Despite announcing an unprecedented number of titles at GamesCom this week, Sony’s suffered a bit of a backlash for focusing on grassroots development rather than its internal studios. For some, the PlayStation 4 is lacking in the first-party blockbuster department, with only Killzone: Shadow Fall, inFAMOUS: Second Son, The Order: 1886, DriveClub, and Knack announced. However, Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida sees it differently.
“It's interesting that when we discuss the lineup and launch timing of titles, we always discuss internally with our marketing teams about strategy, about when we want these games,” the likeable executive told Polygon. “It's not like we're saying that we have to release everything at launch or that we shouldn't release everything at launch. They're going back and forth; they want to create a larger launch lineup, but at the same time, they want to create a supply of new titles with good pace. That's a competing goal.”
The strength of the system’s third-party support – in addition to the slew of indie titles on the way – has prompted the platform holder to keep its cards close to its chest. “I think, because we have good support from third parties, I think that we should focus more on the steady flow of titles from our studios, rather than trying to get everything for the launch,” the suit explained.
Nevertheless, as teased by Worldwide Studios vice president Michael Denny earlier in the week, the big releases from Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica, and Media Molecule are in production. “It's a natural desire for game development teams to wait until later in the development to unveil their titles,” Yoshida continued. “I agree that if we talk about some new Naughty Dog game that's coming, and show some teaser movie or something, people might like it – but that might not be the best presentation of the game that they're actually developing for the PS4.”
He concluded: "It's a luxury for us not to announce these games that we have in development, that we do not feel the need to do that to support the launch of the PS4." Patience, then, is very much a virtue.
[source polygon.com]
Comments 14
The question is, will these unannounced games be ready to release quickly enough to avoid a Vita-sized post-launch drought? Here's hoping.
@Stuffgamer1 I actually think that's why they're doing things this way. inFAMOUS could have been a launch game, but they're saving it for February to give another boost. I'm sure they'll have something in the summer, which leaves them with Christmas 2014 to fill (The Order? Naughty Dog? SSM?)
@get2sammyb: Fair chance of it, yeah. My concern is that usually, games are announced more than just a few months before their release. So if they're trying to get content ready for spring and summer, they're playing it oddly close to the chest at the moment. Sure, I have no trouble believing some of the as-yet unannounced games are set for Christmas 2014, but that's a long ways off yet and it's the interim they need to be focusing on.
I like this way. Don't want to experience vita once again. 22 titles at launch then we got to wait for many months until next game released.
Wii u suffer the same problem. I wonder if xbox one will go which route now? Steady or at once
@divinelite: Based on the announced launch lineup, I think they're going the "all at once" route. Leave it to Microsoft to learn NOTHING from the competition.
I'm glad at leas a few people see the strategic merit of this pace.
Its a luxury for you but agony for us
It only gives them more time to make whatever it is sparkle. We want this.
I've been saying it all along, giving us a huge blockbuster game every 3-4 months is better than making us wait a full year just to even touch something. Also it allows products to gain notice and fan base as well. What do you think would happen if Infamous did launch at console launch.....I'm pretty sure those only buying one game wouldn't get Killzone. That's why I also believe the Order will launch in April giving Infamous a good 2 months to get a foothold on the market as the next really huge generation game. Also Infamous and the Order look to be all alone for blockbusters besides Ubisofts the crew.....so its nothing but 100% exposure. Sony knows what they are doing with this console....it really feels like the good old days of gaming where there is just so much that is going to come from this generation.
@longshot28 Exacly, that's what I've been saying. Also, you don't want to overload the announcements and its great to be in a position to go at your own pace instead of making premature announcements just to try to sell your system because you are falling behind.
@PMasterTy9 What do you mean premature announcements? Nothing can be made premature if people want it badly enough! Just give us a glimpse of Uncharted 4, even if it'll take years to finish. We'll wait patiently and ungrudgingly for that game just like we are for The Last Guardian! /s With the end of that sarcastic post though, you are right. These announcements of "games to come periodically" makes me more giddy for PS4 than the "All our good games are belong to launch" mentality of Xbox 1. I don't really know of any good game Microsoft has lined up for 2014 (Doubt Halo 5 will be done by then); their BIG games, namely Titanfall and Forza, are gonna be out at launch, but then comes the drought.
@Cloud7794 So, whats The Last Guardian??...lol Yeah, I really don't know what Microsoft has up their sleeve and Titanfall is not even a launch title but it is supposedly going to be a Q1 release for 2014. At least with Sony we can see a sort of see a strategy or a plan.
In other words... "We have f*ck all for the first three years." I really hope third parties come through for PS4 unlike they did for the PS3 for the first part of this generation. From everything I've read PS4 is much easier to program for than PS3 was so hopefully there's no shoddy ports. That will at least save this console a little bit until Sony gets its act together.
Sony had there act together since there slip with the PS3 launch, but i cannot say the same about Nintendo. I already know most of this info because i follow gaming, it also makes no sense to reveal everything in one go, thay would have shot themselves if thay would have done that.
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