can lead to Sony NOT copying crappy live service game companies.

[badz149]

I will reserve my judgement on this issue for now. it's not like Sony suddenly stop making SP games and put all their focus on Live Service games. I don't get all the melodramatic articles about Sony now all in with GAAS nonsense! they are taking a dip at it just because everybody else is already in. let's start worrying if they stop making SP games. let's not forget Sony is also in the middle of a big VR push too right now.

[shinoff2183]

That's pretty much where I'm at. I dont like the games i think there a wasteof time and a money pit . If I see single player games slow down or halt I'll have issue. I personally don't think that'll happen. It seems most of these games are being handled by the new studios they've gotten over the last few years. Like I mentioned in my post up top. Factions was being developed for awhile now.

[ChasterMies]

“hardcore crowd playing Destiny, Ovewatch, Dota etc.”

Destiny sure. Destiny is set up to be played everyday (or quit forever). But not Overwatch. Until Blizzard started selling new characters, you could jump in at any time and have the same abilities as anyone else. Even now, I doubt most people finish battle passes. Overwatch is super casual for the vast majority of players. Don’t know bout Dota. That’s a PC thing.

[DarXyde]

Sony is in a bit of an experimental phase right now. On one hand, they're managing it well by having their new studios work on that stuff while the veteran PlayStation studios are (presumably) keeping up with their usual activities, even if we don't know what they are. I find that to be very well coordinated. On the other hand, where I think they're messing up is the volume of service games all at once. I can get the point of trying to see what people are into and giving them choice, but that's a lot.

[sadraiden]

I guess the people complaining hate that the industry caters to casuals when it created the hardcore fanbase organically over 30 years.

[Spenok]

The only thing I care about is that they CONTINUE to make proper single player games. And they HAVE confirmed they will. Although them saying they will push their business towards MORE Live Service and LESS SP is what worries me.

I will give them the benefit of the doubt though. They haven't done me wrong in over a decade.

[Vengeance1138]

What exactly is wrong with a company experimenting in new avenues and trying to strengthen an area in which they are non-existent in that typically makes a ton of money.

[EvertonFC]

Exactly, if Sony wasn't making those 10 games the media would say "Sony being left behind, NO way back" articles 🤣😂
I just see it as Sony or other companies expanding there library of games to more gamers of all ages etc.
Apparently that's a bad think in 2023.

[CS7]

One thing is experimenting. Another thing is reducing the quantity of what your known for and good at.

“Back in 2019, Sony was investing 88% of its budget in single-player games, with 12% allocated for live service titles. This year, the publisher expects just 45% of its budget in traditional games and a bigger 55% in live service according to the latest financial results. That investment is set to increase to 60% by FY25”

https://www.yahoo.com/enter...

Does that sound like experiementing to you?

Their last showcase had three new MP IPs and no new single player games from their studios.

Does that sound like experimenting to you?

[mudakoshaka]

To be fair, the amount of money going to single-player games will increase compared to today. However, I also find it worrying that the main focus seems to be heading towards live service games.

[sadraiden]

Companies aren't your friends. People are lambasting Sony for this because live service games are where creativity goes to die. Fake chores that you have to do daily or else you don't get the best weapon in the game? Copy and paste quests? Profitable? Why is that your focus?

[Sharky231]

If even one of these GaaS hit big. It will bring in more money to make single player games. They don’t need 20 GaaS. They need a few big hitters to generate income. I think you make a few like they plan on doing. See if any stick. They will always make single player games too.

[maniacmayhem]

It's about time sony started to branch out in other genre areas. Sony relies too much on third person, single player games and they have become too formulaic.

[Jin_Sakai]

Then make more diverse single player games. They don’t have to go the GaaS route.

[sparky77]

Agreed it will be interesting to see if they can make something other than the same single player 3rd person narrative driven games with skill trees over and over.

[shinoff2183]

Say what you want but they still are dope games and their consistent. You haven't seen consistency on xbox since mid Gen 360.

[S2Killinit]

Not sire what you are on about. They dont make the same games just because narrative driven games are either first person or third person. But nice try.

[shinoff2183]

Branch out. They need to branch out into a fking rpg. Jrpg or wrpg. Say what you will about bethesada rpgs but I enjoyed then even if fallout 4 was dumbed down. We have nothing like that on the ps. Sony could crush it if they wanted to.

[-Foxtrot]

This

I can’t believe they’ve never gotten a studio to make something like Elder Scrolla

I’m surprised they never bought Obsidian to be honest when they had the chance

[outsider1624]

Not a fan of fallout series but The Elder Scrolls , Skyrim are some of the best. Still hoping ES6.

On topic..I'd say let Sony try out. Lets say 10 Gass games? Im quite sure not all of them will be successful and they'll be like screw this..Single player games it is.

[CBaoth]

Sony lost their pants on White Knight Chronicles so they're very reluctant to try their hand again. That's why I don't have any hope of Legend of Dragoon being remade. Which, if Sony does wade into the RPG waters, should be their launching point to make a splash in media print.

[Lightning77]

The thing with Live Service games. You need to have consistent player counts. If you have dwindling number's over time said game will get shut down and and ppl losing their jobs. The more players the more ppl are spending on Microtransactions.

Sony is gambling hard on these Live Service games.

[KingKionic]

Sony is literally playing russian roulette. Having Bungie be there regulator for deciding if a title is up to code is pretty wild because that means several titles could become clones. It shows Sony is definitely unprepared and there transition to live service investing will be very rocky.

Its a act of desperation to be honest. Sony is looking ahead into the future to see how there established ips would fit a live service model and realized they are outgunned. Now there rushing and investing and rebalancing there first party studios as well as lowering there first party studios output of traditional release titles.

2024 will be live as a service heavy for them for sure because Spiderman 2 is the only game from there AAA first party studios that actually was shown and has a fixed release date.

[Lightning77]

"Sony is literally playing russian roulette. Having Bungie be there regulator for deciding if a title is up to code is pretty wild because that means several titles could become clones."

Bungie being the regulator or in charge of Live Service at Sony only makes sense. No one else at Sony knows how to make Live Service games. Makes sense Bungie will be the ring leaders.

The next popular Live Service type of games are extraction shooters. Fair game will most likely be the first game to ship being made Jade Raymond and and former Ubisoft devs. Unfortunately for Ubisoft they have a few failed live service game besides The Division. That game in particular is a gamble.

Firewalk's Concord is unproven. Bungie is the only one with a positive track record of releasing Marathon and being a big hit. So on the flip side If Marathon lands Sony will start a new live service trend of the Extraction shooters. Then we'll have several clones like it.

[Asplundh]

Firewalk is being led by ex Bungie employees, I think they have a good shot.

[Vengeance1138]

Literally playing Russian Roulette?? So you're saying Sony execs have an actual gun to their head now?
Go lookup the meaning of "literally".

[sparky77]

It's going to end baldly whatever way it goes.

If they succeed with a GaaS most if not all of their studios will be relocated to make content for it. There is a reason why ABK has all their studios making COD, Rockstar has only made one game in years, Epic only has Fortnite etc. They need serious man power to succeed.

If they fail with GaaS games you can bet all of those studio they brought like Haven and Firewalk will be shutdown pretty quickly.

[-Foxtrot]

“ If they fail with GaaS games you can bet all of those studio they brought like Haven and Firewalk will be shutdown pretty quickly.”

Doubtful

They’ll give them a second chance and see what they can do by developing a single player driven game.

If that also fails in this scenario then it’s possible they’d be shut down

[-Foxtrot]

Well hopefully people speak with their wallets if they are shit

[anast]

This is the classic "create an issue" hope an "opposite issue" comes up then jump on it and solve "the issue."

[MADGameR]

As long as the AAA single player games are of the best and highest quality on PS5, I have no problem with them doing live service. But if we have more showcases like we just had recently, then I will lose faith in SONY.

[jznrpg]

This showcase left a lot out purposely.
FF16 Spiderman2 are the games they showed.

They aren’t going to take the focus off of those games until they are released.

Plus they showed Phantom Blade as 2nd party console exclusive as a bonus.

But we know a bunch of single player games are coming after that but they are going to show them at a slower pace than one big chunk like the past. Wolverine GoT2 , Naughty Dogs new game , Cory Barlogs new game just to name a few that are in known production.
Sometime before or after SpiderMan 2 most likely after we will hear more about games coming next year.

[MADGameR]

If they prioritize live service over AAA, then that'll be the downfall of PlayStation.

[EazyC]

Companies with sharheolder interest are simply myopic, they do not consider long term legacy. That is the big issue, they'll have short term boosted earnings from online revenues, but they'll feel the pain when people move onto a new fad

[jznrpg]

They use to make these games in the past and nobody complained then. Warhawk SoCom etc . They are trying to add to what they have not replace single player AAA it’s obvious.

[CS7]

They’ve already said they are going to do that.

https://www.yahoo.com/enter...

[ocelot07]

They bought like 3-4 live service Devs to make live service games. I don't see the problem with that.

Now if they got all there single player narrative studios to try and make the next Fortnite that's a problem.

[purple101]

Very sensible comment...

In general we are getting more games not less

[gold_drake]

hard to tell if its gonna be bad or not.

when u think about genshin impact, or fortnite, those definitely made bank.

we will see, and definitely judge. haha

[GamingSinceForever]

All I am hearing is a lot of pessimism. At least let them release a couple of these games first before we judge the situation. As for Factions it seems like Bungie came in and dd their job by evaluating it and saying hey it needs to cook longer.

If Sony listened to the pessimistic crowd they wouldn’t have gone into the VR space. Now that Apple is set to announce VR, PSVR2 is going to sell even further because Apple will certainly being more mainstream exposure to VR.

Great companies in technology take great risks. If. ot they become dinosaurs.

[senorfartcushion]

VERY TRUE.

Why would we want Sony to start copying the Worst Gaming Companies on the Planet?

[talocaca]

What worries me is the lack of announced single player experiences coming from PS Studios.

I understand they want to introduce Live Games based on new and existing IPs but it seems to be affecting other projects.

How come we know NOTHING about Naughty Dog's PS5 projects? Same with Bend, Blue Point, London Studio, Team Asobi, etc.....

[ApocalypseShadow]

Maybe because they are working on them but don't want to overshadow the current games that are coming soon. Sony doesn't need to tell gamers everything they are doing like some kind of season pass road map. That also gives their competition the information they need to counter Sony's efforts and releases. They'll announce them when it's time to announce them. Show gameplay when it's time to show it.

Gamers today are so impatient and spoiled. They've asked Sony to make online games that are equal to the high quality of their single player games, Sony decides to do that but with today's features that online brings, then gamers start worrying and complaining that Sony is doing that. Can't make up their minds what they want Sony to do. And, Sony bought developers outside of their single player studios to make them. Every new studio added is to make those games. And the revenue generated can be used to make single player games.

"Naw. I just want Sony make single player games only. They may go full service if they're successful."

Which is ridiculous. Single player games are their bread and butter. Then, these same gamers see Peter Parker and Miles in Spider-Man then ask Sony why it doesn't have multiplayer in it. So, gamers complain when it's not there. And complain when it is there or being created. While not having even tried the new games or seen all of them yet to be complaining.

And then articles are written with click bait trash opinions to rile up gamers instead of actual journalism that provides facts about if games are just good or not and worth buying.

[Crows90]

Well so far not one of their big studios is focusing on it ..other than last of us multiplayer which was planned before the change.

[Hereandthere]

This opinion piece is a massive reach. People with a working brain knows that one of the main reasons for sonys lack of ps5 1st party games on console is they just launched ps vr2 and are supporting that, next year it will be back to business on the home console front. Sony can coast because the competition is so lackluster.

[TheEnigma313]

Because MS failed Sony shouldn't try.

[Knightofelemia]

Spend massive money to chase after the live service coin. Problem is live service games are either a hit or a miss or they are here to day unpopular tomorrow. Stupid move Sony is making.

[jznrpg]

Everything has risk but it’s possible one of these games catch on and that would be worth it for them.

Even if they all failed they still have their great first party studios.

I do think it’s very possible one or two of these games catches on.

Marathon has a good chance.

I’m not into these games mostly but I’ll check one out of it looks good.

I definitely prefer single player games but some people love multiplayer and Sony should cater to those people as well.

I was more into MMO’s in the past so I’ll check that out if they make one. Marathon I may give a try. Even if I don’t like any of these games it’s good for Sony to branch out a little. They know what got them here but want to expand and that’s normal.
They are doing it the right way imo. They aren’t trying to buy up 3rd party games and say these are our games you have to come to us to play them.
They are trying to make their own and even if I don’t like the games that come from it I can appreciate that fact at minimum.

If one of the multiplayer games brings more players to PS5 that’s a good thing in the end for single player games too, imo.

[Thundercat77]

I think it must be done. I believe that after Xbox showed their tactics, trying to control big seller games on PlayStation, Sony must be prepared for these kind of tactics and have their own live service games so Xbox can't come to try and steal or block games from the Playstation.

[Gravesinger_]

Nah, Sony can do no wrong, they are the best gaming company ever. ALL HAIL SONY!!!

[DankSinatra]

Wow, the amount of people here for a company going GAAS is ridiculous. All because it's Sony. This website users seriously love it when Sony does stupid shit.

[paddy95]

Sony is making all the wrong moves. The exitement of whats to come is gone.

[PhillyDillyDee]

Problem w gaas is people can generally only devote time to one, maybe two. Doing some quick math, looks like they are going to be cannibalizing their own sales.

Me personally, i dont touch gaas. I just hope they keep pumping money into their sp games. Im sure they will right?

[MetroidFREAK21]

While I don't mind GaaS games, I am more inclined to buy their single player content more

[CrimsonWing69]

I ain’t supporting it, that’s for sure.

I do not want the norm for this industry to be GaaS games, not by a long-shot and it’s disturbing to me the amount they’re doubling down on in comparison to traditional AAA games.

I mean, what, they have 10 in the works? I mean… who wants to stick with a game that long, let alone 10 different ones. Loved how they didn’t show ANY gameplay. I have a feeling it’d be as well received as Suicide Squad if they did.

[UltimateRacer]

As Sony have stated they will still be pumping out single player games with the quality we all know and love and that single player games remain at the forefront for them even if 1 or 2 of there live service games take off this won’t change.