Can PlayStation Keep Up With Xbox Game Pass? - Next Gen Console Watch

IGN : Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch 2020, our new show following all the news and rumors on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S. This week, our host Daemon Hatfield, joined by Ryan McCaffrey, host of IGN's Xbox podcast, Podcast Unlocked, and Jonathon Dornbush, host of IGN's PlayStation podcast, Podcast Beyond discuss the growing gap between Xbox and PlayStation's subscription service options.

[IamTylerDurden1]

PSNow doesn't have to beat Gamepass. Microsoft's service is wildly more popular yet PlayStation continues to dominate Xbox in every major category. Sales, install base, revenue, demand, and popularity. PS4 hammered XB1 despite Gamepass and backwards compatibility being enormously popular on Microsoft's console. This generation is playing out very similarly to early last gen with PlayStation taking an early commanding lead despite Gamepass.

Sony has a different business model and it works. Services are certainly a part of it, but not ALL of it. And ppl seem to only concentrate on Gamepass when boasting about services without realizing that Sony has perhaps the most successful service on console. PlayStation Plus has well over 40 million subs and quite frankly trumps Games With Gold. PSNow has millions of subscribers and has improved dramatically over the past year. But even with all of that Sony still makes its living from install base and industry leading exclusives. It's a business model that has worked for them in the past and it continues to work to this day. That's not to say they haven't evolved, they have, but unlike Xbox they have not drastically altered their entire business model in an attempt to find their footing.

People get carried away with Gamepass. It's a successful service, it better be, it's Xbox's entire business plan. But please realize, PlayStation has been incredibly dominant for the last decade. They continue flooding their platforms with both quantity and quality in terms of exclusive content. They are the only console provider legitimately supporting VR. They have new, innovative next gen tech and PSVR2 on the way. They are already leading next gen by a wide margin and 2021-2022 are packed with heavy hitters. Forget hype and promises, PlayStation is delivering in real time and people need to respect that.

PS4 has already been the second most successful console of all time and PS5 is literally on the same exact pace while being dramatically more in demand. This is worldwide. PlayStation is global. That's why they dominate sales. The real question should be, can Xbox keep up with PlayStation despite having very little influence outside of NA and the UK. That's the real question, because right now they aren't even winning at home let alone in Europe and beyond. The media needs to put respect on Playstation's name. They have the games, sales, install, and innovation. PlayStation is winning, act like it.

[chiefJohn117]

Gold have 60+ million so that beats Ps+

[1Victor]

Hey @ chiefJ
Source please because that statement smell like grunt 💩.

[Babadook7]

“Can PlayStation Keep Up With Xbox Game Pass?”

I’m having a hard time keeping up with all the game-pass astroturfing - so I guess that’s a ‘no’.

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

PN has more then gold..dude...

[stonecold3]

Let us know if xbox can manage to sell 155 million console and 120 million console like ps4they will never reached that number the headline should say micrsoft where are the games that can keep up with the PlayStation

[Chevalier]

Playstation store makes significantly more money and sales. PSN revenue is more than the whole Xbox gaming divisions combined. So I'm guessing they will be fine. They broke the industry record last year. So pretty sure Playstation will 'keep up' just fine. PSN beats all of Xbox game divisions combined. So yeah.

https://www.google.com/amp/...

https://www.kitguru.net/gam...

https://www.videogameschron...

https://www.google.com/amp/...

[majiebeast]

You should be banned for trying to spread fake news.

[chiefJohn117]

That's including gamepass to be clear and more like 50-60 rather than 60+. And no it's not unheard off to have more subs than consoles sold. People are/were also still on 360. Ps+ wasn't required on Ps3 to game online so they didnt have those subs like 360 was still bringing in. Xbox live have over 90 mill MAU at any given time period. You do the math.
Here the link FYI https://twinfinite.net/2021...
Shouldn't even need it. Use your heads what % of xbox users do you think sub to Gamepass? 10%? 25%? 40? I'm sure your smart enough to not guess something like 75%+. So think if GP has 18 million users That alone should tell you, give you a clue at the sheer amount that sub to gold. You cant possibly really think more people sub to GP than they do gold, so you know by ratio alone gold much higher, then its simple as adding both together and you'd give more than 40mill subs. Gold and GP combined have more subs than plus and Now. And I dare anyone to link me to something saying different

[IRetrouk]

Just making up numbers here aint ya? No gold count can be made, because ms won't give that info out, but regardless of sub numbers, playstation makes double what xbox does in revenue, psn alone makes more than either xbox or nintendo do, yet you think gold and gamepass has more paying members.... how does that make sense?

[RosweeSon]

They’ve got more gold subscribers than they’ve sold consoles in the last 10 years, yeah sure 😑🤣

[The_Sage]

Very well said.

[DEEHULK88]

Yet Nintendo still seems to be in first place. Gamepass when it first came out is nothing like it is now. It came out in 2017 roughly 4 years after the the Xbox One launch, so why would it have an effect on any outcome. Make sense please. The media always slobs Playstation even in the terrible PS3 era and Japan advantage that will forever be there is the only reason PS3 closed the gap on 360, still lost to Wii and was not number 1 in any territory overall.

[TheTony316]

You forgot about Europe. Arguably Playstations strongest market and the place where the PS3 was outselling the 360 from day 1 at higher price tag.

[DEEHULK88]

THETony316
360 outsold PS3 by 20 million in the US 49 ro 29 ps3 outsold Xbox360 by 9 milion in Europe 34 to 25 and japan made the difference. The gap in Europe definitely wasn't as big as the Xo vs ps4 gap in europe.

[DEEHULK88]

DRIFTWOOD
What does that mean? Didn't they eventually surpass them in Europe, so I don't get you point about the TWO years. The US just didn't mess with the PS3 like that. There was no 20 million gap between the ps3 and the 360 in the US when the PS3 was released, so the lead had to expand. I mean jesus the Xboxone outsold Ps3 in US.

[scofios]

Xbox is playing catch up to Playstation since it's existence ,Now that you can rent games with a monthly subscription on Xbox , Playstation has two catch up ? Hahaha .

[Laxus]

Lol, the generation just started, I wouldn't say anyone is beating anyone yet.

But if we're looking at what's available now,(not counting sales cuz who cares)
Xbox has Playstation beat, fair and square. If you're a gamer that plays a lot of games xbox is just objectively the more attractive option as of right now.

You can say "oh sales this, sales that, exclusives this, exclusives that" in the end all that matters is how many games can I access and play on your platform. An Xbox owner just has more games to play thanks to gamepass.

[neutralgamer1992]

I don't think what you're saying makes a lot of sense because there could be gamers on PlayStation 5 with a huge backlog of games from PlayStation 4 they can just put the disk in and play on PlayStation 5. Also you have to take into account internet data limits because I used 75% if my limit within days of signing up for gamepass. Right now I am paying but I don't think I would pay $14.99 a month because I much rather buy games that I can own

The instant game collection on ps5 gives you some amazing games from day one too. I don't think it's dome and gloom for Sony if they don't have a service like gamepass and I don't think Microsoft will fail or succeed just because of GP. My point is both companies are doing their own thing and both companies are succeeding

If Sony and Nintendo also have their versions of game pass then they're all doing the same thing so there's no much difference

As far as backwards compatibility goes that's the main reason I got Xbox x because I missed out on a lot of games from XBox 360 and Xbox One days so I can just play them and I'll buy the exclusive here and there

Not sure how many years ms will support Xbox one x though. I hope for atleast few more years since I just bought one

[Orchard]

“I don't think what you're saying makes a lot of sense because there could be gamers on PlayStation 5 with a huge backlog of games from PlayStation 4 they can just put the disk in and play on PlayStation 5.”

Huh? I was lead to believe that backwards compatibility sucked and only Xbox people “played old games” because there are 100’s of good PS5 exclusives out right now.

“Also you have to take into account internet data limits because I used 75% if my limit within days of signing up for gamepass”

“I have so many games to play, I blew through my monthly data cap within days” - sounds like a good problem to have and shows that the subscription is worth it.

[IRetrouk]

If numbers is all you care about then ps now has gamepass beat... silly argument.

[kopp3rbug]

If you're a gamer who plays a lot of games then all options are viable. Why limit yourself to Xbox?

[Chevalier]

@Orchard

"Huh? I was lead to believe that backwards compatibility sucked and only Xbox people “played old games” because there are 100’s of good PS5 exclusives out right now."

Weird. 4000+ games on PS4 seems like a lot more than what's available on Xbox generations so what exactly is your point? Also have the best and highest rated games too so not exactly how that helps Xbox. There's over a 100 million PS4 owners and those people who moved onto PS5 carried over their libraries for FREE. I keep hearing about Gamepass, but, my PS4 library alone absolutely destroys Gamepass and its not even close. You guys live in a bubble and keep mentioning Gamepass and 'values when you don't consider Playstation gamers can just access and play their existing libraries for FREE.

[Knushwood Butt]

Sales this sales that.

Does that mean I can't mention that PS5 is selling more than Xbox Series?

On another note, Xbox is dead in the water in Japan.

[Atom666]

"PlayStation is winning, act like it"

Wow. I hope Sony reads it and gives you a pat on the head you crave.

It's two corporations seeking revenue. The bootlicking isn't necessary.

GP is getting a lot of attention because it's disrupting the status quo a bit. Sony will respond, but MS has its foot on the gas this gen. There's been some setbacks (Halo), but their plan so far has been solid.

Sony is getting some negative attention lately because of some not-so-ideal news and reports. But their reputation is well known. The problem they'll face is Nintendo dominating in JP, and a resurgent Xbox in the US. They'll have a great generation though.

But there's no need for the corporate groveling. I'm starting to think you're NOT Tyler Durden...

[CBaoth]

Foot on the gas? How so? By releasing a $500 console and no 1st party games for what, like 6 months?

[Atom666]

@Fax

Dude names himself Tyler Durden and then says "put some respect" on a corporation? Sad times...

@Cboath

Not sure where you been?

Starts w/ expanding their 1st party from ~5 to 15. Their launch plans were pretty much focused on Halo. It would have been big to launch w/ their biggest IP, but they screwed that up. In another 6 months, nobody will care, but it was a setback. The plan was an aggressive one though.

Still, I don't think anyone really thought those teams would all be producing games in the 1st 6months anyway, did they?

Then there's Bethesda. Biggest move we've ever seen in the industry.

Then there's the GP deals. Do you think Outriders, Octopath, MLB, etc. are the end of those aggressive moves?

Then there's the Series S and Series X approach. Going after high and low markets. Waiting out AMD for newer chips...

Should we talk about the rumors? Kojima...BF6...Lucasfilm properties...

But basically, they now have 23 studios, consisting of 30+ 1st party teams, and are throwing big dick money around to 3rd parties everyday.

If that's not "foot on the gas," I don't know what is.

MS is actually looking to compete this gen. Despite the blind allegiances of their ironically named corporate worshippers, Sony understands this. They're spending 100's of millions on 3rd party deals for a reason. They're doubling down on blockbusters for a reason too. It's awesome.

It's shaping up to be a great generation for everybody. If you're one of those "nO gAmEz" guys...you really aren't going to like what's coming.

[chobit_A5HL3Y]

b/c on xbox isn't as much a factor as some people think it is. sony has always lead the way in exclusives and ms has always struggled on that front. the average gamer doesn't really care to go back to play 360 or even back to xboxone once they get their hands on the newest console(s). it's a good feature to have on anything but unless you were known for exclusives then it's pretty much a throw-away feature. sony would be much better off with it than ms.

ms' gamepass on the other hand is a really great service, it's just lacking the install base that sony currently has. xbox damaged it's brand last gen and still hasn't recovered. it also hasn't had nearly as much success on the exclusives front, either. they didn't invest in first-party studios early on and they're paying for it now. sony doesn't need a gamepass-like service because people are ok investing in what they already have to offer(for better or worse). ms basically had to introduce the gamepass out of desperation to stay relevant.

[S2Killinit]

Lol “keepup”

[VersusDMC]

Gamepass has been around since 2017 and hasn't skyrocketed xbox in sales. But let's see what happens when all the studios they bought start releasing AAA games day 1 on Gamepass. Sony only needs to "keep up" once they start losing significant market share to Microsoft.

[DEEHULK88]

Why do people keep saying this? It was already down by a significant number in 2017 and also Gamepass is nothing like it is now. I don't think anything can tun a tide when you are already down by 40 million. Please act like you have some Common sense. Sony wouldn't have changed PS Now if they didn't care about Gamepass. Sony, IGN, and Playstation fans are the only ones that still care about console wars.

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

Everything you said here is nonsense.

[RazzerRedux]

You spent most of your paragraph making excuses for why Game Pass didn't "turn the tide" in the console war and then tried to pretend only Sony fans don't care about the console war. lol....ok

Phil Spencer certainly cares about the console war. He wouldn't have bought Zenimax/Bethesda if he didn't. But more so than that, he flatly said he did.

'I Want To Win This Generation,' Says Xbox Boss Phil Spencer
https://www.gameinformer.co...

[DEEHULK88]

Jesusbuilt
It makes perfect sense because people had their minds made up and didn't matter what happened. It's just like with 360 in America, analyst kept saying that Sony's exclusives would eventually turn the tide for PS3 in America, but every month one came out from the like of LOU, UnCharted1,2 and 3, GODOW3 the 360 would still outsell it because America had made up it's mind that 360 was the system of choice there. People's minds were already made up about XBO and nothing was going to change that.

[DEEHULK88]

DRIFTWOOD
In US certain months it did with the lower prices, but for 30 plus months up until the PS4 release 360 outsold PS3 and wii in the US which is why 360 beat ps3 by 20 million in the US. You can look all of that up yourself. I remember games like Last of Us coming out and the 360 still would be number 1 . https://www.google.com/amp/...

[Chevalier]

You know what I find most confusing? Gamepass value keeps being mentioned yet all the people I know who had PS4 moved onto PS5 and carried over their whole library over for free. My PS4 catalog of games just craps all over Gamepass which carried over for FREE. That's not even including PS Plus collection, Stay at Home free games and monthy Plus Games. That kind of gets lost in the conversation. Yeah Gamepass is a good value, but, for people with large existing libraries on Playstation its not that big a deal.

[TheGreatGazoo30]

Given that, as a software company, MS doesn't report sales of hardware, including Xbox, you don't know it hasn't spiked sales. We DO know that GamePass subscribers have grown incredibly fast over the last couple years. Revenue has continued to climb too.

[VersusDMC]

We have articles for sales of games and systems posted here all the time. For several territories. So we DO know they haven't outsold Playstation in years.

[TheGreatGazoo30]

@VersusDMC

Thats my point. In regards to Microsoft, those numbers are guesses, but people take them like fact. Not saying MS outsold Sony, just saying we don't know Xbox sales numbers. We do know Xbox revenue and subscribers, which are going up and up

[SavageFlamingo]

Eh. It doesn’t really matter. They’ll both sell consoles and put out games. People will be fans of one or the other. Sometimes both. Arguing over which is better is just pointless.

[NeoGamer232]

Yup this is just like arguing that vehicle manufacturer A has to catch up with vehicle manufacturer B.

Unless the feature cannibalizing sales of the other manufacturer it just doesn't matter. People choose their console(s) based on their preferences. And in this case GamePass is not cannibalizing sales of PS or Switch at this time. It isn't even close to cannibalizing PS sales.

Sony, Nintendo, and MS are all going in different directions. MS is focusing on building services and playing on many platforms. Sony is focused on the art of making the best possible games. Nintendo is focused on form factor with great pick up and play games.

[Destiny1080]

PS+ destroys game-pass at a quarter of the price, a collection of the greatest games of the last gen, plus its been delivering new games every month for PS5 owners

even the free game that comes with every playstation makes game-pass irrelevant

[King_Noctis]

“a collection of the greatest games of the last gen”

Kindda ironic to bring up this point when most PS fan have been negative when it comes to playing old games.

[RazzerRedux]

Nah, that's a Xbox fan take on it, pure and simple. "Most" PS fans don't have any problem with old games. They just don't believe it (specifically Xbox 360 BC) should be an excuse for lack of new games. But that's not Destiny1080's point either way. You just highlighted one portion of that sentence to drudge up that tired old fanboy argument.

[S2Killinit]

Most fans period think backward compatibility, nor game pass subscription services should be taking the place of quality new games. Kind of like the opposite of what this article is trying to imply.

[Knushwood Butt]

Well, Microsoft's sales pitch for their new hardware was and still is, '$500 to play old games'.

That's why this topic is constantly being brought up by their fans.

[Orchard]

“ PS+ destroys game-pass at a quarter of the price”

What? They aren’t even the same type of service. One is a huge library of games with streaming, the other one is a subscription to play online with a few games thrown in monthly.

PS+ is equivalent to Live Gold
PSNow is equivalent to game pass

[Futureshark]

I got PS+ in December 2014 when I got a PS4, and have been a member ever since.

I've built up quite a nice collection of 'free' classics in my library that rivals in number and quality what is offered in Gamepass.

So I think you can't really argue anymore that PS+ and Gamepass are that different now, unless you are brand new to gaming.
Live Gold is really just a sub for online gaming realistically, the monthly offerings on that are token gestures to fulfill terms and conditions for that sub.

[Chevalier]

Weird I've been on Plus for a long time. Have a bigger library of 'free' games across PS3, PS4, PS5, Vita than Gamepass how is that 'different'? A library built up over time at a fraction of the cost of Gamepass sounds about right.

Plus library is huge. I have like 500+ games. How much does Gamepass have again?!

Also my library carried over for FREE. My catalog of games for PS4 craps all over Gamepass and doesn't cost me any more.

[TheGoodestBoi]

Ps plus also has double the sucscribers. It's Microsoft that needs to catch up with the first party games, for the last 10 years it's been promises and wait till E3

[Bathyj]

The console space. The only industry where people think the clear leader for 2 decades needs to copy the clear loser for 2 decades to succeed. Let that sink in. The media are just trying too hard. Listen to what gamers are saying with their wallets.

[NeoGamer232]

Leader for two decades? Last time I checked Wii outsold PS3. And Switch is well on its way to outselling either PS4 or PS5 whichever generation you put it in. The real leader in console sales is Nintendo.

[TheTony316]

Last time i checked, the PS1, PS2 and PS4 outsold the N64, GC and Wii U by a far bigger margin. All of their consoles minus the PS3 reached over 100 million units. Hell even the PS3 sold over 90 million. The only Nintendo home console to reach those numbers is the Wii. The Switch will get there too but Playstation has been #1 for most of its existence. That's just a fact.

[outsider1624]

I don't know about you guys...but when speaking of console wars..it's mostly betweem Xbox and PS. Nintendo is like that small kid, you don't wanna even bother with.

[RauLeCreuset]

1) I'm not the type to discount all Switch console sales by calling it a handheld, but any Switch Lite sales do need to be discounted from home console sales comparisons. Not sure where that would ultimately leave the Switch.

2) It's a moot argument as both Nintendo and PS have won generations, and neither follows the GP model. Xbox, the only one to have lost every generation, the one that has finished behind PS every generation, is the only one pushing that model. The winners have both indicated the GP model isn't a winning model for them.

"The way I look at it is, we want to offer consumers choices on Nintendo Switch, and obviously, the ability to buy the games and play the games that they choose to play. The fact that we have well over an 8.0 attach rate to every Switch unit that’s been installed over the last four years is an indication that consumers want to consume content that way."

https://www.nintendolife.co...

[northpaws]

Correction: The real leader in gimmick sales is Nintendo

Two generations in a row, selling underpowered consoles with extremely uncomfortable controllers.

And I don't understand your point, the only thing that you have proved is MS is even more irrelevant than the person you replied to thought.

[hectorius]

NeoGamer2327h ago
Leader for two decades? Last time I checked Wii outsold PS3.***

Last I checked, Microsoft [PC/XB/X360] and Nintendo [Wii] all stagnated the market with the DVD format, which puts them in the same gen as the PS 2 which sold 155m units.

***And Switch is well on its way to outselling either PS4 or PS5 whichever generation you put it in. The real leader in console sales is Nintendo.***

In other news as of 2021 Sony
https://www.sportskeeda.com...

is the highest grossing games company with $25 billion... Second place is Tencent with $13.9 billion #3 is Nintendo with $12.1 billion .. Bringing up the rear [oooh er missus] is MS with 11.5billion.

[Chevalier]

@Neogamer

Last I checked PSN by itself did more sales than ALL of Xbox Game Division combined and more than all of Nintendo by itself. Set and INDUSTRY high record as well just last year. So yes Playstation dominates in sales and game sales all round and its not even close. So no last I checked yes Playstation dominates even Nintendo and the Switch. Don't believe FACTS?! Please read the links below. Eshop from Nintendo doesn't even do a 10th of what Playstation does. FACTS.

https://www.google.com/amp/...

https://www.kitguru.net/gam...

https://www.google.com/amp/...

https://www.videogameschron...

Playstation makes way more sales and money and have grown EVERY year since 2009 up till last years INDUSTRY high. So yeah get your FACTS straight. It's not even close.

[Orchard]

@Bathyj Who said Nintendo needs to copy MS? The article is about Sony.

[outsider1624]

"The article is about Sony."
And thats exactly what he meant. Lol..it's always funny you guys bring Nintendo to counter an argument regarding xbox and Ps.
Like if we're gonna talk about the best exclusives for the previous gen..then you'll all be like...but but nintendo..

[Chevalier]

@Orchard

You are an idiot if you think Sony needs to copy Xbox. Sony already doubles Xbox Games and all the combined Divisions in worth and revenue. They're sales have grown every single year since 2009 and set the industry high just last year in 2020. So why would Sony need to respond when they're gaming divisions are worth more than all of Xbox and Nintendo COMBINED?!!

https://www.sportskeeda.com...

https://www.kitguru.net/gam...

[Bathyj]

Not discounting Nintendo or what they've done. It's just me, like a lot of older gamers have outgrown them. That's not a derogatory term. Don't get offended. I've simply moved on.

Wii's great success was attributed to casuals and grandmas. More non gamers than gamers are responsible.

As that's the case when talking about the console war a lot of people don't factor Nintendo into that because they have their own bubble.

Even now, Switch will reach amazing numbers . But I don't care because I'm not into handheld. If you do that's fine. My point was no one can deny Sony is the industry leader. Not just in sales. Theyve grown this medium more than anyone. If you don't know that you probably weren't there or don't remember when gaming was just a thing for nerdy kids. The first time I saw adults playing PSOne in a nightclub was pardon the pun, game changing.

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

LOL every time MS does something sony doesn't need to? What with this ridiculous narrative...sony is ahead..not catching up...can MS keep up with sony is the reality, awful, awful article.

[chiefJohn117]

To sum it up in 1 word.....No

[Chevalier]

@Chief

I know the facts hurt, but, here you go. I know Xbox says power your dreams, but, in reality Xbox ain't even close.

https://www.sportskeeda.com...

https://www.kitguru.net/gam...

Playstation just destroys Xbox. FACTS

As for needing to match Xbox?! Why?! They Miles ahead and it's not even close. They're being lapped

[chiefJohn117]

Lmao question was can it keep up with gamepass. You up here linking sells and money 😆 I play games not cash. We talking games you talking money smh how low you've fallen. Try to stick to the subject next time I know the facts hurt but let's be on the same page.

[chiefJohn117]

Miles ahead? Umm Sony went and begged MS to partner with them and let them use Xboxs servers to assist their own services so FYM miles ahead? If they were or even matched they wouldn't have done such a thing. Lol miles ahead, who tf laps ahead ask the comp for help? 🤣 you not gonna see Tesla ask Nio to help them with their vehicles, you're not gonna see Samsung ask Blackberry for help. Nuff said

[IRetrouk]

Games? Gamepass has less than ps now, xbox has less exclusives than playstation too, less bc games overall aswell, if games are all that matters then xbox still loses.... Sony hasn't used azure yet, no deal has even been done lol, also did you forget it was a partnership that was proposed and not one sided like you claim? gamepass has moved no needle at all, playstation does not need a subscription service to sell their games🤣 oh and car manufacturers do indeed help each other out, apple also uses Samsung parts for gods sake🤣, your points are shite🤣🤣

[neomahi]

Yes, through quality and not quantity but Fhe Show 21 is proving PlayStation are now starting to make decisions, trying to play it safe, theyre going to regret later down the road wishing theyd taken the gamble. So what if they dont own the sole license to MLB, they wouldve had their pride and theyd shown even up against MLB 2K (their only real competitor as EA backed out) that 2K couldnt compete. Microsoft knows this and tactically acquired The Show on their own console giving Sony nothing in return. Jim Ryans a spineless moron and Sony are going to soon regret chasing off Jack Tretton in favor of this filthy red-coat.

[Eonjay]

The Jim Ryan hate is so nonsensical and shortsighted

[Sayai jin]

That's not Sony's biusiness model.

[Profchaos]

Does it need to is anyone complaining that Nintendo doesn't have gamepass or that steam doesn't?

[sinspirit]

Look at everyone changing the narrative to focus on what's good with XBox and what good future things to expect, despite the constant failures, overpromising, and negatives they've brought to the market. They never want to compare apples to apples. Compare the first party titles that have actually released and then compare who has a consistent release schedule and heavy hitters under their belt. Key phrase - under their belt. Wait and see what MS' new acquisitions deliver under their guidance. The amount of CGI trailers left a sour taste at their last big showing, on top of Halo Infinite, which also had certain apologists with XBox coverage partnerships explaining the bad graphics due to lighting(which MS stated was getting RT updates later) and not criticising them for it, and not even pointing out the other multitude of bad graphical details and low polygon counts. Oh, but graphics aside, the AI was so miserably dumb and how does 800 pound MC hook an elite and they don't even shudder a little bit from the weight of him being pulled towards them? Halo has always had a grounded physics engine and didn't just simply add an arcadey type of mechanic for funsies.

[Chevalier]

How does an elite boost up for a tactical advantage and not even look down or aim at his target? Even stormtroopers at least pull the trigger. Lol

[brewin]

Will Sony Ponies finally admit that GP is a viable way to get their gaming fix?! If Sony put their 1st party games on a subscription service day 1, if it was a complete rip off of GP, then they most definitely would! Instead, they would then simply argue that Sony had this up their sleeve the whole time and it was some genius marketing plan by Sony.

Gaming subs are just the way of the the future. I realized this during a recent move. I was going thru my game collection packing everything away and it got overwhelming! I didn't realize how many games I actually had, how much room those games took up, and how utterly annoying it was to pack, move, and store them away. Digital games are just so much easier, more cost effective, and much less time and space consuming. Gamepass makes digital games that much better. I get to play all those games as much as I want and then I can purchase the ones I want to keep forever while they are on sale. Win Win. I have saved thousands of dollars in the last year alone. GP is the way forward, paying $70 day 1 for a game that will be $20-$30 in a few weeks to months does not make you cooler lol. Something like GP makes gaming much more accessible and inclusive. All but the saddest of troll boys can see that.

[RauLeCreuset]

This argument is so much fail. Try to make some sense if you're going to lead off with "will Sony Ponies finally admit...."

You can have a subscription service without having to drop 1st party games day 1. You can get digital games outside of a subscription service. I hope neither Nintendo nor Sony follow the GP model.

"GP is the way forward, paying $70 day 1 for a game that will be $20-$30 in a few weeks to months does not make you cooler lol."

Or maybe wait a few weeks to months to own the game for $20 - $30 if that's the gripe?

As for your moving woes, next time do this instead of going through the oh so grueling process of getting overwhelmed trying to pack, move, and store all those games — throw them out with the trash. It'll be the same as sinking money into GP for something you can't keep.

[GoodGuy09]

Sonys been odd lately compared to mcsft lol. Hopefully they got some thing cooking up this year that hasnt been announced yet. And no way will gow and horizen 2 release this year.

[Knightofelemia]

I don't use either service I have tried them both out I prefer physical copies both services have good things and bad things about them. Microsoft releases their day one titles on Gamepass and the game downloads to the Xbox hard drive. But it has a smaller library but Microsoft also does stupid deals like 3 months for $1. PSNow has a bigger library but it streams the game which can be good or a pain. Sony doesn't load day one titles on their service and I haven't checked it out for a while I don't think Sony does stupid deals like 3 months for $1. So they both have their ups and downs and what service you decide to choose is up to you but they are a hell of a lot better then what Stadia has to offer.

[Persian_Immortal]

somebody living in an alternate dimension,

2009-2021 Sony had 6 games Win Overall Goty with a hat trick of 3 consecutive years from 2018-2020 vs the company soliciting a rental service that has 0 Overall winners and has been absent from the conversation of critically acclaimed contender games over the last 10 years.

Console sales PlayStation has put Xbox in last place market share every generation.

PS2 160 Million, Xbox One (2001) 22 million
PS3 88 Million, Xbox 360 85 Million (1 year head start and still ends up in last place wow) record breaking failure rate 60%
PS4 114 Million, Xbox One (2013) 40-50 Million
PS5 vs Xbox Series

PS revenue reported for 2020 $25 Billion Ranked #1 Top earner
Previous $18.19 Billion Ranked #1 Top earner

Xbox revenue reported for 2020 11.16 Billion Ranked #4 Top earner
Previous 10.26 Billion Ranked #4 Top earner

[Father__Merrin]

Ps5 is going to be way more popular than xbox sx and there's nothing you can do about it. Once the install base grows you will find even more exclusive games on it. The gems only 4 months or so on and already n4g fans are downgrading PlayStation. You will all soon be behind the bike shed again

[waverider]

Still waiting for a single month since 2017 (Gamepass was created) that Microsoft sold double of the number of consoles of Sony. Last week The PS5 sold more then double of the combined S and X. Doesnt seem to be working. Well but numbers dont matter, exclusives dont matter, sp games, dont matter, specs dont matter (only when we got worse).

[Ninver]

Not a fan of gamepass. All I want is award winning yearly exclusives and some AAA third party games. There's just not enough time in the day when you're working and have a family to take care off.

[Magog]

Playstation has more paid subscribers through PS+ than Xbox has with any form of gold or gamepass. And call me crazy but I prefer getting games I can keep.

[Kavorklestein]

With Ps+ you get Games you can keep, if you keep paying each month.
Not a bad deal since you need it to play online.

[Germaximus]

I've never used this word before, this seems the perfect time: pathetic shills. So obvious. (Literally the first time I've ever used the word "shills.") IGN is trash.

[toyzombie]

Call me old fashion but i prefer physical games than digital.

[dRanzer]

Keep up? 🤣

[bleedsoe9mm]

TV TV TV MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

The only way Sony can keep up is to add other value add entertainment properties into the service. It will be telling whether the PlayStation community embraces non related media.

If Sony tries to go toe to toe with MS they lose for 2 reasons 1- it costs them more because MS own the streaming hardware 2- MS has the money to lose money allot more than Sony does.

[moriarty1889]

Sony doesn’t have to keep up with gamepass. They already deliver something xbox struggles with delivering......High quality AAA single player experiences. That is something that is sorely lacking elsewhere due to the obsession with online only mp based gaas type games that devs seem to want to keep putting out.

[Father__Merrin]

Xbox series xs isn't even keeping up with ps5 yet. What a horrid article

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Fanboy nonsense aside Gamepass will become a serious threat in the long run. Most of you people are looking at Gamepass from a fanboy perspective instead of a business perspective. If MS can continue to keep the price down, get other third party games day one and get a few of the competitions exclusives (like MLB The Show) on the service consistently it will become to go to service for gaming.

If you people RRALLY think Sony isn't paying attention to gamepass just because the PS4 did so well then I'd say you're delusional. Sony will have to answer one day and when Sony does it will only benefit true gamers who don't care about fanboy bs. Disagree all you like and shout out sales numbers all you like but none of that changes the fact that Gamepass is continuing to grow and get better and all for a low price.

[anast]

Walmart also beat out a lot of stores by selling a ton of cheap things to people. It's a proven model, but it's an artifact of mechanical reproduction over art. People decide if they want to get into some fast food entertainment or get into something that has time and space. I can enjoy both, but beating something out by being cheap doesn't mean it's better. Games as an art have already suffered this profitable paradigm.

[Mrgamesalot]

The smell of denial in the air. You'd have to be wearing a tin foil hat not to realise that xbox has and is making major moves this generation. As stated, I see no point in arguing or deeming who is best, but what I can state is I've never been happier as an Xbox gamer (and someone who jumped over from PS).

[RosweeSon]

Can you actually keep up if you are already winning, again 🥱🤣