Sony Talks Shift From Hardware to Monthly Active Users; Plans to Explore Microtransactions

Sony Executives talk about the shift of the business model from hardware units to monthly active users, and the possible exploration of microtransactions.

[ninsigma]

So are they going to stop reporting units sold or report both??

Please don't ruin the developers good work with badly implemented DLC. Especially the single player stuff!

[UCForce]

Yeah, I agree. Like my previous comments , microtransaction is only work in Free to Play game. Just don't put it in AAA games. Hopefully, Sony report both Hardware and Software.

[freshslicepizza]

They are already in place in their AAA games, what are you talking about? You can buy items in Uncharted like pirate hats. One of the worst offenders ever was Little Big Planet and all the items you could buy.

@ninsigma
"So are they going to stop reporting units sold or report both??
Please don't ruin the developers good work with badly implemented DLC. Especially the single player stuff!"

Those NPD numbers stop being public because of Sony last generation. You guys think they are always transparent? We still don't have any idea how well Playstation Now is doing, how many people use that per month?

http://controversy.typepad....

[NoPeace_Walker]

SOE, the former Free to Play developers that made games like Planetside, are sold off to another company by Sony. So what other type of games does Sony make besides games like TLOU 2 and GOW4? It is coming people, and I surely hope the people that hold their own standard on their opinion of MC in games will feel the same for Sony when that time comes . I, myself have no issue with it if it doesn't affect gameplay and are optional.

[Knushwood Butt]

You can buy pirate hats, that add nothing to the game, or you can get them simply by playing the game.

I think I have all pirate hats unlocked, and not a single one equipped.

[Ittoittosai]

Nopeace_walker- your part of the problem. MT always effect game play and more and more are not optional. You know why people love that word or phrase "optional" because it alloes them to say "oh well the free market blah blah blah" when all they really mean is "we know people are lazy and stupid and casuals will just fork over money for stuff". Look at Forza, Shadow of War hell Ac orginis. In AC Origins its an unlockable Skill, in the damn skill tree, to purchase crafting materials from venders and unlockable skill to use a vender how a vender has always been used before, then venders carry very small amounts of the crafting materials requiring you to travel across the map, which is very big, to get enough to upgrade you health, arrow ammo and other things or you can spend 20$ on a "time saver" to get enough to max out you gear. Thats BS. Your additude leads to an eventual colapse of the gaming industry or market as people will get tired of paying 60$ then getting nickled an dimed to death while paying. Its so bad now there are advertizements in the damn game menus for these game telling you "hey we have MT".

[Jinger]

@Knushwood

Yeah and the majority of other MT's are optional also and only cosmetic, but that doesn't stop people from bitching about them.

[andrewsquall]

Of course they didn't say that "Hardware sales are still important", I don't see anything that throws this question up.

[rainslacker]

I can understand why any company that has services to offer would want to look at MAU's. It's a good metric for measuring potential. However, selling more hardware will also increase MAU's, particularly for a company like Sony which doesn't have as many outlets to bolster their numbers like MS does in Windows.

As far as MT go, it's not like it's new ground for Sony. They've had them in quite a few of their games to date. The important thing is how they're implemented, and overall, I don't feel that Sony exploits MT as much as some of the other publishers do, and if they kept doing what they're already doing, I don't really see the problem.

Overall, all I care about is if Sony keeps providing me with the kind of content that I already get on the system. If they shift to more GaaS to push this shift more, then I'll be upset and say something then. It's hard to say if they're doing that now, because they only have one major game right now which I consider to be a GaaS type game, and that's GT:S.

[TankCrossing]

Yes yes, that's it. Follow Microsoft into the abyss. I hear it is wonderful.

Give it another ~20 years and we'll start hearing how Nintendo are beginning to track monthly active users over hardware sales as well.

[UCForce]

Like my previous comments, every publishers like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and others will follow the suit.

[Death]

Hardware sales are important to fans that want to feel better about their purchase. Active users generate more profit and is the metric platform holders use to better measure success since it’s a stream of constant revenue.

[UCForce]

@Death Hardware sales are very important, too. But I'm just concerned about Sony maybe ignores it in the future which I'm not okay with it.

[TankCrossing]

Of course hardware is important to Sony. What else will their "Active Users" be playing on? PSNow? I don't think Sony are going to throw all their eggs in that basket just yet so you've got nothing to worry about.

By the same logic, you can understand why hardware might be a less important metric to Microsoft.

[Cobra951]

TankCrossing, you're missing the point. If active users are the only metric they go by, then the hardware gets marginalized. If the service side of the business trumps the hardware side, then they start doing things real gamers don't want, like publishing on other platforms, including mobile, or streaming games to any number of devices, and charging you piecemeal for every little thing they can--games as a service. *Shudder* The PS4, PS5 etc won't be their main focus anymore.

[TankCrossing]

@Cobra they aren't gonna take down the walls around the playsration garden. Not unless the money they'd make would be greater than the money they make as a platform holder, taking their cut of everything published to the platform.

[darthv72]

If I may interject. Hardware sales are no longer a proper way to measure the actual number of people who game. I will explain it like this. Since the last few generations it has become rather popular to double and triple dip when it comes to the hardware. Either people want the newer design or they are replacing a unit that has issues or they just want to have a 2nd or 3rd in the house (one for them, one for the kids).

They have to look at game sales and MAU's to understand the size of the user base (and even that is not 100% accurate). I'm pretty sure everyone knows this but hardware is usually sold at a loss because the real $$ makes is from software (and now GaaS and MT's and subscriptions)

[TankCrossing]

Console hardware hasn't been sold at a loss for at least a decade, and multi-console owners/homes is nothing new really.

Active (online) users is a better indication of the more lucrative and valuable audience, and the tools to measure it are there so it it makes sense to track the metric they care about.

[PunisherRevenge]

Yes we all know Microsoft is the only company that implemented microtransactions when other company's have been doing this for years especially on the mobile side of gaming. Microsoft is to blame for everything negative in gaming. Sony and Nintendo has never used microtransactions or online passes in their games.

[RememberThe357]

Is it too early to say "fuck Kodera-san"?

I already bought the god damn game I don't want to pay more to unlock the rest of it!

[Zeref]

it's because hardware sales do not bring profit. Monthly active users say more about profitability than hardware sales.

Microsoft is a business it was just a business decision, A smart one seeing that Sony Is going to do the same now.

People on N4G think they know business better than these companies.

[rainslacker]

I'm sure they all track it in some way. In fact, it's a regularly published metric within their quarterly publisher reports which give out stats like software sold, number of active users, number of online user, engagement numbers, and tons of other metrics which may be used by publishers to decide to release a game on the system. It's important information for publishers.

The problem comes in when the MAU is the primary and only metric which seems to be focused on, and many of the services and games seem to be centered around increasing those numbers by making software which is directly related to increasing said numbers, as opposed to making software which just lets them grow more naturally by increasing user base by providing more for more people.

I felt MS shift to MAU's was more due to the fact they were trying to make Windows into a service over an OS. XBL helped bolster those numbers, and eventually, making XBL part of windows bolsters XBL numbers thus potential revenue.

Ultimately, it all comes down to what happens to the software as a whole.

[Edito]

Let's see how this turns out, i really like the House approach he seemed like a very kind and soft guy.

[TripleCs]

House is the type of guy you don't really care for when he's there but miss once he's gone and someone worse takes his place.

[Cobra951]

Yes. And if this story isn't just a one-off fluke, that's exactly what I fear may have happened.

[AspiringProGenji]

I feared they would do this in a matter of time just like they followed MS with MP paywall. Hopefully they don't include MTs in SP games. maybe Nintendo is getting back up for a reason...maybe it is time to go back to them. I am not supporting MTs from anyone

[rainslacker]

I could understand the following the paywall because that was shown to be successful, and make a ton of profit.

So far, services, which is really the only reason to track MAU to be able to gauge potential as well as just make more money because the more you have the more chance to make money, has not really been shown to be successful to gaming.

Overall, It's easy to track software sales and pure revenue from what services they do have, and ultimately, that's going to be the most important. but when a company talks about shifting focus to MAU's, it implies that they're going to focus on ways to increase that, which may cause concern that they're going to start doing things which push this idea beyond simply providing what people have come to expect from them. I can understand why that is concerning, however, at the present time, there isn't a whole lot there to show that Sony is doing something different from what we've come to expect from them, so it's hard to have some knee-jerk reaction like when MS says SP games have less impact when the last two big games they're marketing are both GaaS type games.

[Obscure_Observer]

@rainslacker

"I can understand why that is concerning, however, at the present time, there isn't a whole lot there to show that Sony is doing something different from what we've come to expect from them, so it's hard to have some knee-jerk reaction like when MS says SP games have less impact when the last two big games they're marketing are both GaaS type games."

Because Sony is not marketing CoD, Destiny and Battlefront. Smdh. Never lose you chance to throw some rocks at MS and sugarcoating Sony´s crap even when you know you´re screw! Go on! Suck it up! Sony is pleased.

[Majin-vegeta]

Well time to hit them where it hurts...used games here I come.

[threefootwang]

Been doing that since the start of this gen. Regardless of Sony or MS's policies, I love gaming but paying $80 CAD per game is insane.

[Chaosdreams]

As a fellow Canadian, I've come to ignore games in their initial release window. The initial price is a complete joke (especially considering it arguably gives you 3/4 of a game if you're lucky).

[TankCrossing]

That is certainly a good way to push them further along the GaaS path.

[Majin-vegeta]

Remember at the end of the day they need us (Consumers)to survive.We dont need them.

[Kribwalker]

So Sony are also shifting to Mau’s and looking to implement more MTs or “in-game purchases”. that’s interesting. This would align with the new direction they went with GTsport and i could see them adding MTs to it to provide free DLC and keep the userbase up....how deep does the rabbit hole go?

[andrewsquall]

Except GT Sport doesn't have micro transactions so try again.

[Kribwalker]

which is why i suggested they could possibly add them....

[Rude-ro]

Not one bit.
It is a dirty media spin on the topic.
When talking about revenue, microtransactions are only available digitally.
Sony was talking about making psplus more attractive. They were stating data that was collected on how users use the ps store currently

[Kribwalker]

“Therefore, according to Yoshida-san, the axis is shifting from hardware to user base.
On top of that, after the purchase of a game, users can purchase items or content within the game itself, and the proportion of those sales is increasing.”

“We also hear that third-party sales of in-game items and content is very significant for Sony as well. On the first-party side, compared to other companies, the proportion for Sony of in-game sales is still relatively low, but under Kodera-san’s leadership there will be “appropriate exploration and decisions taken in the future.””

i don’t see sensationalism in that

[Rude-ro]

@Kirbwalker
The whole conversation is about psplus and making it more attractive to consumers to sign up.
Your quotes are the reasons they see the benefits and where the money is going from consumers to the digital purchases.
THe point of the conversation is what can Sony do to better entice the subscription to its players.
If you want to downplay what i am saying, quote Sony on the focus of mt.

[TankCrossing]

You have to read between the lines krib. Sony are probably talking about... Er... Donating to charity. A charity that campaigns for the happiness of Playstation fans. Yeah, that's it.

[Liqu1d]

So Sony are also shifting to Mau’s

http://www.pushsquare.com/n...

"This would align with the new direction they went with GTsport and i could see them adding MTs"

https://www.gtplanet.net/gt...

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Sigh... Sony follow that crap and ppl will leave to play classics oh well thank god I got GCN.

[Zeref]

brother why are people acting like this is something new when TLoU and Uncharted already have Microtransactions?

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Because nii san it's going to be in campaign of SP games!!

[twiggytree12]

They didn't have single player microtransactions

[datriax]

lol Jesus.... "gaming" just keeps getting better and better. Thank god I don't have to deal with this bulls**t. F**k all "AAA" bullcrap.

[HeisenbergX]

Hmm Sony i think your best course of action when thinking about this is to.. TREAD LIGHTLY

[Mr-Dude]

Yes, very very lighty.. I for one will not accept it. Then it will become used games for the exclusives and full PC for the rest. A big F-u for MT

[tulholdren]

I agree Dude if they are doing that I'm on the same path as you. Don't know why they would go the MS route I can't it.

[AnubisG]

Explore MT's by doing a survey and see the overwhelming negative response you will get Sony.

[Gamist2dot0]

Yeah, I think it's blown out of proportion as well from an opinion peace from a quote “appropriate exploration and decisions taken in the future.” That means research and see what works and what doesn't.

[jokerisalive]

WTF??? Why would they be doing this??? So they can be like MS? It makes no sense for them to change face and become shady about sales for hardware especially when they are doing so well. I miss Andrew House already this new guy might be full of shit like Phil and Co. and is trying to infect Sony with mau's and MT in games......the success of PS4 will be tarnished big time by this crap if it happens. What is wrong with being proud of hardware sales and not forcing micro transactions down people's throats??? This shit has me worried cuz that's how everything good comes to an end when crap like this suddenly for no reason just starts happening cuz some greedy asshat decided it was what he felt was right for him to line his pockets with.......

[ocelot07]

If Sony start doing this micro transaction BS and loot boxes in their first party titles. I will start buying their games second hand like I have started to do with EA and Ubisoft. If it gets to the point where games become pay to win and me buying second hand becomes a bit pointless. Then ill simply quit gaming.

[Kribwalker]

they already have been doing that, see the last of us, uncharted 4 to name 2 big ones

the last of us was even seen as pay to win by some

[ocelot07]

Uncharted 4 I believe was just hats and cosmetics? Don't get me wrong I don't agree with them however those hats didn't effect the game or gave players an advantage. Last of us I believe they released a weapon pack. That everyone could use without buying. However, couldn't include them in custom sets unless you bought the packs? That is more scummy and I hope they don't do such things again.

However, If it comes to a point where say in the last of us 2. You have to scavenge for items to craft a medkit. But they give you an option to pay real money to buy a medkit or buy the materials to craft a medkit. Then am out that is BS. This is why am buying Assassin'c Creed Origins second hand. You can buy in game currency for real money. That is just BS and I don't support it at all.

[2pacalypsenow]

Ugh...

[Cobra951]

". . . according to Yoshida-san, the axis is shifting from hardware to user base.

"On top of that, after the purchase of a game, users can purchase items or content within the game itself, and the proportion of those sales is increasing."

Was that a Sony story, or a Microsoft story, because it sure sounds like Microsoft, or EA.

I've been fearing this. At first, it seemed that Sony was going to hold the line against the shenanigans from the Western console businesses. Sony was responsible for Microsoft backpedaling on their initial anticonsumer plans for the Xbox One, after all. But I guess the lure of easy cash will eventually affect any publicly held corporation. This is even more likely when there's a changing of the guard, and new leadership itching to prove itself with profitability takes over. Hmm. Don't really know for sure yet. Let's see where this goes. Hopefully it all works out for the best, because I'd hate to lose both of these console makers in my future.

[Prince_TFK]

Uh oh...hope this is just a plan and won’t become reality.

[TheColbertinator]

Time for those God of War lootboxes

[akaFullMetal]

Sony don't screw up your good will with your Sony fans. MT's in full payable games needs a fine balancing act if it is going to be accepted, if it's pay to win then count me out and I'll head else where.

[Pancit_Canton]

Misleading headline. They never talked about Micro-transaction. Just possible shift on business strategy. This usually happens, if there's a key role changed in the company.

I can't believed Dualshockers would do this. Talk about Fake News.

[yeahright2]

"On top of that, after the purchase of a game, users can purchase items or content within the game itself, and the proportion of those sales is increasing."

"We also hear that third-party sales of in-game items and content is very significant for Sony as well. On the first-party side, compared to other companies, the proportion for Sony of in-game sales is still relatively low, but under Kodera-san’s leadership there will be “appropriate exploration and decisions taken in the future.”"

Those "in game items", yeah those are micro transactions.

[Pancit_Canton]

"On top of that, after the purchase of a game, users can purchase items or content within the game itself, and the proportion of those sales is increasing." Possible DLC and In-game *standard* multi-player content.

"We also hear that third-party sales of in-game items and content is very significant for Sony as well. On the first-party side, compared to other companies, the proportion for Sony of in-game sales is still relatively low, but under Kodera-san’s leadership there will be “appropriate exploration and decisions taken in the future.”"
More like a Rumor rather than actual facts.

[NoPeace_Walker]

Damage control. LoL

[Gh05t]

"Possible DLC and In-game *standard* multi-player content. "

#Banana

We all know what this is because we have seen countless games add content and no one talks about DLC like this.

You are just in denial.

[yeahright2]

I for one am not on board. You can take that MT, GaaS crap and stick it where the sun don't shine. I said this a few months back and it seems to be coming true, but games as a service taking over is probably what will drive me out of gaming.

[il-JumperMT]

FUCK MT

[Scatpants]

OOOOH MICROTRANSACTIONS I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! Thanks Sony! I generally like your products but feel they could suck more, so this is a step in the right direction.

[Majin-vegeta]

Make all dlc free,don't make us grind for unlocks and all make all MTS pure cosmetics..

[Kribwalker]

that’s the kind of MTs i’m ok with. like halo 5 titanfall 2 overwatch and gears of war 4. Halo 5 is still being supposed 2 years later with new levels modes etc and i didn’t have to spend a dime for it

[The 10th Rider]

I'm totally fine with this type of thing in multiplayer games. It allows them to continually support the online component and they don't have to split the online userbase by selling maps or whatever as DLC. Instead all actually gameplay content is given out for free and cosmetics can be used to keep bringing in profits to help continually develop that content.

Now selling DLC *AND* putting in MT is pure BS. Lootboxes in singleplayers games is an instant no-buy. MTs are a very grey area in gaming and too many developers and publishers go overboard with it.

[andrewsquall]

Lol, they said it is getting more relevant for them.
"Hardware sales are still important, but the number of monthly active users is getting more relevant."

This is not the same thing Microsoft said in December 2013 that the number of monthly active users is the ONLY important thing to them going forward. Relax people, we will still get our sales milestones.

[Mr-Dude]

Ugh mt..Don't do it Sony... Your fans will revolt!

[raptorjacob]

Boo micro transactions. If this trend is on the rise, it will be the end of gaming for me.

[nitus10]

I do agree with you but not all microtransactions are bad since most are purely cosmetic and don't affect gameplay, although there is a saying "Give them an inch and they will take a mile" and how true that is when loot boxes have now made their scummy appearance.

Even loot boxes are grudgingly acceptable if they just contain cosmetic items (ie. "fluff") but now the push is for items which buff the user's stats such as weapons and attributes (eg. EA Star Wars Battlefront 2) which effectively make those games "Pay to win."

Doing the above will not make me quit gaming but I will boycott all games that employ practices that try to coerce players to pay for extra features.

[Rude-ro]

At no point does Sony refer to microtransactions other than that they are only offered per the consoles stores.
Their whole point is about making ps plus more attractive and absolutely nothing about microtransactions.
Nice bait spin though.

[yeahright2]

yeahright22m ago(Edited 0m ago)
"On top of that, after the purchase of a game, users can purchase items or content within the game itself, and the proportion of those sales is increasing."

"We also hear that third-party sales of in-game items and content is very significant for Sony as well. On the first-party side, compared to other companies, the proportion for Sony of in-game sales is still relatively low, but under Kodera-san’s leadership there will be “appropriate exploration and decisions taken in the future.”"

Those "in game items", yeah those are micro transactions.

[EatCrow]

"There are mitigating factors to the effect of the console cycle on revenue: the business model used to be a business-to-business royalty-based model, but now it has shifted to direct sales to consumers. Hardware sales are still important, but the number of monthly active users is getting more relevant, alongside PlayStation Plus subscribers and how much time they spend on Sony’s services and consoles.

Therefore, according to Yoshida-san, the axis is shifting from hardware to user base."

So it is now Sonys turn to shift to engagement like MS has already done.

[Razzer]

Might as well get used to this. This is how games will be funded going forward. The $60 a game model just isn’t going to cut it.

[yeahright2]

And we're mostly to blame for that.
"make the next game bigger, better graphics, longer, better voice actors, heck, Hollywood actors, etc etc. What? you need a bigger budget and more staff on payroll? We don't care, don't you dare charge more than $60!"
Now we're at MT is fine as long as it's optional. which will lead to titles like shadow of war where either you cough up for MT or go through an hours long grind.

[ShaunCameron]

Exactly. $60 is too low for companies to charge for a video game in this day and age, with all the perks and features the average modern AAA game offers to make up "the full experience."

[Ittoittosai]

Great sounds like Sony just put their own Don Mattrick in charge of playstation. Looks like I probably wont be getting a PS5 Ill be getting what ever next box is if there is one.

[nitus10]

It's not the gaming machine that is at fault it is the game publishers such as EA that push for the more questionable practices in games. However, the ones that are really at fault are the "junkies" (sorry that is what they are) that buy into those questionable microtransactions that have "Pay to win" incentives.

Note: I am not against microtransactions if they are cosmetic and don't affect gameplay.

[Ittoittosai]

No such thing as only this or that cause that is how it starts if you buy any kind of MT your part of the problem.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

i told you guys. MTs aren't going anywhere. again, if you want MTs to go away, people need to stop using them. you have to make the cost of building MT code to be more than the revenue it generates. until that happens they will always exist and as long as they make money, people will find ways to make more money with them... just like this article states. No company is immune to this. Not MS, Not Sony.

[masterfox]

Just no!, aren't you doing great Sony with the PS4 ?, why would you want to messed up your fanbase ?, this sound more like greed to me.

[Weeblordbad]

A corporation looking at other revenue streams? That's absurd, I thought they were in the business of making me happy, not making more money.

[Dlaw76]

I guess that's when microtransactions will be acceptable

[Mr-Dude]

Well, if you read through the comments, then you see that 95% of Sony fans are against it and/or pissed of at the idea alone. So, I think no... it will not.

[Dlaw76]

You must be new around here

[DillyDilly]

Sony's next for the fuckening thats coming

[Relientk77]

Microtransactions are the worst

[sk8ofmnd]

Yeah I don't mind them as long as Sony doesn't go full retard... Like putting things behind paywalls that should have been included with the purchase of the game. Dlc and other small things are perfectly fine.

[Chaosdreams]

Sure. You can explore.

Just be careful you don't end up in Andromeda.

[DrumBeat]

And hereeee we go.

[ChristopherJack]

Part of the reason for their success with the PS4 is their commitment to their quality first party AAA games. Many people purchase consoles just for the concept of quality exclusive games- even if they never get around to actually purchasing them, they may borrow their mate's copy but even if they don't, just the idea of such games is enough to motivate someone to pick a PS4 over X1- so the results aren't always direct or even measurable but has no doubt improved their situation.

My ultimate point is, microtransactions often negatively affect the ideal quality game, especially when they go deep down that rabbit hole. They could possibly profit more directly from clash of clans style rip off but even if they did, their reputation & indirectly hardware & peripheral sales would also tank.

[Bleucrunch]

Sony has been riding a wave of right decisions so far this gen, I REALLY hope and trust that they tread carefully and not get arrogant because of the position that they are in. Don't screw up a good thing because you want to be greedy Sony. Doooooooooon't do it.

[Elda]

Taking this with a grain of salt.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Playstation completely turned it around at the end of last gen, and made all the right moves to get this lead they have now. No need to screw things up going forward.

Not going to be a doomsday person here but this does have me a bit worried.

[Phill-Spencer]

It's such a shame. Ms showed that billions in profit can be made by only investing nickels and dimes into offering micro transactions. The only hope i have is that sony won't become as lazy, greedy and shameless as their former competitor and keep on bringing as masterpiece exclusives and not only low budget games.

[2cents]

Oh great.

[C-H-E-F]

Nooo, Sony bet not add Microtransactions to all of their games lOl. This is something they don't need to join because they can't beat em. Leave em alone sony.

[marquisray]

let me get this straight, xbox always online lets kill em all, gt sports always online to keep stats hmm good idea sony, xbox is 60 dollars a year they suck why should you have to pay when sony online is free, now you pay a yearly fee for sony oline, good job sony, xbox have mt and loot bags they are money grabbers kill em, sony we are thinking of adding mt to our games, well we have them but they arent that bad, they dont add any difference to the game, sony fans once again sony is best, wow you all are so cheap lol, i cant wait untill they announce the price for the ps5 ,sony fans make it 300 bucks and we will buy it, if they the price is 600 dollar's, sony fans we have the best system lol

[Good-Smurf]

You're treadin' on some mighty thin ice here,Kodera.
Steer clear of MT or I'll go retro gaming only if they do.
This MT on full priced game thing will crash the industry.

[Gwiz]

Where money is to be made they'll rush in and get that piece of the pie.Are you really surprised?lol

[sprinterboy]

I don't like the sound of this Andrew house replacement.

[OffRoadKing]

They already do microtransactions just like everybody else does, no need to explore them, just do them and we'll complain about them, while paying for them, while complaining about them.

[Nodoze]

Here we go. The plague of modern gaming infects Sony now too. Keep it up, and all of gaming will implode.

[Craig71]

Looks like my time as a gamer after 35 years is over. Thank you Andrew House for making this gen a good one until now

[timotim]

I'm surprises there isn't more outrage here to be honest. I know if this were an article focused on Microsoft, it would be filled with gamers ripping them a new one

[bolimekurac]

well its sony and no matter what sony does they get a pass, i remember everyone crying about drm in 2013 with the xbox anouncement and now gtsport is drm online only but you dont here the same people complaining, same with the micro transactions discussed by sony today. they will get a pass

[nitus10]

I don't give any publisher a free pass if they introduce coercive practices for microtransactions and by that, I mean "pay to win" especially in randomized loot boxes.

While you can purchase these items with in-game currency you have to do unnecessarily grinding to earn that money so you are sort off coerced to purchase those loot boxes with real money. I wonder how long before you will be forced to purchase those loot boxes with real money to even have a chance of beating the game?

[isarai]

You wanna make mirotrasactions? fine but keep them cosmetic, and if you think people won't pay an arm and a leg for something cosmetic, take a look at team fortress 2's hats and pretty much everything in overwatch. But the moment you start putting items with function like weapons upgrades and gear behind microtransactions is the moment i no longer buy/support that IP

[Many-hat5]

Now, where's are all the guys who made out MT's wouldn't be a problem ! The end of gaming as we know it becomes one step closer. Forget Sony or MS alliances, this is about gaming. Oh well, too late.

[NotAfanBoyy]

One thing that really irks me about PS+ is that you completely lose all your free games if you don't pay one month. It's like they're holding my games hostage and I have to pay the ransom every month, or else. Whereas all your free games are still there when you come back to Xbox Live Gold, and you always have access to your free Xbox 360 games regardless.

[Weeblordbad]

I've let PS+ lapse and have not lost any of the titles I got through the service. I can't use them with a lapsed account but they didn't disappear.

[bolimekurac]

so sony wants more microtransactions, wow, will the community take this since its sony or will people rebel

gt sport is already a from of drm since you need to be online and now sony is talking about mt as if its a good thing

[Nickrobbins]

i dont understand the big fuss over mt yes they arent great but i have both ac origins and shadow of war and i dont even notice them so they clearly dont force you to buy them so as long as it is an OPTION and games last a little longer i dont see why it is a huge issue for people

[nitus10]

I agree with what you said but when you look at "loot boxes" which are a form of gambling no matter what other so-called authorities say, you will have what is known in the "trade" as "whales" (problem gamblers or "high-rollers"), "dolphins" (minor gamblers), "minows" (hardly spend anything) and "freeloaders" (immune to gambling). http://www.gamesbrief.com/2...

Most people fall into the "freeloaders" and "minows" categories, however, it is the "whales" and "dolphins" who take up the lions share of all forms of gambling and even though they are only a small percentage of the population it is these people who are predominantly targeted in games which in turn makes it very annoying for the majority of people who just want to play the game.

Where it gets insidious is when the game effectively becomes "pay to win" and the game is structured in a way to coerce normal players ("whales" are a lost cause) to spend real money. Games like this I avoid and yes I am a "freeloader" and proud of it.

[NeoGamer232]

I have the following principles in choosing whether to buy a game now:

1) I can pay one price and the price must be clear as to the full experience I get. Free of unnecessary grinding or pay to progress
2) There must be a campaign or story to the game
3) The game must be known as high in quality

Unfortunately, more and more I see this disappearing... Gamers are buying games more and more that don't meet these principles.

[Weeblordbad]

Perhaps because what you deem necessary others aren't so miffed about? Your personal preferences extend no further than yourself.

[Hardiman]

I will say when the guy was promoted it raised my eyebrows because of his resume. I'll be watching this very closely.

[Ninver]

Gaming as a hobby is coming close to an end. Keep these practices up and you'll be doing me a favour.

[agent4532]

So, basically the end of console hardware has been confirmed. Sadly, microtransanctions/dlc and online only games will expand more significantly now that Andrew House is gone 😥

[Smokingunz]

I feel sorry for those sony ads kissing fans hahaha

[Knightofelemia]

Microtransactions great way to to put your foot in your mouth if I hope Sony isn't dumb enough to pull that shit headed stunt.

[StormSailor]

Get the fuck out of this Microtransactions shits, Sony

[Many-hat5]

To all those gamers not seeing the big deal with MT's, I get it. Some of the current run of MT's seem purely superficial, and in no way effect game play,right? I ask you, honestly. Do you think they will stay that way? Once publishers have established that revenue stream, they will tighten the grip. Look to mobile games, and the model used there, because that's what's next for us main stream gamers. I wish you all great gaming, while we have it.

[Weeblordbad]

I can make those decisions on a per game basis. I didn't purchase Shadow of War for instance, or AC Origins yet somehow I still have games to play.

Or we can keep on crying about the "death of gaming" like that's a thing. We really need to tone down the melodrama.

[Many-hat5]

@WeebLord.
'Death of gaming'. Maybe it isn't a thing yet, and maybe if you consider MT's to be acceptable then maybe, it never will be. Maybe!
Or just maybe, the choice you enjoy now, will become less of a choice as more games include MT's, Maybe. Of course, you could get on board and help fight off this menace to gaming. Or you can just choose ignore it as a non-thing, and shrug off other peoples opinions as 'melodramatic'. Great gaming, WeebLord.

[nitus10]

I do agree but there are just so many games now that it is not overly difficult to ignore those games that blatantly try to force you to spend additional money. Retro gaming is looking more and more attractive.

Unfortunately, mobile gaming is just the tip of the iceberg and some of those so-called games give the illusion of you playing the game. You are right it is only going to get worse.

[Many-hat5]

Hello Nitus10
Yeah, retro gaming. I reckon I could play my back catalogue for the next ten years, without having to buy another game :) But let's hope more people like yourself decide to take a stand, because we need a strong gaming industry. Great gaming Nitus10

[Artemidorus]

Don't get greedy Sony.

[GrmpyolGamer]

What's this?? The white knight of gaming is joining the dark side??

[bennissimo]

HAHAHAHAHA

[sazselesbon]

Swap names and you could really see a MS presentation there. First, they charge for multiplayer. Then, games require always online. Suddenly, microtransactions everywhere! Single player doesnt generate this kind of revenue.Winter is coming!

[CoryHG]

Don't worry, Atari will save us all, even though they caused the collapse in 1983. It's their time to shine.

[Many-hat5]

I remember it well! Awful management decisions. Still, they did also create the gaming industry proper, in the first place. I still have my Atari 'Woody' 2600. Their new creation sounds interesting.Great gaming, Feldman9000

[Craig71]

#4TheMicrotransactionPayers

[HyperMouse]

Please do that Sony....it will do no harm at all

[TheOttomatic91]

If Sony goes full Micro Transactions and GaaS like MS then I may just stick to Ninty

[Many-hat5]

My thoughts too. That's why I got my Switch and bundle,recently. If the worst happens I can hunker down with Mario. :)
Great gaming, TheOttomatic91.

[Istolla]

If Sony does this, then I have no problem not buying their consoles in the future.

[ClanPsi1]

No! Don't you f**king dare!! BAD! BAD SONY!

[welly300]

I have no problem with micro transactions as long as it dont give you advantdge in game.

[Yobo5]

Explore Deez Nuts.

[Ub3rStuff]

Sony has already been creeping this way. Last of Us multiplayer has always had guns/perks behind a paywall, Uncharted, now GT, Little Big Planet, Everybody's Golf has courses behind a paywall right from the start while giving you an incredibly anemic course lineup with the purchased game and so on. I played Last of Us multiplayer a lot and honestly it's almost criminal what ND did there which I assume Sony as a publisher pushes, like all publishers. They get a pass because of the quality, but imagine if Call of Duty went to a "pay real money for perks and weapons you can never otherwise get" type system after paying full price for the game. It's egregious, maybe even the worst multiplayer transactions I've ever seen on a AAA game.

[Condemnedman]

oh the irony 😉

[VariantAEC]

Is this supposed to be surprising?
First of all Sony hasn't been a stranger to MTs and so far hasn't let them get out of hand. Even when some Vita freebies (AR style games) required MTs to see everything they weren't a big deal as the games were skipable experiences. I've not seen any incidents of Sony AAA games requiring MTs to play or explore aspects of a game that can't be earned by other means. The worst MTs in Sony games revolved around PlayStation Home!

Sony has bigger issues revolving around pre-order bonuses than MTs and as long as Sony doesn't push MTs the same way they push pre-order bonuses we'll be fine.