260°

Black Ops 3 DLC's PS4 Exclusivity Was "Right Decision," Says Activision CEO

Eric Hirshberg discusses decision to move timed-exclusivity away from Microsoft - Gamespot

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gamespot.com
98xpresent3218d ago

So basically because the ps4 is selling so well

MightyNoX3218d ago

The #1 franchise in terms of revenue aligns itself with the #1 console. Shocking.

Azzanation3218d ago

Doesn't always work that way. Wii was by far the best selling system last gen and CoD didn't have exclusive deals. I honestly don't think MS are chasing these games anymore. They don't really need them since they have there own games such Halo 5 counters COD and KI counters SF5 etc.

reallyNow3218d ago

I don't know Azzanation, to me it feels like MS is FINALLY starting to run XBOX like a business. How many billions have fallen into the hole marked "xbox"? Seems to me that refusing to keep paying Activision for something they aren't going to get (competition for PS4) in return. AKA the return on investment just isn't there. It WAS there in the early PS3/360 days. It was a way to show gamers that xbox was the place to play. They're just about selling HALF as many units so far as PS4. Throwing money at Activision isn't going to change that. I think xbox's console division is done when this gen is done. Xbox will live on as a windows 10/11/12 whatever service, and thats OK. It is the one thing that MIGHT give Steam a run for its money. PC is a space that could use more competition.

Volkama3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

@Reallynow "PC is a space that could use more competition."

That's a pretty strange thing to say. PC is already a completely open platform, with multiple games distribution services. As consumers we already reap the benefits of that quite handsomely.

On-topic, it will be interesting to see who has the inevitable marketing deal for Titanfall 2. Would be lovely if the answer was "nobody", but we all know that's not gonna happen.

joab7773218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

That's it in a nutshell. Can you blame them? Tbh though, it's good for MS. They've been paying a ton without a return for awhile. It became almost the status quo, and ppl expected it. In the meantime, it had 0 effect on whether ppl played on PS3, as it caught up, and no effect on ppl buying a PS4.

I know like 5 ppl that play nothing but CoD and they all switched to the PS4 regardless of dlc exclusivity. This is simply a bonus.

thisismyaccount3217d ago

"... it's good for MS. They've been paying a ton without a return for awhile."

Dem you Sony for being so successful! with your PS4. Blame Microsoft for not doing an adequate job ...

22CobraKing3218d ago

@Azzanation
The wii doesn't seem right for someone to play shooters it mainly for family/friend type of games not competitive like battlefield or cod. And how could halo compete with cod if it doesn't release annually.

AngelicIceDiamond3218d ago

Yeah pretty much its that simple. I'll be playing other things besides COD this year personally. Games are too ridiculous at this point.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3217d ago
IamTheStorm813218d ago

The "right decision" would be that all buyers of any Call of Duty game would be that all of them have access to the DLC at the same time.

Oh, but they don't mean the "right decision for gamers, just us suits".

Doesn't affect me as I don't play Call of Duty multiplayer, but it's a sleazy practice if you ask me. Not just in regards to CoD, but any series, and regardless if it's Sony or MS.

Yet another terrible practice that is unfriendly to gamers as a whole and needs to stop.

SourtreeDing3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

i dont play multiplay but i do play Zombies and thats why im loving it as i have a PS4. and last gen i had a PS3 so i had my fair share of waitng for the DLC.. but than i got a 360 and solved that. but i only do Zombies..

RB6 will be my goto for online shooter

Aloy-Boyfriend3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

Microsoft started this, and now they are getting a dose of their own medicine.

It's business, and bussines tend to be unfriendly towars customers most of the times in all areas. Besides, it's just some early content not lifetime. We as gamers want everything to be at our feets, but it is not that simple with these corporations.

PistolsAtDawn3218d ago

Don't kid yourself, MS didn't start this at all. It existed before MS even had a console.

joab7773218d ago

I see your point, but its fine. There's no problem with companies offering incentives to play on 1 system or another. It had a huge effect early on in the 360's life, but it wasn't exclusivity alone. It was Live, their controller, MS'S message, their gamer friendly attitude. It WAS the place to play CoD.

But eventually, that changed as the PS3 caught up. Ppl didn't care if they waited 30 days for dlc. I'm actually surprised Sony paid them at all. I'm not surprised MS is done with it.

Volkama3218d ago

Depends on your perspective I guess. If you own a PS4 it might be fine, if you don't own a PS4 then you get mildly shafted.

Think we can all agree we'd rather Sony/MS concentrated in investing the money in games, rather than slimey deals. Unfortunately the slimey deals are effective, so they won't stop any time soon.

Sony have scored some big ones for the mainstream too, with COD and Star Wars. Really pushing hard for that next tier of the console market.

Rookie_Monster3218d ago

more $$$$$$ was the right decision. Don't kid yourself otherwise, Activision

Sureshot3218d ago

Ppl down voted you? Must be Activision employees on this site!

GreenUp3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

I don't get the whining of early access to DLC. It comes to everyone eventually. What's the turn around time? A week?

Rookie_Monster3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

The exclusivity will last a month. But I think most XB1 players will be occupied by the free Halo 5 maps so I don't think it is such a big concern to xb1 players at this point.

Edit @ bnwfanatic,

Like for real? Most of the buyers will consist of repeat buyers of the series for years. I am pretty sure they know it is a multiplatform game. During the entire MS COD period, I am sure PS3 and PS4 sold a few COD as well as it it is still the most sold series on a PS platform as well. You Tell Me There most of those buyers for COD on PS3 are not casual? You guys are looking way too much into this "ps/xbox logo" at the end of the commercial.

Destiny, which Sony tried their hardest to make it seems like a PS4 exclusive..but somehow on NPD report in th e USA of all the months that the game was on the chart from Sep, Oct, Sec, Jan, the XB1 is always the most sold retail unit of the bunch.

bmwfanatic3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

The dlc stuff isnt the big part. Its that all the cod commercials will say PlayStation instead of xbox. That is huge for the casual people who dont visit gaming sites and think its only on PlayStation. Also the cod tournaments will be played on PlayStation.

@ rookie I am sure Activision and sony know better than you
how well the Sony branding of cod works. Most people in the industry know how big a deal it is. Or maybe they should hire you huh? Im sure you could run a billion dollar company.

Sm00thop3218d ago

CoD will no doubt help push consoles for PS4 just because people will want to stay on top because of the tournament scene, I don't like CoD at all, much rather play Rainbow, Halo and Gears. It's a good deal for Sony though overall.

SourtreeDing3218d ago

@bmw

it is a big deal...

just like its a big deal for PC gamers to have better graphics in their version of a game.. and 4k, better fps, mods... if these things werent a big deal companies wouldnt bother.

ppl will buy PS4 to get DLC first..

Rookie_Monster3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

@bmwfanatic,
"rookie I am sure Activision and sony know better than you"

Wait, so are saying other companies like EA are not as competence as Sony and Activision when they granted the Fifa marketing deal to MS when the PS was the preferred platform for all these years? Yup, I don't think $$$ got anything to do with it!. :/

IIFloodyII3218d ago (Edited 3218d ago )

I doubt most Xbox users will be to busy with Halo, go look at how fast Halo 4's playerbase dropped when a CoD game released a week or so after, it never really recovered from it either.

Also NPD doesn't include bundles, which the PS4 version sold a lot of.

For the lazy. http://i.imgur.com/PmG3gKo....

Jayszen3218d ago

Yeah, keep deluding yourself...Destiny sold more on the PS4 even in North America and overall the game has nearly twice as many gamers on the PS4 version, and this is according to VG Chartz which is no fan of Sony.

If you think the COD DLC exclusivity is no big deal, that's fine, you are entitled to an opinion but please don't make up stats.

Germany73218d ago

Destiny sold more on Xbox One? lol
We know that you are a troll and a really desperate one, always trolling on a PS4 article, and i mean every article.
Now here is a real fact for you, Call of Duty sells even more than Halo on a Xbox platform, just check the number of players of both games.

Haru3217d ago

@IIFloodyII

True. it's just some people still don't realize that Halo isn't that much of a big francise anymore, it's still big but way smaller than it used to be

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3217d ago
mxguy933218d ago

Most people are whining because now if they want to compete in mlg they have to play on ps4 and they can't afford to buy a ps4.

GreenUp3218d ago

Sounds like an issue with MLG's side than DLC times. MLG should make it so that only non DLC maps are eligible until it's released platform wide.

PSN_ZeroOnyx3217d ago

@GreenUp

That's actually hilarious . Using DLC maps day 1 is fine as long as they land on Xbox first, but if Sony gets the DLC first then the maps should be banned until Xbox has them too.

ROFLMFAO

UnHoly_One3217d ago

Where did he say it was fine if it was the other way around?

I can't speak for him, but I think it's kinda bullcrap either way.

Volkama3218d ago

Turn around time on Destiny was a year (if ever). COD was usually something like a month on the Xbox side and probably will be again, but I don't think it has been specified.

Can't say I've ever bought a COD map pack or Destiny expansion myself though. Activision DLC is always hilariously overpriced anyway lol

GreenUp3217d ago

Same with BF. I never buy the second half of these games. Not contributing to the greedy ways of these companies. The sheep have no problem buying though. Then crying about it if one platform gets it a month ahead. Bahhhh

Sm00thop3218d ago

CoD is just getting worse and worse, its shameful how little innovation there is considering the money they make off it. I do think the zombies is the best thing about it, but that wouldn't interest me if we got another Left 4 dead game.

Volkama3218d ago

But you can wall run in this one. I've never seen that before so that's innovative(!)

Show all comments (72)
150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers1d 16h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos1d 1h ago (Edited 1d 1h ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken1d 3h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g1d 12h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing1d 12h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H91d 12h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola1d 8h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn6691d 11h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle1d 11h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg2d ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos2d ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola1d 23h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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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.

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techraptor.net
ChasterMies22d 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_looken22d ago

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

Cacabunga22d ago

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

just_looken22d 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-6422d 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_Long22d 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.

Einhander197222d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic21d 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 21d ago
DivineHand12522d 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.

Joe91322d 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_Observer22d 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.

S2Killinit22d ago (Edited 22d 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.

Joe91321d 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.

S2Killinit21d 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 21d ago
Christopher22d 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.

CrimsonWing6921d ago (Edited 21d 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.

S2Killinit21d 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_Mal22d ago (Edited 22d 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.

Christopher22d 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_looken22d 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

Einhander197222d ago (Edited 22d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic21d 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.

romulus2322d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218322d 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.

S2Killinit21d ago (Edited 21d 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.

mastershredder22d 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.

crazyCoconuts22d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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