I’m worried Sony will learn the wrong lessons from Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 could signal an important era for Sony going forward, but the hit multiplayer shooter may have worrying knock on effects.

[Christopher]

If they're smart, they'll see it as a chance to refocus efforts on maintaining this game and its popularity to keep people invested rather than create competition for a stellar IP.

[just_looken]

For sure its not like sony in the past has killed a stellar ip like socum/killzone/warzone/mag/jax dexter/splinter cell/hot shots golf/ape escape/twisted metal etc there are way more shadow of the colossus another one old gamer's know sony loves to kill ip's and hates marketing new tech.

Edit: motorstorm the resistance games heck all the games that died on the vita or a sequal to that vita game with the witch ahh can not place the name

Just thought of those games more i think the more i see dead games thanks sony

[remixx116]

Or they just like to move on, were still getting ratchet and clank, god of war and gran turismo games.

At some point those will be gone too

You guys are so dramatic "killed ips" lol they are just video games, they will go and new ones will take their place

[Crows90]

@Stana

Are you joking? Sonys problem for a while has been remastering old games. Because of BC issues not too old but still.

[just_looken]

@remix

Gran turismo is here on name alone the ps3 games offer way better game per dollar

God of war sure fair point but ratchet clank is dead according to the insomiac leak.

As far as the other ips right now we only have one AAA Fps game but sony has multiple ips in that market its a dam waist.

Its like owning 12 golden geese kill them off then turn around and go were did my money go? well time to downsize.

[Hypertension140]

@just_looken

Gt is here on name alone?
So your saying other simulators offer more? GTFO! you have NO idea what your taking about.

It offers much more than any of its competitors, especially Forza Motorsport.

[just_looken]

@hyper

Go to your ps5 unplug the Ethernet cable then fire up that GOAT gt game how is it?

Now go to pc play any old racing sim or modded Assetto Corsa without the internet like black magic.

Heck go nuts and crazy play gt5 pn ps3 no internet i know scary a console that works without internet 24/7 but its real.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[shinoff2183]

Sales maybe were the issue. I knew a bunch of people that like Socom but I didn't know anyone who bought it new. Hot shots and are escape probably suffered from this to. Out of that whole list though I've only ever bought hotshot golf and resistance. I don't care for shooters much but resistance was pretty dope.

What's up with splinter cell was that a Sony ip at one point?

[just_looken]

@shinoff

I made a typo and was thinking Syphon Filter a ps1 sony game that died on the psp after many new titles but never went to ps3

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

crazy game back then just when we got out of the wolfenstien/doom era into 3d era

[SeTTriP]

Socum wasn't profitable, killzone wasn't selling very well, mag was a flop, jex and Dexter wasn't growing as a ip, metal gear was better then splinter cell and MG was exclusively a ps game at the time, golf is golf no comment, and ape escape was great but niche..anything else?

[SonyStyled]

@just_looken “ Go to your ps5 unplug the Ethernet cable then fire up that GOAT gt game how is it?

Now go to pc play any old racing sim or modded Assetto Corsa without the internet like black magic.”

Point considered, but when the GTSport servers closed recently, a patch as released to fully open the game offline. Probably going to be the same when GT7 servers close

[DarXyde]

I agree, Christopher. To add to that, there needs to be more analysis from PlayStation on what genres can thrive in this space.

If these kind of shooters are the only ones that that do well (e.g., Helldivers 2, Fortnite) then I think the effort should be entirely on making Helldivers 2 the best it can be.

Fighting games also seem to do well with the live service formula, though I think the important way forward for these games is to capture the zeitgeist (e.g., Peacemaker and Omniman in MK1) or entertain a long desired hypothetical (Geese in Tekken 7 or even Fortnite's inclusion of Goku). I can't say anyone was asking for the latter, but it's Goku.

Though I have to wonder: what is better for longevity: limited availability of events like Fortnite (which I guess would force people to be timely with jumping in), or once available, always available like DLC characters in fighting games?

[just_looken]

Could you imagine if sony made a fighting game with there owned ips then launched dlc?

Oh wait they did pulled support in a year.

[DarXyde]

Just_looken,

Playstation All-Stars was just not a great game. Can't say many people missed it going away.

Support hardly matters when a game just isn't fun to play. It is noble to some extent to try and keep things alive, but the mechanics were bad and it was vastly is inferior to Smash. I would rather play Brawl than Playstation All-Stars, and that says a lot.

It is one genre PlayStation hasn't really proven themselves in. Given time, I think they can do something great.

[Juancho51]

Totally agreed. The Mechs and Vehicles are just the beginning of something absolutely WONDERUFL.

[Nacho_Z]

Equally it can be seen as a benchmark for what does work. Inspiration from a cultural phenomenon (in this case Starship Troopers) that isn't Fortnite or Overwatch, minimal and non intrusive MTs, high quality production values, art design that has value and isn't just thinly disguised Rule 34 bait.

[anast]

They are creative enough to handle it.

[Leeroyw]

- it's a fun and seamless game (server caps aside). You drop in with friends easily.
- it's funny and not 'trying' to be cool
- full of big spectacle
- home base isn't cluttered with useless Gaas elements and merchants
- it was cheaper than most full games.
- word of mouth is way more effective than paying websites to hype your product.
- that intro video is chefs kiss.

[just_looken]

You forgot the last point

-It did nothing new that the first game already did except a new prospective same enimes/game loop and map.

Though the first one had more polish/content and 3 enemy factions.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Here is me 8years ago playing what you are playing today but different camera angle
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[anast]

You got it.

@ Just_Looken

Yeah, I'm not feeling your response.

[BlackDoomAx]

And you can earn all currencies by playing.

[derek]

Gamers gave become too hyper focused on the business of gaming, I blame Microsoft with their outfront public focus on the industry and their plans to transform gaming in general. Seeing anybody laid off from a job they rely upon sucks but I don't proport to have the solution to all thats wrong with the industry of gaming. Helldivers 2 is a great game, no need to worry about what comes next.

[thorstein]

We also are in a bubble. What we read, see and hear on sites that are published on N4G, Reddit, wherever, are not indicative of gaming in general. People play the games they like and will look at something that creates buzz (like Helldivers) or is built upon a steady IP (like Mario).

The people, like us, who interact online and engage in conversations represent a small, very vocal minority of players.

[shinoff2183]

Very true. We do not represent most gamers.

[derek]

@thorstein, absolutely 💯. Yeah this is a bubble so I guess I'm speaking from within the bubble, lol. But the conversation is far too negative given the steady amount of great games we're getting.

[ModsDoBetter]

Armchair developers and business owners run rife on sites like this.

[ApocalypseShadow]

More wasted breath worrying about nothing.

They invested and took their time with this developer. From what I see, it doesn't bombard you with micro transactions, it's fun to play and has sold well. If anything, it teaches them that they need to be more prepared for bugs(ugh.. there's another pun lol) and being ready for heavy Internet load of many players.

As Chris said above, don't overload with multiple releases of other GaaS games that would kill momentum. Improve the game and add to it to keep it running strong for online players enjoyment. License some content for new modes like gremlins or aliens or something like that. Online players would love that crossover stuff.

[jznrpg]

I was with you until the licensing thing. I personally don’t care for that stuff. Keep it within the scope of the universe and just enhance and expand it. Not try to ride off of other names.

[Skuletor]

Licensing stuff gets tricky too, several games and dlc have been taken down from stores over time because their licenses have expired.

[ApocalypseShadow]

It's why I mentioned side modes. Not main modes. Like a yearly temporary event.

[Asterphoenix]

Longs they keep things balanced and maintaining that rather than let success get to their heads. Allocating their budgets well.

[Deathdeliverer]

Sony has had some very successful games launch over the years. Why would anyone think they would fumble the ball? Write this about a team/company that launches a successful title that is new to it.

[jznrpg]

I’m worried about something that may or may not happen and I have absolutely no control over. Makes sense

They are going to make some great games gaas and single player.

Some of the gaas may fail but that’s the nature of those games if not done very well or even if done well maybe it’s just a crowded space.

If they focus on quality and not monetization like Helldivers 2 they could succeed more than fail. Of course they need to keep supporting Helldivers as well but that’s a given.

[z2g]

Studios will go in the direction of success. If single player game sales are far less profitable and have less engagement/attachment rates and multiplayer/gas games are profitable and keep players engaged for longer, guess which ones they are going to prioritize… and the other thing… if single player games are having a harder time than gaas games and that bothers you, unfortunately, you are minority, otherwise those other games wouldn’t be so successful.

Personally speaking, I like a good single player game but I see the fun and appeal of playing online with others. It’s fun. It’s competitive. It’s unpredictable. It’s a lot like sports in a way. Some of my best gaming moments were online with others.

I’m just the messenger pointing out what should be obvious.

[shinoff2183]

You have some gamers that do only single player games, some only multiplayer games.

I imagine most do both. So I don't see Sony dropping single player games at all. As a strictly single player gamer i say There's room for both. Sonys gotta know this. I just don't see it happening.

[OhReginald]

Lol they literally improved live games in every way possible and people writing articles saying how sony will ruin it.

[S2Killinit]

Yeah, they are successful so lets see if we can get something negative to find.

[INMATEofARKHAM]

Day and date releases on PC is what they should be learning... That was a big part of its success.

[Barlos]

Don't worry, just play.

[ModsDoBetter]

Agreed.
Too many professional yappers here.

[MADGameR]

Had Helldivers 2 had PvP online multiplayer, I would've picked it up. The game looks like it would be a masterpiece with PvP online multiplayer. It looks like it was built for it.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

What lesson, that multiplayer games are worth investing in, too?

[TwoPicklesGood]

We need more great multiplayer/coop games on ps5. Helldivers 2 is a start so keep that momentum going.

[Deeeeznuuuts]

I think they'll go the opposite way, they'll see this release and definitely learn from it, especially with everything that's happening throughout the industry and even the head of Sony saying that he isn't impressed with the gaming division, the margins are very low and I believe they can higher that margin by releasing Helldivers 2 quality releases at reasonable prices with big hitters more spread out

[rippermcrip]

So this genius author thinks Sony is going to "pump out dozens of co-op games" because of Helldivers 2 success?

Jesus Christ.

[northpaws]

They have already learned by pivoting from 12 Gaas back to single player focus... just chill, no need to worry it is the end of Sony every other day.