No one is going to argue against the value of Xbox’s Game Pass service, but Sony and Microsoft are in different places with their first-party games. While the former has been breaking long-standing records all generation long with releases like Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, God of War, and Marvel’s Spider-Man, the Team in Green has been scrambling for hits.
The Redmond firm, to its credit, has pivoted, offering every single one of its exclusives day one with its flagship subscription service. It’s almost certainly a loss-leader – juggernauts like Netflix are still losing money, after all – but the organisation hopes to eventually attract enough members to make the endeavour worthwhile.
PlayStation, meanwhile, is in a different position: its games sell by the bucketload at full-price, and it simply wouldn’t be cost-effective right now to hand them out as part of, say, PlayStation Now. It’s compromised, increasing the value of its streaming service by offering popular – but not brand new – titles like Grand Theft Auto V.
But could we see all PS4 exclusives launch onto the service in the future? “Our stance on the inclusion of first-party games in PlayStation Now in terms of what we've done this month is very different to our stance 12 months ago,” said PlayStation boss Jim Ryan. “Right now, given how some of our first-party IP is incredibly special and valuable, we just want to treat them with amazing care and respect, and have those launches be clean and pure.”
It’s not happening, then, and why should it? The Last of Us: Part II, for example, is almost guaranteed to move over 10 million units when it drops next year, and we wouldn’t expect Ghost of Tsushima to be a million miles behind. The fact of the matter is that Sony doesn’t need to change tactic right now, because the traditional model is working for it.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 66
They are definately on another level. I mean, Gears of war 1 and 2 were amazing and Forza is pretty good but apart from that I cant think of anything that makes me remotely jealous of xbox owners. Especially not Halo 😴😴
I mean, he's right. I respect Microsoft's decision to pivot, but their games just don't sell anywhere near as well as Sony or Nintendo's do at the moment. So while Game Pass is unquestionably great value, it doesn't make sense for the others to follow it. (Yet!)
I'd say Xbox Game Pass, PS Now and all these streaming services can end up making people appreciating games (and the work that goes into them) a little less in all honesty, even for someone like me that loves a good bargain.
Same with the ridiculous Steam sales I hear about!
i can't help but feel if MS didn't completely mess up the xbox this gen they wouldn't have made a service like gamepass, it was only made to make the xbox more enticing to consumers
"Buy our system and pay a subscription and you can play hundreds of games instantly for a low price each month"
you have to admit in today's age of laziness, smart phones and people wanting everything on a plate it's a good marketing point
@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy It definitely does devalue games. It's like when you used to be able to get those 100-in-1 pirate Game Boy cartridges; I used to spend about 10 minutes on each game before I inevitably went to play something else.
Ehh.. idk man. Valuable to Sony? Sure. But a lot of the exclusives are just straight up overrated imho. Also that first new lineup for psnow was great, but this month was an immediate quality dip. If I’m gonna stick with it, they’re gonna have to break out the newer titles. Maybe not day 1 a la Death Stranding, but something like Days Gone which is still pretty fresh.
They're right. Gamepass works - in part - because Xbox has a bunch of middling exclusives. You might not buy any of them at full price, but if you see they're on Gamepass with a load of other games you might sign up for the subscription and try out something else and something else and keep paying.
Sony has legitimate blockbuster exclusives that will sell millions of copies. They'd be insane to Gamepass them.
@JoeBlogs I have an Xbox One X and I have Game Pass Ultimate until at least March 2021 - I live great! I also have a PS4 Pro and a Switch.
With PlayStation being a huge part of Sony's financial makeup, it makes sense. The gaming side of things for Microsoft is quite a different story. The gaming division is chump change to Microsoft.
Case in point:
Microsoft won a $10 billion contract with the United States Department of Defense to run it's cloud infrastructure.
Xbox is just another service Microsoft provides on top of much more profitable endeavors elsewhere. Microsoft can almost treat software like a gift. Microsoft is proud of what it can provide because it can afford to provide.
The developers of these Day 1 Game Pass releases still get their paychecks. Sales for non-Game Pass subscribers still come in. Game Pass subscribers get awesome games! It's a win-win!
Yawn and hilarious to see the same old folk lap this nonsense up. Sony are getting to the same level of arrogance as Xbox reached before the XB1 dropped and that didn’t turn out too well.
I hope they get some humility and don’t drop the ball.
For the record I hate the game pass model what I hate is Sony running down MS exclusives. Have some class.
They definitely focus more on exclusives. I’m not very good with these subscriptions, even on Netflix I spend more time browsing than actually doing anything lol not the most decisive of people 😅
I do fear for new games. I have Xbox Gamepass and yes, I play on my XB1 more then I used to because of it but I fear it doesn't help games. I just played Afterparty on the XB1 from launch, a game that I would have bought day 1 regardless of reviews but now I have downloaded and played and will move on. I have no idea if I have helped the small devs that I like or not?
@Stocksy Did we read the same article?
As PS Plus is in need of a bit of a revamp, one thing Sony could do, as a sort of halfway house, is to allow Plus members to pick, say, 2 of their first-party exclusives each year to have 'free' on launch day and keep access to for as long as you're a member.
@get2sammyb 100% in agreement with this. I'm fair less inclined to finish a game from PS Now or Game Pass because of ease of access. If something doesnt immediately grab me I move to something else. If I pay £50 for a title I feel far more obligated to push it to make sure I'm getting my money's worth.
@get2sammyb One of the good things about Microsoft Xbox games over recent years, which I appreciate as a consumer, is the fact that most of them are also available on PC, where the costs for purchasing the titles is considerably lower, e.g. I bought Gears of War 4 for under a fiver. Also, another advantage (in monetary terms) is that I don't really need to buy an MS console anymore, along with an annual subscription just to play online.
Maybe putting some of their smaller games like Concrete Genie or Medievil would get more people into them
@AhabSpampurse I think you’re right. I have a load of gems in my library from PS Plus that I have been ignoring, but when I buy I game I usually focus on it and give it a better chance to win me over.
@BambooBushido Or just advertise their existence in the first place?
Translation: if we gave our exclusives away day one on PS Now, no one would buy them because they are one and done rental games.
Unlike Xbox exclusives, they don't hold you in after you've completed the campaign. Say what you like about Xbox but when it comes to long lasting multiplayer games they can't be beat
@RedDeadRenegade Yeah but doesn't matter if you think they're overrated or not as the sales have proved that the exclusives sell loads, GoD was a major hit, Spider-Man was a bigger hit and Days Gone despite mixed reviews was again a big hit. People see that Sony name on games they go out and buy the game hence why there's zero reason for Sony to put these games on Now so soon, MS major selling point is Gamepass so they have no choice really but to their games on it.
Playstation Now could have every Playstation exclusive on day one & it still would mean nothing for me.
Why? 720p is the highest resolution.
That is utterly ridiculous.
Make no mistake. Game Pass exists because of Microsoft's struggles this gen. Its great for the consumer in the short term, but in the medium to long term its unsustainable. It devalues games on release, and if there isnt a return on the significant investment publishers and developers have put into them, then they won't make them any more.
The problem is consumers get used to it and will demand companies like Sony follow suit - but i see no reason why they should. Theres little in it for them, other than the possibility of expanding their ecosystem to other platforms, which in turn negates the need for a dedicated console at all.
An interesting future awaits to say the least
@MadAussieBloke
@Rudy_Manchego yeah that's an issue for me as well, it's good for MS but what about the developers
i don't see how they make money off this kind of thing, yeah MS will pay them some money bur surly that's no where near as much they would have got from the lost sales
Sony has become much more like Nintendo this gen in terms of how big and critically acclaimed their first-party content is. Giving away these games at launch would be stupid. Besides, if you wait a while, they drastically sink in price anyway.
I agree with this, if Xbox had the quality exclusives they wouldn't go onto Gamepass, you can't expect something like The Last of Us 2 on a subscription service day one. I have a pro with Now and an X with Gamepass and am mainly non-biased. The X is undoubtedly a better machine technically than the Pro but Playstation exclusives make it an easy win, you just can't beat them.
Good thing the article doesn't mention this year Sony duds like days gone, concrete genie and medievil. That would break the narrative. Oh and btw Gears 5 and Outer worlds have a higher meta than anything Sony released this year
He's absolutely right.
@SlimSladey That really depends on what you like.
Yes, most of Sony's first-party titles are single-player. But then, I've put far more time into re-playing games like the Uncharted's, The Last Of Us, Horizon, and Days Gone than I've ever invested in online play for any title.
Plus, of course, the majority of most-played online titles are actually third-party games available on all platforms, and not MS exclusives.
Different approaches will be best for different companies. Microsoft's approach seems to be doing fine for them, but it'll be better for Sony to continue doing it their way.
I still hope the Microsoft XBox model never comes to PlayStation! That model is for older titles, not only does it hurt profit for a current title. It will short the funding for future titles. I dont care how much money Microsoft has to throw at free games. If it continues and goes prolonged into the red XBox at some point will end! That's something else I never want to see. They both make each other better.
Despite being on Game Pass Forza Horizon 4 and Gears 5 sold really well on UK for example. Forza got Number 1 in there, and this counting only physical copies. Gears 5 likewise. Also, the outer worlds selling tons of copies in every platform.
@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy I agree 100%, I feel that since Steam sales and PS Plus IGC way back when that games have been devalued in the minds of some gamers. We feel that most games should be cheap and "smaller games" should be free. 🤷🏾♂️
@Rephlex is Outerworlds classed as a MS exclusive?
I love that since J Ryan took over theres much more transparency and competitive spirit.
@Ajhutchinson classed as a first party game, maybe not an exclusive though
Sooner or later this move which was created by a desperate Microsoft in need to gain the trust of costumers will only hurt the industry because no one will want to buy new games if they know that they will be added to Game Pass or PS Now making developers make mediocre games, just like they started the DLC and Micro transactions that now has became the norm, they always ruin everything
That's what I like to hear.
Forza wins best racing game year on year whether that's Horizon or Motorsport. Gears 5 has been incredibly well received critically and commercially too. Sony has a big advantage in users so games should sell in 'higher' numbers. Statistics still show that no matter how great these exclusives are, 90% of owners don't buy them anyway - at least if the sales figures of both games and consoles are any indication.
Microsoft set this precedent of giving their Exclusives away day 1 to subscribers of Game Pass which would be expected regardless of the next gen and lets not forget MS has acquired a lot of new studio's with deep pockets to give them time and support to realise their projects. Who knows if that will even up the balance that was one sided this generation??
Xbox though is NOT just the console. Xbox is Microsoft's gaming division which includes virtually every gaming PC and with their new streaming, you won't even need a device to run the games - just a controller and a screen. Xbox is not a 'Playstation' or 'Switch' - its Microsoft's entire gaming division and that includes PC which also has Xbox profiles - the same profile you use whether you play on PC, Console or any new method of playing 'Xbox' - like streaming to your Android phone with an Xbox controller plugged in - its ALL still Xbox. Whether that means you don't have to buy a console because you own a Microsoft powered PC with your own Xbox profile to play Xbox games with other Xbox users who may also be on PC, Console or streaming service or not, so be it. Its still 'Xbox' because Xbox isn't just the physical console....
Sony, it seems, will still require you to buy a Playstation console to play their exclusives. Nothing wrong with that - its been that way since they started. Whether or not they will have some form of 'virtual' console where you can play games streamed to some non-Sony device (Mobile/tablet etc), its 'expected' but nothing confirmed 100% yet but you will certainly need a Playstation account to play Playstation games. Whether they use PSNow or actual Playstation accounts so any game you buy 'digitally' will be able to be streamed, again we don't know but the difference between MS and both Sony and Nintendo is that MS are at the heart of more devices than just Consoles. Would anyone still have an issue if Microsoft Surface ran Xbox games as BOTH are built by Microsoft and BOTH have run Windows 10 OS (of some sort or another) and would it be fair for those that bought a Microsoft device to be excluded from Microsoft made/financed games?
Anyway, that's a bit off topic but the world isn't stuck in the 90's anymore where a device was locked to a specific disc/cartridge etc. Things are much more connected and now we even have cross-play so you buy the device you want - not the one you felt forced to buy to play with your friend(s) and play the same game you love with others who also love the same game regardless of their preferred choice. The next generation seem that you won't also be locked to playing your games at home on front of the TV either as you will be able to stream on the go...
Maybe they should judge it on a game to game basis? There would be zero benefit to something like God Of War or Uncharted being there day and date but Concrete Genie or Gravity Rush 2 why not
@SlimSladey Just saying as he was comparing the meta to Ps exclusives but that's on both platform's? 🤣, Not that meta's mean much to me personally 😎
I abandoned the Xbox consoles quite awhile ago and just use the Windows Store/Game Pass for PC. I don't regret this decision at all.
Best news i heard in a while.well since hermen became president.word up son
@GamingFan4Lyf What a utter nonsense proud to provide. If they dont what do they have left? They only promote their platform they dont care about gaming. Its all about the money and its a different company.
I agree. The only first party games from Microsoft I've liked this generation are Gears 4 and 5. And that's just because I love the gameplay of those games because they are unlike other third person shooters. However, everything else they've made pales in comparison to Sony's offerings.
@Flaming_Kaiser I don't think it's fair to say Microsoft doesn't care about gaming. I think, the company just has a different approach to gaming access in a way you don't agree with.
Sure, money is ultimately the bottom line for any company, but just because the company has taken a different approach to how it supplies the games on it's platforms, doesn't mean the company doesn't care.
Besides, it's not like Game Pass is the only way Microsoft provides it's games. It's merely an option.
Maybe things would have been different if Xbox One was leading this console generation in hardware sales, then again, maybe not - Microsoft is very much about consumption of it's services, so Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate might have been inevitable at some point.
@BAMozzy You know what i want a dedicated console. Singeplayer triple A games without massive monetization. Some multiplayer games and thirdparty support. It plays Netflix and some other streaming services brilliant.
@Flaming_Kaiser To be honest, I couldn't care less about the device or whether or not others get to play the same games I want to play on a different platform - all that matters to me is that I have the means to play ANY game I want to play in a way that's convenient for me. A PC doesn't suit my situation but a 'console' format does.
If I could buy just 1 device, regardless of the 'name' on that device, to play ANY and ALL games I want, I would be much happier. Whether those games are AAA Single-player or Multi-player - as long as its a game I want to play, I can play it. I don't want/need any Streaming functionality - I have a Smart TV that has apps for streaming as well as Sky TV.
I couldn't care less if the game is made by Microsoft, Sony or ANY third party studio's, if its a game I want to play, as long as I have a device that gives me the opportunity to play the games I want, then that's all that matters. I don't want games either with extra purchases necessary - regardless of who makes them and I won't buy them so all that matters is that I have the means to play the games I want. I am still going to have to buy a PS5 and the next Xbox because both of those are necessary for me to play the games that I want to play - even if both only have 1-2 Exclusives a year I want to play. This year for example, I have bought 1 exclusive on PS4 (Days Gone) and XB1 (Gears 5) - compared to around 12 games that are multi-platform. Regardless of who has the 'most' exclusives, the most exclusives that actually appeal to me or not, whilst there are 'exclusives' that I want to play, then I will need a compatible device to play them on.
A console makes most sense in my situation but IF I owned a Gaming PC, then I could make do without buying an Xbox and chances are, the PS would be for just the games that I can't get on PC. If I gamed on the go too, maybe the new Streaming options that both MS and Sony do or will offer will appeal too but as I only game on a TV in my front room, a 'Console' makes the most sense and despite the fact that I may only buy a few Exclusives a year, I need BOTH to be able to play EVERY game I want....
@BAMozzy 'IF I owned a Gaming PC, then I could make do without buying an Xbox and chances are, the PS would be for just the games that I can't get on PC.'
That's my current position and outlook, and is exactly what I do these days.
Sony exclusives have less and less appeal to me as each year passes. I think that I've bought all the Sony exclusives this gen (purely based on hype), i.e. God of War, Uncharted, Horizon etc. However, I haven't finished any of them. I probably played around an hour of each before I got bored and deleted them. I think that as I get older, I'm more constantly out of touch with the demographic age range which they're intended for.
@Stocksy erm what have you been smoking?
@Hengist personally I love a lot of the 'big' name Exclusives that are very western - games like Uncharted, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Infamous and even the reboot of God of War was a good game - I never enjoyed the older GoW games. I have finished all of those and all of those - apart from both Uncharted games, I have the Platinum trophy for. I am really looking forward to the Last of Us pt 2 and Ghost of Tsushima too.
I enjoyed a lot of exclusives over the years on both Sony and Microsoft platforms and can't see anything changing for next generation either. As such, it makes sense for me to buy both next gen consoles. Its nothing 'new' as I have owned at least 2 different platforms for over 25yrs so continuing to own at least 2 platforms looks like its going to be necessary for me to continue to enjoy ALL the games I want to play. I have no allegiance to any brand as I am much more interested in the games, not which platform I have to own to play them.
Bought Xbox Xbox game pass when gears 5 launched & I wasn't disappointed it was worth paying just for that but I also got the chance to play other games I've been wanting to try out so it's a great price for what you get in my opinion
Sony have got some amazing first party studios but in all honesty, the games I've enjoyed the most this generation have been multiplatform. That robot game with the flame haired bow wielder was a belter, though.
@SirRealDeal
The 720P resolution only applies to games that are streamed on PlayStation Now. All PS4 and PS2 games can be downloaded to the console and played in the full resolution as intended by the publisher up to 4K (if your TV supports it). The PS3 games can be streamed. A large majority of PS3 games were published in 720P. PlayStation Now is an excellent service that I’ve had zero issues with. For the price of one game, $59, you gain access to over 900 PlayStation games for one year. Many of which can be downloaded and played in 1080P - 4K resolution. Before slamming something, players should try the service first. A lot of people disparage games and services that they haven’t even experienced. I recommend completing the seven day trial first.
@BAMozzy Dont like the MS never will the worst things like microtransactions in triple A games, singeplayer hate, trying too buy their way into console gaming by buying out the competition, always online/DRM preaching, acting like the good guys all the time, making the multimedia stuff bigger then the games. I dont like their games. No they rub me the wrong way. Its a company i cant support.
@Flaming_Kaiser That's up to you, your opinion even if it has literally no fact in that at all and certainly not doing anything that Sony haven't done either..... Still its easy to be blinkered when you are so heavily biased to one side!!!
@Sensechat Forza Horizon 3 I spent a good year or 2 playing, I'm still playing FH4 with friends. Halo 5 multiplayer I still play alot, but starting to play MCC more these days. Sea of Thieves I dabble in now and then when me and my mates just want to mess around in a game, apparently there's 8m players still playing sea of Thieves too. Gears 4 multiplayer I played for a few months. Killer instinct I still play to this day. All this was long after I finished the campaigns.
On my PS4, the only games I really sank my teeth into was Persona 5, until dawn, GoW, and HZD. I'm pretty confident I played FH3 more than i played all them games combined.
I have a PS4 rather than an Xbox one because of the exclusives, although previously I've been an Xbox owner rather than playstation. Well I've had both but always preferred the Xbox controllers. For me it was midway through the 360 era Microsoft dropped the ball, they let go of exclusives and developers and focused too much on kinect hoping to beat Nintendo and the Wii. Yeah that went well.
Wonder why Sony doesn't jam the best they have to offer into some packaging in a desperate attempt at sales????
100+ million units world wide is their way of saying it's not necessary.
@BAMozzy 'I have no allegiance to any brand as I am much more interested in the games, not which platform I have to own to play them.'
I'm the same. I've always had a computer, since '81 and have bought both consoles. However, as I've mentioned previously, the need for me to own an MS console/annual subscription these days isn't that much of a priority, as most Xbox games can also be acquired on PC.
P.S. It was refreshing to read that section which I quoted you on.
@GamingFan4Lyf So you just made a point Microsoft doesnt care about the gamers? Or what do you want to say? I wont be picking up a Xbox for them helping the US goverment. 😉
@BAMozzy Not a fact i think all the points u gave are facts. DRM/always online they dropped it because off the backlash, did you see the first time they revealed the Xbox One, they did try too buy Nintendo trying too take over instead of innovation, they did introduce MT in the firstparty titles. Im sorry they are facts.
Xbox are doing all the right things at the moment. The pass is amazing value not just for first party games but look at all the other games that come onto it day one. You never get any newly released games on PS Now
Microsoft is doing the same thing they have done since day 1.
Using Windows/Office licensing money to subsidize every new product they care to make.
Only way Microsoft can afford to give PC game Pass for $1 during the Gears 5 launch. SONY does not have a never ending cash-cow.
@Flaming_Kaiser DRM isn't a 'bad thing' if people want to go the digital route. It was too early for people to appreciate but its still there in the background to a degree with BOTH consoles. If you buy Digital - you need to be online to check you have the right to play - whether that check is once a day or every time you try to play a digital title - its still there. Consoles are almost always connected to an internet - just not always with people with Subscriptions (PS+/Gold). DRM would let you sell your digital licence too. I can't say MS handled it well but its part of Digital gaming whether you want to believe it or not.
Offering to buy Nintendo is nothing untoward either - Sony only started because they fell out with Nintendo and went their own way. They have bought up competition - whether that's studio's or bought big stakes in publishers. You can view it as buying up competition or expanding their business. ALL businesses have done that and its the same with Car companies - Ferrari are owned by Fiat now and Lamborghini is owned by Audi. MS have either expanded what they have or have bought up companies in sectors that they want to have experienced people. Nokia for example. Sony have as well although they have sold off some areas - like Vaio for example.
Micro-transactions are also not JUST a Microsoft thing. Sony do it too although if you don't play Uncharted's MP for example then maybe you wouldn't have bought skins. Its part and parcel of gaming and you can choose to ignore the fact that Sony and Nintendo have also done or implement the things you are accusing MS of. MS are NOT 'perfect' but then neither are Sony or Nintendo either and all are businesses first and foremost.
Whether Sony would have implemented a similar DRM thing, had it planned but removed before launch etc we may never know for sure but with more and more moving towards a Digital gaming future, its going to be an important aspect. Whether its an online check to see if your profile has the Digital Right to play (which consoles DO employ) or give you the customer the opportunity to manage those rights - even sell/trade them. I don't know how long you can go without needing to connect to online to check if you have the right to play - not just games you bought but also 'free' games from PS+/Gold - you still need to be connected to online to verify your 'right' to play at some point. Always online is a bit much - I agree but I also see the fact that frequent checks are necessary to see if you do have the right to play, that your PS+/Gold Subscription is still active.
The point I was making is that there is no fact that MS are guilty or worse than any other and haven't done anything wrong that others haven't done to but also backtracked on DRM as it was initially planned - before Launch and offering to buy Nintendo isn't 'bad', it may of been 'bad' had it gone anywhere but could of been great to. You can't accuse MS of doing something that they ultimately didn't do for whatever reason and you certainly can't make out MS is 'worse' for doing the same things as other Publishers/Devs too - Sony have MT's inc a $100 avatar so its NOT just gaming either that they sell MT's!!!
@Flaming_Kaiser My point is Microsoft does care about gamers.
I could argue that Game Pass is an absolutely amazing thing for gamers, but it can really only exist because Microsoft makes a butt-ton of money in other avenues to be able to provide the service to the gamers.
The fact Microsoft is willing to lose sales on it's own titles to Game Pass subscriptions throws a huge bone to gamers, and, I think, shows great appreciation for gamers.
Also, the fact that Microsoft worked very hard to get Xbox and Xbox 360 backwards compatibility into the current systems AND into Scarlett shows that Microsoft really wants gamers to keep the games they already own and adore at no extra cost.
Oh, and any of the legacy games released during Games With Gold I get to keep for life rather than for the life of my membership. Speaking of which, Games With Gold still release 4 titles per month compared to Sony reducing theirs down to 2.
Let's also not forget that cloud storage for save files on Xbox One exists as part of your basic Xbox account and doesn't cost a dime, whereas both Sony and Nintendo require a paid account for cloud storage - and at least Nintendo's only costs $20/yr.
I don't want to get into a p***ing contest with you. I am merely pointing out some of the things Microsoft does for gamers you say it doesn't appreciate.
It's fine that you prefer PlayStation to Xbox - I get it. There is a lot to appreciate on Sony machines - especially it's exclusive lineup, which I love! However, I also like the Xbox exclusive titles (as little as they may be) and the Xbox One X is the closest thing to a gaming PC when it comes to multi-platform releases. The introduction of Game Pass has made my PS4 Pro an exclusives-only machine.
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