Sony Aims to Expand PlayStation Network Business and to "Aggressively" Promote Mobile Games

Having passed the peak of hardware profitability, Sony aims to expand its PSN business and to push mobile games to bolster the music segment.

[strayanalog]

All of the Big 3 are messing with mobile gaming in some way nowadays. Seems like the console "war" is slowly becoming how to create the right experience for the player than it is about the most powerful console anymore.‎ Feels like we're on the verge of a united gaming ecosystem where petty console differences won't matter anymore.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Expand PlayStation Network Business"

This is Kodera´s vision for Playstation. GaaS.

[blackblades]

Along as it doesn't interfere with the consoles in anyways.

[Elda]

Mobile gaming? Ewwww!

[UCForce]

As long it doesn’t affect PlayStation core, it would be fine. Right now, Sony is happy with their SP games like Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War are doing pretty well, so I think Sony will keep that core.

[Obscure_Observer]

@UCForce

God and Horizon are great games free of MTs and Lootboxes. But you really belive all Sony Studios to follow suit? Are you expecting The Last of Us II to not be a GaaS type of game?

[Aura7541]

Mobile gaming is handled by a different subsidiary (Sony Music Entertainment) from Sony Playstation. What Sony Music does will not affect what Playstation's plans and vice versa.

[Gunstar75]

Yayyy... Mobile gaming..... 😐

[Obscure_Observer]

@Gunstar75

Sony has to continue to grow and expand their gaming bussiness. As long it doesn´t affect Playstation consoles, i don´t see nothing wrong with their new focus on mobile.

[ILostMyMind]

Would Sony launch some games on Switch?

[gtxgamer2]

Only if Nintendo returns the favor 😂

[Araragifeels]

Sony Unties (Sony Music Entertainment) is a third-party game publisher (not part of PlayStation) who focus on smaller titles designed for multiple platforms. They already released some game for the switch.

[GrizToof]

I’m too old school for this nonsense, if your a console maker then stick with it. Nothing wrong with some good old segregation... when it comes to games that is.

[Kribwalker]

Sounds a lot like GAAS is about to start becoming more prominent with playstation as well,

“Network-oriented game experiences have to be offered, and Sony is already doing that, on top of additional downloadable content and in-game purchases.”

[SpaceRanger]

“Sounds a lot like GAAS is about to start becoming more prominent with playstation as well.”

Doesn’t sound like it. Sounds like they’re just acknowledging that it’s another area that is growing and that they want to lead as well.

[Obscure_Observer]

@SpaceRanger

"Doesn’t sound like it. Sounds like they’re just acknowledging that it’s another area that is growing and that they want to lead as well."

You pretty much agree with everything Krib said.

[SpaceRanger]

@Obscure_Observer

Nope, read it again slowly.

[rainslacker]

It always existed. GaaS is nothing new. It was around last gen too. It's what we usually thought of when we dissed mobile gaming in general.

I imagine that it's always been prominent...as in important. But it hasn't infected the PS to a degree that it's the only thing to look forward to.

Also notice they said that it has to be offered....not that it has to replace what they're doing.

[Kiwi66]

Did you not see the bit where it says "Network oriented game experiences have to be offered and Sony is already doing that , on top of additional downloadable content and in game purchases" so wouldn't that mean they are going to push it alongside other things like mobile gaming ?

[rainslacker]

Yes I did. I was replying to the OP who said they were going to become more important. Krib being who he is, I assumed he was trying to make it out that Sony was going to focus on this or make it a negative for MS. Would you like to take a wager on how he uses this story sometime in the future to defend MS in some way? Kind of like he brings up GT Sport to justify MS own GaaS focus?

And yes, I can see that Sony would explore downloadable content and in game purchases. They aren't opposed to it, as they've done it in the past. The question remains is how it may affect the PS brand itself. Something we can't know yet.

[Obscure_Observer]

@rainslacker

"I imagine that it's always been prominent...as in important. But it hasn't infected the PS to a degree that it's the only thing to look forward to. "

No company has only GaaS to look foward to. Plus, GaaS hasn´t infected Playstation so far, BUT, House is gone. Playstation division is under new management and only god knows what Kodera has in store for PS gamers.

[rainslacker]

Sure obscure. Sony is going full on GaaS. They'll change up their current success to follow MS, because MS has proven that it's so popular and helps them sell consoles.

[Obscure_Observer]

@rainslacker

"Sure obscure. Sony is going full on GaaS. They'll change up their current success to follow MS, because MS has proven that it's so popular and helps them sell consoles."

Never said they will go full on GaaS. I don´t trust Kodera. But i trust Shawn Layden to try and deliver on his promisses and keep PS4 games free of GaaS as much as possible.

[rainslacker]

Why don't you trust them? You'll give complete faith to Spencer who can't manage to do anything but add features, but you can't trust people who haven't done anything to show they have a desire to go more towards GaaS?

That doesn't make any sense.

[jznrpg]

F Mobile it sucks . Why people want to play pay to win games with little depth and spend a grip is beyond me

[TheOttomatic91]

I don’t know who this Totoki guy is but him, Kodera and Yoshida don’t seem to really understand gamers. Honestly it’s the same problem MS is having with Nadella and why they are falling behind Sony and Nintendo

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Yoshida doesn't understand gamers? He's been there from the start, he's the one that understands gamers most.

GaaS are huge profit makers for those who get it right, Sony wants a piece of that pie. Mobile gaming is a cheap alternative to traditional gaming and profits can also be huge.

Like others have said - as long as PlayStation game development isn't affected, they can do as they please.

[Obscure_Observer]

@xX-oldboy-Xx

Well said! Even Xbox gamers should praise Yoshida as he was and still is loyal for console gaming and gamers early on generation! He gave Mattrick the middle finger on that DRM/Always Online/Tv tv tv crap which allowed Microsoft to backtrack on their ways and leave all crap behind.

[gamer7804]

They should have put more $ behind vita, i couldn't care less about phone games. They need to call them phone games and not mobile, which makes me think of 3ds, vita, switch.

[rainslacker]

Sony should make a portable which is a real mobile phone. Seems like if the mid-gen paradigm can work, then they can kill two birds with one stone. Xperia Xplay was a half step. A great phone, but they could actually do something big if they get the mobile gaming and mobile phone into one product. Particularly if they manage to keep it priced at a portable console price instead of these ridiculous jacked up prices you see on most mobile phones nowadays.

[PhoenixUp]

Awesome how Sony at least revealed to us how many PlayStation Plus subscribers there are yet Microsoft continues to keep us in the dark regarding the amount of Xbox Live Gold subscribers

[Obscure_Observer]

@PhoenixUp

"Awesome how Sony at least revealed to us how many PlayStation Plus subscribers there are yet Microsoft continues to keep us in the dark regarding the amount of Xbox Live Gold subscribers"

Yes, Sony let everyone knows that they shipped 79 milion PS4 consoles and they now have 34 milion PS Plus subscribers. Yet, unlike Nintendo and MS they hadn´t seen YoY growth accordind their latest financial report.

[PhoenixUp]

Because they know the system is hitting its plateau

What does that have to do with their online subscribers? Seems like a random unrelated thing to bring up