Uncharted 4's Delay Has Doomed Ratchet and Clank

Uncharted 4's been delayed again. But its new date may end up hurting Sony's other intended 2016 juggernaut.

[PhoenixUp]

That's the biggest concern for this delay

[GigawattConduit]

I'd like it if Sony delayed Uncharted to May or early summer, tbh. Give Ratchet room to breathe.

[joab777]

Really, I wouldn't care of it were even later. But the problem isn't just Ratchet, it's every other exclusive also. Anywhere it's moved to will hurt.

That said, I do want it to be everything we want. Maybe there's no need to bring out the big dogs yet lol!

[Rimeskeem]

R and C comes out 2 weeks prior to Uncharted now. I actually think it's better to do it this way. People buy R and C for 40$ and beat the story and plat it in 2 weeks. Then after that they have Uncharted 4. I doubt this is why the delayed it though, just polishing.

[Eonjay]

It comes out a whole two weeks prior and who ever said Ratchet and Clank was a juggernaut? Its a beloved franchise but not everything is considered a blockbuster.

[bouzebbal]

Doesn't matter I'm getting both anyway..

[PeaSFor]

@DoctorFraud

"compete against the PS4 version of Tomb Raider."

wait wait, are you saying that with a straight face?

TR is an afterthought, nothing more.

[Why o why]

Can't the dates be swapped

[InTheLab]

@Doctor

Pretty sure the last Uncharted outsold TR on all platforms combined...

There is no competition. How about we just let TR be a good game instead of unfairly stacking it up against the genre leader?

[TFJWM]

I would think releasing 2 weeks before UC4 would sell better than 3 weeks after UC4 but thats just me.

[kupomogli]

@DoctorFraud

Why would they delay the game to compete with a game on their own platform?

Competing against a game on their own platform costs them losses from sales lost from Uncharted and sales lost from Tomb Raider. There's no reason they'd do this.

The delay to where it is now is because of polish, not because they want to screw Ratchet and Clank sales. There's two weeks between each release though, so it won't be too bad, but Uncharted will still effect the Ratchet and Clank sales.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

I think some of you guys are looking at it the wrong way... Uncharted is a System Seller, plenty of PS3 owners had been waiting for such a heavy hitter to upgrade, not to mention people who got another console first and may be now in the market for a PS4 or those who simply hear good things of the series and may take the plunge...

Despite the reasons, it's very likely PS4 sales will spike with Uncharted (as it happened with PS3) and people looking to get more than a single game with the console may very well consider R&C, specially as the movie will just have been released by that moment and the franchise being into more people's radars... It may also appeal to those looking into get a PS4 for themselves with uncharted but also something to enjoy with the kids (not that R&C is the most kiddy game around, but it's family friendly and we know how Animation Movies work marketing wise).

So, at least the way I see it, it not only shouldn't hurt R&C, it may actually help selling it and having both so close together may in fact be a strategy from Sony themselves (hey, since ND needed a delay, why not make the most out of it and push for a great sales month way out of the holiday season?).

[trenso1]

meh im getting R&C before i ever get Uncharted as im just more invested in that franchise more. I just got the Drake collection and beat Uncharted 1 I can say for when it came out it was a great game. I beat 2 and still need to beat 3 but im dragging my feet in doing that.

[mEATgrinder]

No, suffocate him

[guyman]

Doctor fraud

Defying logic once again I see, lmao. That's just ridiculous.

[CuddlyREDRUM]

wtf?

[butchertroll]

Why? Uncharted 4 comes out two weeks after R&C. I don't see a big deal here.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Me neither. If anything R&C will be $40 and it has a long time fanbase. It will also launch 2 weeks earlier. People will most likely have the buck to buy R&C since it will come first. Wouldn't be U4 the one doomed? Of course not because U4 is a much bigger game. I'm personally getting both. It will be $100 for two amazing games. Definitely cheaper than Battefront the full game in perspective ;)

[PizzaSteve]

For me it is. I can't pay $100 in one month for 2 games. I will have to get R&C later or maybe Uncharted 4 later since R&C is cheaper.

[JEECE]

PizzaSteve-if you were going to have the money set aside for Uncharted in March anyway, you could just pay at that time.

[extermin8or]

And ratchet and clank isn't a full priced title for whatever reason it's slightly cheaper, I'll get both myself..

[KwietStorm_BLM]

They're 2 entirely different games, some might say even different audiences, but I had no idea Ratchet & Clank was ever a "juggernaut." I love the hell outta the series, and it'll do it's numbers, but I don't see this being THAT big of a problem. The bigger annoyance for me was delaying Ratchet in the first place, so it could coincide with the movie, rather than releasing it this year.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing when I read the description. Didn't know R&C was considered a "juggernaut". Learn something new everyday.

[dcbronco]

That's real key, the audience each is aimed at. There will be some who buy both, but Uncharted will be for mostly an older crowd. Ratchet and Clank will launch with the movie and have its Wii game pricing to bring in a younger audience. Get'em started early.

[UncleJerry]

I'm glad they are taking whatever time they need. If you really want to play ratchet, you will play it either way.

[Bathyj]

If anything (and this is just my own personal situation) it's cast a doubt on when I'll be getting an XBOne and Quantum Break. I'd planned in getting it at launch but if is going up against Uncharted as well as ratchet, two games I plan on getting on a console I already own, then QB has gone on the back burner for me, at least until I am done with those games. And then I'm not sure what else is coming out at that time.

[Letthewookiewin]

Ya I thought about how this is really going to steal QBreaks spot light in the media.

[sammarshall102]

If Quantum Break ends up better than Uncharted 4 then what?

[Bathyj]

Well I'm still getting uncharted regardless of how good QB is. Generally I don't get two games at a time. I like to get one, concentrate on that and finish it, and since I have PS4 already but not XBOne it's an easy choice for me. I still want QB but whether I will buy a console and a game right away with so many other games out at the same time, I will have to wait and see.

[JEECE]

Quantum Break could end up being competitive (critically, not commercially). Alan Wake, Remedy's previous game, was in my opinion far and away the best Xbox 360 exclusive (for single player at least), so I wouldn't be surprised if QB is great. I also wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't get the marketing it deserves.

[donthate]

QB is on different platform so I think they are limited competition, and on top of that releases a week before.

Case in point:

a) Holiday's release games very close to each other and seem to do fine

b) Different platforms don't compete as much (and I don't think R&C will matter much)

However, to entertain Bathyj fanboy opinion since Quantum Break releases a week before, and if it is a critically acclaimed game it could hurt Uncharted?

On top of this, Uncharted has been delayed many times now, so it makes you wonder if there are other issues with the game with troubled development? It might not be the critical hit everyone expects....

Now that I am done poking the hornets nest, I'm going to hide from the angry bees ready for blood! RUUUUN!

[illAmpThunder]

in actuality this uc4 being pushed back after R&C will probably help ratchet and clank sales,,,, becus uc4 is the bigger game and with it releasing after ratchet and clank ... this will probably entice more people to pick up rathet and clank while they wait 4 uc4.. ( where as if it was reversed uc4 came out first,,, some people would say screw rathet and clank altogether or wait to buy it 4 awhile becus uc4 would be eating their time and satisfying their want to play a new good 3rd person shooter

[TOTSUKO]

I think this delay has more positives. The Division releases on March which is probably the first big multi-plat AAA game to kick off the year. Would do more harm to them both which Sony usually avoids.

Plus, delaying it assures a quality product and it is only a little more than a month. However I will admit that will be the longest month to wait for. lol

[miyamoto]

R&C is just a $30 game & that is why millions are gonna get it 2 weeks before U4.
No problemo.

[showtimefolks]

i still don't see uncharted 4 coming out in april. I think uncharted 4 will be a july/august title

you have to understand that when ammy henning was let go all her work was thrown out the window. The directors of uncharted 2/the last of us started fresh in a way

also stop complain please, we will get uncharted 4 when ND thinks it's ready. It's like telling R* when to release a game.

also ratchet and clank has been ready for a while, it was only delayed so it can be released with the movie. so i don't see a reason why it can't be maybe punished ahead a few months

[Aceman18]

Not for me I love everything both series so I'll be buying both day one.

[Christopher]

I don't think Ratchet & Clank was a juggernaut to begin with... Will it affect sales? Yeah, but not by as much as this article seems to make it out to be.

[Tapani]

Not if Ratchet & Clank gets delayed as well! (I like delay to polish kinda attitude!)

[nick309]

Nah r&c would sell well enough

[GigawattConduit]

It's easy to say that, but Sony apparently has a one-track mind, because they're not that good about marketing more than one thing at once

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

What?

[Eonjay]

You say that like its a statement of fact and not something that you made up. They have TV ads running right now that advertise 4 or 5 games at once.

[NotanotherReboot]

Why the disagrees? this was proven time and time again on pS3 when they would release a bunch of games at once, with titles, Puppeteer for example, getting totally overwhelmed by the bigger ones.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

You have to be entirely oblivious to believe that.

[kraenk12]

What are you saying?! RnC comes out whole two weeks before U4

[showtimefolks]

GigawattConduit

i kind of agree with you. starhawk is one game i am still mad about. it was so good yet released without any and i do mean any marketing

but on to ratchet and clank, it will sell because it's a series that's been on playstation for so long and has many millions of fans

will it sell 10 million no. will it sell 3 plus million? yes

[DasTier]

It's only releasing for around £30 so I think it will definitely have its own target audience of the market.

[Sonyfan1]

No It wont it's a reboot and Uncharted 4 is brand new game not a chance against it

[Rimeskeem]

People always underestimate R and C. One of the if not the best platformer in any console.

[StormLegend]

I'll be buying both!

[Apocalypze]

Problem solved !

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

That's what i'm talking about!

[Aceman18]

Yep same here is love both so why wouldn't I buy both.

[wodan]

You know they can delay R&C right? but of course let write a nonsense article just to get hits, for me ill buy both if they will not delay R&C.

[GryestOfBluSkies]

while less likely, its also possible that r&c could be moved ahead of its current release.
I'm also getting both, regardless of release dates

[FallenAngel1984]

They can't because the game has to coincide with the movie, so it'd be very difficult to delay Ratchet & Clank at this point

[Soldierone]

They'd have to delay the movie too, which has already been delayed by a full year. That would be more costly than delaying the game, let alone both.

[OB1Biker]

They would nt delay R&C but your right article is nonsense. Games are completely different and I'm sure everyone interested in either wouldn't skip any.

[UserNameIsNotTaken]

I'm buying both myself :]

[ClayRules2012]

I'll be buying both Uncharted 4 & Rachet & Clank in April.

I believe R&C will sell just fine.

Ugh, April 2016, please hurry up :(

[Tobsesan]

Dont think so, RC isnt a full price title and people will pick it up more likely at the lower price.

[Rimeskeem]

R and C is 40$ platformer

Uncharted is a 60$ action adventure

Also the release dates are 2 weeks apart with R and C coming first. Unlike TR which went against Black ops 3, Fallout 4 and Battlefront in the same week.

[TripleCs]

Rachet & Clank will be fine. It releases 2 weeks ahead of Uncharted 4 and it'll only be $40. Why do people think it will be doomed? It's not like it's coming out the same day or the same week. Had Uncharted 4 came out on March 18th there still would have been a 2 - 3 week gap in terms of releases, still roughly about the same time frame in terms of release gaps. Now Rachet & Clank (a less anticipated game) will be releasing ahead of Uncharted 4 (a more anticipated game). I actually think Rachet & Clank releasing before Uncharted 4 is better for Rachet & Clank. We already know Uncharted 4 is going to be fine in April.. That isn't even up for debate but I think Rachet & Clank will be fine in April as well.

As for the Uncharted 4 delay, it sucks and I'm really getting sick and tired of all the delays but I'd rather have a delayed game that turns out to be great than an unfinished, broken game.. I wouldn't want any developer, especially Naughty Dog releasing games if they weren't sure those games were finished and possibly risk tarnishing their reputation. Let's look at things on the bright side though.. It's only a one month delay which isn't that bad. It could've been a lot worse.

[slappy508]

Originally U4 would've released 3 weeks before R&C, now they're spaced 2 weeks apart with uncharted coming 2 weeks after R&C, how is them being spaced a week closer now all of a sudden going to doom Ratchet?

[Soldierone]

Honestly as an Insomniac fan this is nothing new. Sony never really has faith in Insomniac titles and always does this. They screwed over Resistance 2 and 3 for Uncharted and Killzone, even though RFOM is what kept PS3 alive early on....

Ratchet isn't going to sell anywhere close to what Uncharted will sell, no matter what. So it really makes no difference at all. And it's not like Sony will put a lot of marketing behind it, that'll be up to the movie to cross promote.

[Rimeskeem]

They have an entire movie coming out with it. At PSX it was one of main games there. Don't give me the BS they aren't marketing it.

[Soldierone]

Sony is not very good at marketing in general.
1 telling me it had a presence at a rather smaller game show is not proving me wrong at all. Where was it at E3? How many people outside of those posting on gaming forums know about PSX? It's about TV ads, radio, billboards, getting more people to know.

2 Sony isn't even making the movie, it was a third party animation studio. They are also not producing or distributing it....

3 I saw more ads for COD and third party titles than I did for Until Dawn and Bloodbournes expansion....

As a PlayStation gamer I know for a fact that Sony lacks in the advertising department. And like I said, Insomniac is the ones that normally eat the short end of that stick.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

You really haven't been watching the lastest trailers and marketing videos have you?

[Soldierone]

Lmao... whatever. Forgot, Sony are gods and do everything perfectly.... We can't ask them to improve anything, can we? No where was I being negative, but hey, guess I still get attacked for it. (In fact a statement I used in my original post was used against me to try and prove me wrong.... it makes me giggle.)

And to answer your question. Marketing wise? Nope, all I've seen are sizzle reels that focus on games like COD and Battlefront and the console itself.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Why so edgy? Calm down!

If anything they have improved marketing games. Did you watch the order, Bloodborne, Infamous, or any of those games commercials? Look it up! You'd be impressed

[Germany7]

Are you serious? I'm a huge fan of Insomniac too and that's not true at all, Sony always promoted Insomniac since Spyro games for PS1, making one of the mascots for that era.

Ratchet & Clank it's one of the main franchises for Sony, and they know it.

[LatinGamer214]

I'll be getting both. ;)

[HOOHAARR]

Ratchet's only £27 so it won't be a great concern for people

[Harkins1721]

2 weeks is enough time.

[NotanotherReboot]

This seriously sucks. The Sony I used to love is falling apart, this will most likely be the last ratchet game.

[Silly gameAr]

Seriously?

[NotanotherReboot]

It will be just like rayman legends; delay a game then release it next to a bunch of bigger titles, so it gets slaughtered, then proceed to blame it on the game and cease production on console Rayman games.

[Gaming_Cousin]

Yeah blame Sony because Naughty Dog delayed a game. I'm sure you liked Assassins Creed Unity and Master Chief Collection when it was released. Logic.

[TwoForce]

Are you afraid the delay very much ? Yes, it does upset us. But if they want more time to polish it, that's ok. The Last of Us got delayed once and look what happened.

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

You must like to play broken games then.

[guyman]

*Game is delayed by month*

It's the end of Sony as we know it!! The end is nigh!! Things are falling apart! Only ps4 exclusives get delayed and not xbox exclusives or third party games! It's only Sony!

[Cohagen420]

And this will be the best selling Ratchet and Clank ever, great flame bait article though :)

[mushroomwig]

Two completely different genres of games though, it's not like they're competing and not to mention one isn't full price.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

I'm buying both.

No problem for me!

[higgins78]

Not for me. R&C is a far, far bigger draw than UC4 ever was/is. U1, solid(ish), U2, good, U3, less good. The idea of another game in the series just leaves me cold at this point.

[CRASHBASHUK]

well said
i have all ways found uncharted games over hyped

[secretcode]

Nah. I'm getting Ratchet and Clank day one regardless. I probably won't pick up Uncharted 4 during release window at all. Still need to finish the collection.

[DeadManMMX]

Damn. #ColinWasRight

[Relientk77]

What? I'm buying both I can't wait. Huge fan of both series

[Germany7]

True, brother.

[Germany7]

Ratchet & Clank it's coming two weeks earlier, also the movie is coming at the same time, the game will be fine.

Lucky are the PS4 owners that can play both.

[suli5595]

Now i have 2 xbox killers to buy on the same day HA!

[ScorpiusX]

2 xbox killers Ha ha ha ha , really your going to bark up that tree. ha ha

[suli5595]

Yes I am, wanna know why? because i have an Xbox one thats just sitting there because so far theres been only 2 or 3 games worth buying for it and the only other game thats gonna be worth it is Quantum break and thats it!

[ScorpiusX]

@Suli5595 that's an opinion, as for me i have been playing almost everything released since Xbox one launched,

[CuddlyREDRUM]

Not sure if a remake can be called a "juggernaut".

[Germany7]

You are not sure because it's not a remake.

[CuddlyREDRUM]

You apparently aren't sure what a remake is. A remake is a "re-imagining". Sony told you that, though.

[kupomogli]

@CuddlyRedrum

Final Fantasy 7.

[CuddlyREDRUM]

Yes, FF7 remake completely changed what the game is. Turned an RPG into a action based installment game.

[kupomogli]

@CuddlyRedrum

Doesn't matter what is changed. Final Fantasy 7 remake is a juggernaut because that's what people have been begging for since the release of the PS3.

I personally think it's going to suck, and not because it's action based like a lot of people assume, but because just seeing what we've seen in action I just have that feeling.

Even with the greed of Square Enix breaking it into parts, it's going to sell several millions as a cash in that isn't even a 10th of the quality of most PS2 or PS1 RPGs. Yay for us Final Fantasy fans. Another bad game from Square Enix.

[Rhezin]

yeah if there's going to be a delay then have the date set in May. I'll be playing Ratchet all in April.

[hiawa23]

Damn, I don't really care about the Ratchet game but looking forward U4. Another delay, sucks, but oh well...

[magiciandude]

Launching more than one big game around the same time only works for the PS4. Microsoft shouldn't have launched Tomb Raider on the same time with Fallout 4 because Microsoft doesn't have the ability to sell massive amount of copies for more than one big release at a time on their console. Sony has all the freedom in the world to do whatever they want with their products and still be successful. That's the amazing power of the undying flexible love that Sony gets from their devoted fanbase. Ratchet & Clank has absolutely nothing to worry about.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

What two games are launching on the *same day* for the PS4?

[SouthernComfort]

Is this hyperbole?

I think it is.

Tell me: Why do you think two games releasing weeks apart is the same as two games releasing on the same day? How is a two week gap for two games the same as a slightly larger gap for even more games? Weren't Star Wars, Call of Duty, and Halo out right around then, too?

How many big titles are releasing around UC4 and R&C? Surely not so many.

Yet you want to act as if the two situations are the same, and people are being hypocrites and/or holding Sony to a different standard.

That's very disingenuous of you.

[DigitalRaptor]

@ SouthernComfort

It's not hyperbole, it's trolling.

I mean it goes to show how little they think about their comments in the fact that these 2 PS4 exclusives are not launching on the same day. You know..... like Tomb Raider and Fallout did.

I like that word you used too - disingenuous - it's beginning to become a trademark description. I can't wait for somebody to come in here and try and perform mental gymnastics to try and act as though the 2 situations are the same, when they're not. The fact that they feel the desire to try and (badly) draw parallels only shows up their insecurities.

[magiciandude]

Uncharted 3 launched only less than two weeks before Skyrim and nothing bad at all happened to Uncharted 3 in terms of sales. The reason is because PlayStation has so many devoted fans and Sony can get away with launching an exclusive closely to an Elder Scrolls release. Uncharted 3 outsold Skyrim on PS3 according to VGChartz.

[DigitalRaptor]

Halo 4 launched only 6 days before Call of Duty Black Ops II and nothing bad at all happened to Halo 4 in terms of sales. The reason is because Xbox has so many devoted fans and Microsoft can get away with launching an exclusive closely to a Call of Duty release. Halo 4, however, didn't outsell Black Ops II on Xbox 360 according to VGChartz, if that actually does anything to support your argument.

But nope, you just used a terrible comparison, and then I brought it back round again. Nice stealth trolling though, it's really masterful.

[magiciandude]

But I don't understand what difference a small number of days it really makes. I mean, if Tomb Raider was going to sell enough copies, it shouldn't matter if it launches on the same day with another major game or less than two weeks apart. Also more and more gamers are going the digital route now that higher-end internet service gets more coverage, and digital sales are not covered by the NPD statistics. The game had an Xbox One bundle as well.

Thanks for the compliment though! :D

[FN4GM]

LOL, "doomed" not even, Playstation owners love these franchises and will buy them both, this isn't like Tomb Raider on xbone which failed to do well commercially because fans of that console dont care about games like that.

[Doabarrelroll]

UHHHH the ps4 fans like myself will just buy both. Already have my UC4 collectors edition bought, just gotta wait for it to be delivered to my house after UC4 gets released. Every big PS exclusive has sold at least a million I don't see how this would be any different especially seeing how it's 40$. The PS supports their BIG exclusives so this article is pointless

[kotaku77]

Maybe. But I'm more interested in Ratchet and Clank

[skratchy]

I want to disagree... But I do have some concerns. I love Ratchet and Clank but, obviously, the general appeal has been dwindling for a while. It legitimately COULD effect sales, but I'm hoping there are enough old school R&C fans out there that it doesn't.

[Dyldog69]

Not a terrible delay. The witcher 3 could have used at least

[MasterofMagnetism]

I'll be buying both so it's no problem.

[tulholdren]

Been a R@C fan since day 1 I will be getting them both love my Sony exclusives. I got a movie and matching game to enjoy. For me nothing but my wallet will be hurt.

[arbitor365]

It will definitely harm the sales, but at least it wont bomb as badly as rise of tomb raider did. It will still end up breaking a million, easily. I will be buying it for sure, but I know alot of people will skip it for uncharted 4. But I dont think people will just forget about ratchet and clank, since it is an iconic playstation franchise. They might get it once they are done with uncharted.

Sony has a history of picking poor release dates. That is what killed alot of the great vita games like Tearaway and Killzone Mercanary.

[extermin8or]

I'll get both but ratchet was always going to be bought after my uni exams in late may/early June so...

[ShadowWolf712]

Ratchet & Clank releases weeks ahead of Uncharted 4, and it's budget-priced at $40 to boot.

The sky is not falling.

[scark92]

R&C is a game that can stand on its own two feet.

[mark_parch]

might be best to push ratchet and clank back as well

[WickedLester]

The thing about it is the game is done! It easily could've been a holiday 2015 release but Sony opted to delay its launch to coincide with that stupid movie that will almost certainly tank. They won't delay it again.

[Picnic]

Why'd you even like Ratchet and Clank?

There's nothing in it that you can't get from other games.

[WickedLester]

That's about the dumbest comment I've ever seen on this forum! Couldn't you say that about almost EVERY video game ever made?

[Picnic]

Yes but most games don't get quite the level of unquestioned hype that R&C does amongst a Playstation faithful.

So I wanted to survey what people like about R&C. Yet instead of answering my question , you call MY comment dumb.

[WickedLester]

@ Picnic

Oh I can easily answer your question. It's just that I think the qualities in the R&C series kind of go without saying. Gorgeous graphics, great mechanics, nice humor, puzzle solving, platforming elements, action elements, clever level design, etc. I mean, anyone who has truly played this series already knows these things and don't need the obvious pointed out to them.

[MasterCornholio]

Isn't Ratchett and Clank 40$?

If true then I'll probably buy both.

[QuickdrawMcgraw]

Which exclusive to but 1st....Oh my what a terrible problem that is....NOT...

[cash_longfellow]

I'm pretty sure these games have 2 different fan bases...definitely not doomed, lol.

[benji101]

Ratchet and Clank does not have a fan base on PS4. It looks like bomba.

[Tallpine]

Dooooooomed! Ratchet and clank might as well just cancel the title and close down their studio for good. Because their doooooomed!

[benji101]

Seems more like a delay for the benefit of finacial reports. 2016 year starts in April.

[neomahi]

Yeah. It could happen just like Tomb Raider. I'm one of the lucky ones that'll be getting both games, plus, this isn't happening around the Holiday Season like Fallout 4 and Tomb Raider but, gamers will be playing Uncharted instead of going to the movie theater. That could effect the film and the hard work Insomniac put into making it. Game? Nah. It'll be fine. Movie? That's the tough one.