@Fizza I personally just want the Playstation to have a balanced game catalog.
I'd like to see RPGs/JRPGs... I'd like to see a more arcade-style racing game (like Motostorm). I'd like to see more games like Astro Bot... I don't want Playstation to completely abandon realistic games either...because that's also part of its identity.
@TrollOfWar The thing is, creating a studio from scratch these days is complex... the time it takes to create something. It might be cheaper, but at the same time it takes a long time and its success is uncertain. I feel that Playstation will have to invest in something already established and/or bet, for example, on the growth of Team Asobi (two teams, for example).
@INeedGoodGraphics So...they lowered the price of the PS5, I believe it was Nishino's decision.
The question is: How far will this desire to be relevant in Japan again go? Will they be willing to acquire Japanese studios/studios that make games for a Japanese audience?
In my mind, and this is just my opinion...considering that games are so expensive to make in the USA and that Playstation needs more games/studios...this investment makes sense.
If Sony wants to try to have a more significant presence in Japan...it will have to have exclusives that interest the Japanese.
Obviously, the future portable console is a good thing!! But it won't be enough when on the other side there's a console with exclusive Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon games.
They need to invest...and I'm not just talking about Japan. Steam and Nintendo, in the medium/long term, will become bigger threats to the Playstation.
@get2sammyb Do you think there could be more people excited for Microsoft's next-gen console than for the PS6? That would be very strange to me.
Why do you think they announced this now? Could the launch be closer than it seems? It seems crazy to launch a console that costs over $1000... but the gaming industry is so unpredictable that nothing surprises me anymore... imagine this console launching before the PS6 and being a success?
If Playstation wants to be an attractive platform for a new generation of gamers and get current gamers to transition to its latest console... IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT IT HAS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS!! It's an essential rule of marketing.
"Hulst has NEVER shown anything publicly let alone judging by his multiple closures or mismanaging the likes of Bluepoint into oblivion that he has a clue what Playstation gamers want. How he's remained is a mystery other than soo many suitable replacements have quit or been forced out there's noone left to step up other than another "suit"."
@get2sammyb Great opinion , I agree with everything.
Regarding Herman... as long as the finances are good, I don't know if there are reasons to fire him. Do I have to hope that Marathon is another failure for that to happen? ...
Then there's another question... can someone else really change this situation? Everything that's happening now must also come from orders from Totoki and investors...
At this moment, apart from Mark Cerny (who works on the hardware side), I see fewer and fewer people with charisma and who really understand their audience. Scott Rohde is perhaps the only person I can see that in... but I don't know if he's interested in leading and if Sony itself wants him.
But there's one thing I know... Sony is currently in a situation where it has to make very important decisions for its medium/long-term future (its studios, its communication, games as a service, single-player games, the PS6, making its platform attractive to new and current consumers). If things continue like this, and Playstation continues to distance itself further from its fanbase (which is VERY important and should not be undervalued!!! We may not be the majority of the 92 million, but we are important in convincing the masses and new generations that Playstation is a good platform), Playstation will begin to alienate these people, becoming less interesting, lacking charisma and personality.
People are going to start moving away from Playstation...
@PuppetMaster I think the same... despite being impressive, it leaves me with many doubts.
There are too many different elements... it seems like a mix of several very different things... is it possible to combine all this and make sense? Maybe... but at the moment, for me, it seems like the game lacks identity/personality.
@Haruki_NLI Physical versions outside and inside of Japan weren't in large quantities...they were limited because they included Magic: The Gathering cards as a bonus. And being at the top of the eShop might not be that relevant...I've seen many games in the PS Store bestsellers list where sales weren't anything special in the end...Rebirth itself, for example, was at the top of the PS Store for weeks before its release and didn't sell incredibly well.
However, I agree with you, they must have been good numbers...nothing extraordinary, but good.
But let's not forget one thing...Square is never satisfied with anything (old joke xD)
@johnedwin Many don't care about that...the 60 fps / 30 fps discussion isn't very relevant to the general public. As long as it's acceptable, that's what matters to them.
On one hand, I'm a little sad that this partnership with Sony isn't coming to an end...I think the third game (the final chapter; they could make bundles, packs with all 3 games) could still help Playstation sell a little more, especially in Japan...and if Sony wants to try to win over some more customers in Japan, this game would be a good help.
@johnedwin The issue isn't that... obviously the games will be released on PS5, but Playstation had those agreements for a reason.
Having FF7 as an exclusive served to compensate for the lack of (J)RPGs in its catalog because there isn't a single studio (inside playstation) that does that... and it forces the FF community and a significant portion of the Japanese audience to buy the PS5.
Now, with a Nintendo console having enough power to run the games with acceptable quality... this complicates things for Sony. Sony needs to take Nintendo seriously...
I'm interested to see how Playstation will handle this new reality... where it seems many publishers are no longer as interested in agreements.
@thechetearly The problem with Rebirth is that it's a game that leaves so many doubts and questions that many people can't even appreciate it anymore...
Yes, it's not the end of the story... but the mysteries and level of confusion at the end of the game surpass all limits... not to mention that players will only get answers years later... that is, if we even get answers to everything.
There are reviews where I completely agree with him...
But there are cases like Ghost of Yotei or Death Stranding 2 where I disagree with him quite vehemently... sometimes I even wonder if we play the same game.
And I even think he sometimes has a certain double standard...
But what confuses me most about Skillup is him always saying in his previews, "I paid my own bills, hotels, travel... I'm completely independent"...
What's the need for him to say that again and again? Does he want to show he's better than others? Is he insinuating that many of the previews are bought/commissioned and that he's a saint?
The truth is that there are more and more awards of the year as the years go by...
However, it's incredible. Congratulations to Exp 33.
But I confess I'm shocked not to see KCD2 and Blue Prince receiving more awards... All the narratives beyond the game itself have caused many people to almost not attach much importance to other games... I personally don't like it when that happens.
@darylb24 Sony having its own launcher? Maybe... but most people won't adopt it... Steam completely dominates. Epic offers games, and even that isn't convincing people to buy games from the Epic Store.
A home console and a portable console... and maybe bringing their streaming service to PC/TV. I think that's the way to go. And yes... exclusives will continue to be important, just look at Nintendo as proof.
Anyone who thinks exclusives don't matter should just look at the Nintendo Switch.
I stand by my controversial opinion: If Playstation wants to grow, combat stagnation, and attract new customers... for them, exclusivity will be important!! I understand multiplayer games and think they should be cross-platform, single-player games I think should almost all be exclusive.
It's basic!! If your ecosystem is mainly based on one console, you have to have games that don't exist anywhere else... Playstation needs to take the competition with Nintendo and Steam more seriously.
I remember the enthusiasm in 2016 for the PS4 and its exclusives... we already had a catalog with Bloodborne, Uncharted 4, etc... but we knew that in the future came God of War, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Horizon, FF7 Remake, Death Stranding, Spider-Man, Days Gone, and The Last of Us Part 2... that enthusiasm is lacking today.
@themightyant I'm not talking about investments on the level of Microsoft...obviously not.
I'm talking about something like what Sony did with Insomniac.
Most of those studios you mentioned are support/remake/port studios...and others are live services (which so far haven't been very successful). Ironically, the only successful live service game from Sony is from a studio that doesn't even belong to them.
I'm not devaluing that, but the truth is that from those acquisitions, Sony acquired few IPs. I think Sony needs one or two more established studios. Sony's own CEO admits that they lack IPs.
You realize that Sony is losing those exclusive temporary game/marketing deals it used to have with Square and Capcom. Games that weren't previously released on a Nintendo console will now be released...they are betting heavily on multiplatform. All of this, added to what I said earlier, makes me think that Sony needs to take action to think about the medium/long-term future.
Is it just me, or does Sony not invest as much in studios/IPs in the video game industry?
I don't know...although I'm not in favor of large acquisitions in this industry...I feel that Playstation needs to invest a little more!! increase and diversify its studios a bit more (FPS, RPG...) to also try to combat these 5/6 year developments that games take to make.
Okay, I understand... Kena crossed my mind, and I think it shouldn't have won either. However, I still think Expedition 33 is on another level in terms of budget and support because of the voice cast (better than most AAA games), the soundtrack (I think there were even live performances). I did a quick search and they say Kena cost 1 million to make and Expedition cost around 10 million or more... I don't know if those numbers are 100% accurate or not... but that doesn't really matter.
What matters is that neither should have won... this category should be for studios with few or no resources and very small teams. That's the magic of this category (in my opinion). If we continue as we are, this category ceases to make sense...
P.S.: I said 3D game because 3D games are a greater challenge.
Kepler, French Government, Microsoft (financial support)
A voicecast that puts many AAA games to shame
A game made in Unreal Engine 5
A game that immediately had physical and collector's editions at launch (a rare thing for an indie game)
30 hours of gameplay
3D Game
Over 400 people are credited in the game.
Tell me another indie game like this in the industry (honest question)
@Darylb88 I think what happened with Exp33 goes beyond the game itself: the narrative of "a game made by only 30 people," "turn-based games can be good," "Final Fantasy should be like this," "devs who came from Ubisoft where they didn't have the freedom to do something different," "low budget," "a lesson for the industry," etc., etc. I think all of this caused a "wave" on social media/content creators/media that meant almost all other games weren't considered for awards.
@TruestoryYep The journalists/content creators are from all over the world...my biggest problem is that many of them haven't even played all the games in a category when they go to vote...which to me doesn't make much sense, it's simply unfair. I'm sure many haven't played Kingdom Come or even DS2.
@Darylb88 Did you play Exp33? This isn't meant as a provocation, it's a genuine question... I always like to know if people have actually played games when they talk about them xD
@lazarus11 I agree...KCD2 is more RPG (much deeper and with more decisions) and should have won. However, the people who voted thought, "I'm going to put Exp33 for game of the year, obviously it has to be the best RPG too..."
Perhaps it's necessary to have a truly specialized jury...and to have tremendously well-defined criteria (studio budget, number of people)...the question is, I don't know if the studios would provide this information.
@themightyant I absolutely agree... the settings should be better.
For me, what should an indie game be? I think an indie game should be a game made by a very small team with few or no resources/support... that, for me, is the magic of being an indie game.
Managing to do something special with very little. That's what it's all about for me.
If I were to make a game now, I'd hardly be able to have a cast like Exp33 had. To be honest, it's a cast that many triple-A games don't even come close to. Using UE5, having a good compositor, etc., etc... that costs a lot of money.
And once again, I have nothing against Exp33 (maybe I gave that impression), I just want things to be done well... and the indie category deserves special care because these are games that need visibility to survive, many of them.
This studio had support from Kepler, the French Government, and Xbox (the game is on Game Pass).
The game has hundreds of people (around 400) who worked on it. The game has about 30 hours of gameplay, and very well-known voice actors...
Let's not kid ourselves... we all know that Expedition doesn't belong in that category. It's a great game, but let's not put it where it doesn't belong.
I know there's an "Exp33 wave"... which should be a lesson for the industry... and yes, the industry needs change... but it doesn't need to get to this point.
But you know... my problem is more about how these votes/nomination selections work.
I talked to people involved in indie gaming, did a lot of research... and came to the conclusion I already suspected. Exp33 is not an indie game. It's taking the place of games that desperately need recognition. Last year we had another big mistake... which was having a DLC nominated for game of the year.
We're in the 11th edition of this event... shouldn't there be a willingness to correct certain things? Shouldn't there be more rigor/criteria in these nominations? Shouldn't there be a guarantee that those who vote (the jury) should have played all the games in the category?
Congratulations to all the winners, especially EXP 33 obviously... however, I have something to say:
I confess I had some hope in the indie categories, and that the winners would be fair...but the people who decide the winners don't understand and have no clue about anything.
On a personal level, I want to congratulate DS2, Dispatch, and KCD2. I think they deserved something yesterday. The "wave/narrative" of EXP 33 was too strong...something that even surpasses the quality of the game itself. It even seems like it wants to send a message to the industry.
Geoff... let's go to edition 11...because there isn't:
A MORE RIGOROUS SELECTION OF NOMINEES/CATEGORIES?
A GUARANTEE THAT THOSE WHO ARE VOTING HAVE PLAYED ALL THE GAMES IN THE CATEGORIES?
IT IT ONLY IMPORTANT TO ANNOUNCE AT THE END, WITH A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT THE EVENT HAD MANY SPECTATORS ?
I know a lot of people are excited about the TGA... but I preferred the E3 announcements. Back then, it was guaranteed that everyone would show up and display their weapons, we had breaks between events, and we didn't have to put up with advertisements.
@get2sammyb You have a point, but...you know where I'm going with this conversation. We all know that Exp 33 shouldn't be in this category.
With all due respect...the "game made by 30 people" narrative kind of fried the brains of the people who voted.
Again...the quality of the game isn't in question!! What's at stake here is a game that should be occupying Exp 33's place and that desperately needed and deserved more visibility.
"...and Keighley curates free slots for what he personally wants to champion"
This might be a bit controversial... "If you're not close to Geoff, you have to pay."
......
"One source said that Sandfall Interactive, the team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, bought many more tickets (apparently $300 each at face value), in addition to the two complimentary ones, to ensure more of its team could attend"
I know my opinion is worthless, but I'll say it anyway:
It's 99% certain that Exp. 33 will win the GOTY category... my problem is that it will probably win categories it shouldn't (we all know Exp. 33 isn't an indie game, right?).
And winning certain categories proves that the selection/voting at this event should be more rigorous... something tells me that many people who voted haven't played KCD2, DS2, and Blueprince. Dispatch is another unfairly treated game and further proof that this event needs some changes to be taken more seriously.
Obviously, the TGA will never be perfect... but please !! 11th edition, Geoff!!! There are things that should and could be better.
Well, I know some will say it's the Playstation exclusives' fault, but I ask:
Where is Kingdom Hearts 4?
Where is Dragon Quest XII?
Where is the FFIX remake?
Where is the Chrono Trigger port/remaster?
...
There's clearly a management problem and also an identity problem... Square tries to please everyone, but someone needs to tell them that a game for everyone is a game for no one.
Comments 84
Re: Sony Decides VTubers May Be the Best Way to Save PS5 in Japan
@Fizza I personally just want the Playstation to have a balanced game catalog.
I'd like to see RPGs/JRPGs...
I'd like to see a more arcade-style racing game (like Motostorm).
I'd like to see more games like Astro Bot...
I don't want Playstation to completely abandon realistic games either...because that's also part of its identity.
Re: Sony Decides VTubers May Be the Best Way to Save PS5 in Japan
@TrollOfWar The thing is, creating a studio from scratch these days is complex... the time it takes to create something. It might be cheaper, but at the same time it takes a long time and its success is uncertain. I feel that Playstation will have to invest in something already established and/or bet, for example, on the growth of Team Asobi (two teams, for example).
Re: Sony Decides VTubers May Be the Best Way to Save PS5 in Japan
@INeedGoodGraphics So...they lowered the price of the PS5, I believe it was Nishino's decision.
The question is: How far will this desire to be relevant in Japan again go? Will they be willing to acquire Japanese studios/studios that make games for a Japanese audience?
In my mind, and this is just my opinion...considering that games are so expensive to make in the USA and that Playstation needs more games/studios...this investment makes sense.
Re: Sony Decides VTubers May Be the Best Way to Save PS5 in Japan
If Sony wants to try to have a more significant presence in Japan...it will have to have exclusives that interest the Japanese.
Obviously, the future portable console is a good thing!! But it won't be enough when on the other side there's a console with exclusive Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon games.
They need to invest...and I'm not just talking about Japan. Steam and Nintendo, in the medium/long term, will become bigger threats to the Playstation.
Re: Rumour: PS Plus Extra Tipped to Add Two Giant PS5 Games This Month
I doubt FFXVI will be one of the new releases... Square Enix hates Playstation now xD
Re: PS6 Competitor from Xbox Revealed as Project Helix
@get2sammyb Do you think there could be more people excited for Microsoft's next-gen console than for the PS6? That would be very strange to me.
Why do you think they announced this now? Could the launch be closer than it seems? It seems crazy to launch a console that costs over $1000... but the gaming industry is so unpredictable that nothing surprises me anymore... imagine this console launching before the PS6 and being a success?
Re: PS6 Competitor from Xbox Revealed as Project Helix
Well, if there were already few people buying the Series S and X consoles... with this announcement, interest will be even lower.
But the question is... why now? Could the console arrive sooner than expected?
Re: PS6 Competitor from Xbox Revealed as Project Helix
Xbox Series X was also a leader in performance...
Re: Stellar Blade Will Seemingly Be the Next PS5 Exclusive to Come to Rival Consoles
If Playstation wants to be an attractive platform for a new generation of gamers and get current gamers to transition to its latest console... IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT IT HAS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS!! It's an essential rule of marketing.
Re: Opinion: Sony's Disgraceful Bluepoint Closure Should Concern Every PS Studios Fan
"Hulst has NEVER shown anything publicly let alone judging by his multiple closures or mismanaging the likes of Bluepoint into oblivion that he has a clue what Playstation gamers want. How he's remained is a mystery other than soo many suitable replacements have quit or been forced out there's noone left to step up other than another "suit"."
^^^^THIS ^^^^
Re: Opinion: Sony's Disgraceful Bluepoint Closure Should Concern Every PS Studios Fan
@get2sammyb Great opinion , I agree with everything.
Regarding Herman... as long as the finances are good, I don't know if there are reasons to fire him. Do I have to hope that Marathon is another failure for that to happen? ...
Then there's another question... can someone else really change this situation? Everything that's happening now must also come from orders from Totoki and investors...
At this moment, apart from Mark Cerny (who works on the hardware side), I see fewer and fewer people with charisma and who really understand their audience. Scott Rohde is perhaps the only person I can see that in... but I don't know if he's interested in leading and if Sony itself wants him.
But there's one thing I know... Sony is currently in a situation where it has to make very important decisions for its medium/long-term future (its studios, its communication, games as a service, single-player games, the PS6, making its platform attractive to new and current consumers). If things continue like this, and Playstation continues to distance itself further from its fanbase (which is VERY important and should not be undervalued!!! We may not be the majority of the 92 million, but we are important in convincing the masses and new generations that Playstation is a good platform), Playstation will begin to alienate these people, becoming less interesting, lacking charisma and personality.
People are going to start moving away from Playstation...
Re: Sony Makes Shocking Decision to Shut Down Bluepoint Games
I don't even know what to say...
Haven Studios, Media Molecule, Bend Studio... I never thought Bluepoint would be next.
Re: What Time Is PlayStation's State of Play for February 2026?
I'm going to make a prediction... actually, it's a certainty:
We'll have a God of War Metroidvania shadowdrop... and some people will be upset because of the art style and because it's multiplatform.
Re: Sony Finally Confirms Horizon Co-Op Game, Horizon Hunters Gathering for PS5, PC
It's impossible to guess anymore when Playstation will announce something...
I liked the game's visuals.
Re: If Crimson Desert Wasn't Ambitious Enough, It Also Has a Mech and Two More Playable Characters
@PuppetMaster I think the same... despite being impressive, it leaves me with many doubts.
There are too many different elements... it seems like a mix of several very different things... is it possible to combine all this and make sense? Maybe... but at the moment, for me, it seems like the game lacks identity/personality.
Re: Rumour: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Skips PS5 Exclusivity, Will Be Multi-Platform Straight Away
@Haruki_NLI Physical versions outside and inside of Japan weren't in large quantities...they were limited because they included Magic: The Gathering cards as a bonus. And being at the top of the eShop might not be that relevant...I've seen many games in the PS Store bestsellers list where sales weren't anything special in the end...Rebirth itself, for example, was at the top of the PS Store for weeks before its release and didn't sell incredibly well.
However, I agree with you, they must have been good numbers...nothing extraordinary, but good.
But let's not forget one thing...Square is never satisfied with anything (old joke xD)
Re: Rumour: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Skips PS5 Exclusivity, Will Be Multi-Platform Straight Away
@Fishmasterflex96 That's not the problem... I mentioned this in other comment. You can read it if you want.
Re: Rumour: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Skips PS5 Exclusivity, Will Be Multi-Platform Straight Away
@johnedwin Many don't care about that...the 60 fps / 30 fps discussion isn't very relevant to the general public. As long as it's acceptable, that's what matters to them.
On one hand, I'm a little sad that this partnership with Sony isn't coming to an end...I think the third game (the final chapter; they could make bundles, packs with all 3 games) could still help Playstation sell a little more, especially in Japan...and if Sony wants to try to win over some more customers in Japan, this game would be a good help.
Re: Rumour: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Skips PS5 Exclusivity, Will Be Multi-Platform Straight Away
@johnedwin The issue isn't that... obviously the games will be released on PS5, but Playstation had those agreements for a reason.
Having FF7 as an exclusive served to compensate for the lack of (J)RPGs in its catalog because there isn't a single studio (inside playstation) that does that... and it forces the FF community and a significant portion of the Japanese audience to buy the PS5.
Now, with a Nintendo console having enough power to run the games with acceptable quality... this complicates things for Sony. Sony needs to take Nintendo seriously...
I'm interested to see how Playstation will handle this new reality... where it seems many publishers are no longer as interested in agreements.
Re: Rumour: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Skips PS5 Exclusivity, Will Be Multi-Platform Straight Away
@thechetearly The problem with Rebirth is that it's a game that leaves so many doubts and questions that many people can't even appreciate it anymore...
Yes, it's not the end of the story... but the mysteries and level of confusion at the end of the game surpass all limits... not to mention that players will only get answers years later... that is, if we even get answers to everything.
Re: Rumour: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Skips PS5 Exclusivity, Will Be Multi-Platform Straight Away
There's one thing I'll say...
Playstation is losing as many exclusive marketing deals (Capcom) as timed exclusive games (Square)...
This doesn't bode well for the future...
Re: Rumour: PS Portal OLED Version Coming This Year
If the improvement is only in OLED, it doesn't make sense to me.
If it has better remote play technology to improve streaming, technology to improve input lag, Bluetooth... if it has that, maybe it makes sense.
Just the screen, I don't think it makes sense.
Re: Larian CEO Swen Vincke Sticks His Foot in It Again, Thinks Game Reviewers Should Also Be Reviewed
@add286
Skillup is a funny case.
There are reviews where I completely agree with him...
But there are cases like Ghost of Yotei or Death Stranding 2 where I disagree with him quite vehemently... sometimes I even wonder if we play the same game.
And I even think he sometimes has a certain double standard...
But what confuses me most about Skillup is him always saying in his previews, "I paid my own bills, hotels, travel... I'm completely independent"...
What's the need for him to say that again and again? Does he want to show he's better than others? Is he insinuating that many of the previews are bought/commissioned and that he's a saint?
Re: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Now Has the Most Game of the Year Awards Ever
@themaladroit What didn't you like about Exp 33? just my curiosity
Re: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Now Has the Most Game of the Year Awards Ever
The truth is that there are more and more awards of the year as the years go by...
However, it's incredible. Congratulations to Exp 33.
But I confess I'm shocked not to see KCD2 and Blue Prince receiving more awards... All the narratives beyond the game itself have caused many people to almost not attach much importance to other games... I personally don't like it when that happens.
Re: Xbox Sales Hit New Low in UK, Barely Competes with PS5 at This Point
@darylb24 Sony having its own launcher? Maybe... but most people won't adopt it... Steam completely dominates. Epic offers games, and even that isn't convincing people to buy games from the Epic Store.
A home console and a portable console... and maybe bringing their streaming service to PC/TV. I think that's the way to go. And yes... exclusives will continue to be important, just look at Nintendo as proof.
Re: Xbox Sales Hit New Low in UK, Barely Competes with PS5 at This Point
@RoomWithaMoose That's exactly it!!! If the Playstation doesn't take Nintendo seriously, it's going to have big problems...
Re: Xbox Sales Hit New Low in UK, Barely Competes with PS5 at This Point
Well, I sincerely regret the fact that Xbox consoles are dying out... but don't think that Playstation is without competition.
Playstation's competition is Nintendo and Steam. If Playstation doesn't see both as competitors, it will have problems in the medium term.
Re: Ex-PlayStation Boss Believes Exclusives Make Consoles 'Sing'
Anyone who thinks exclusives don't matter should just look at the Nintendo Switch.
I stand by my controversial opinion: If Playstation wants to grow, combat stagnation, and attract new customers... for them, exclusivity will be important!! I understand multiplayer games and think they should be cross-platform, single-player games I think should almost all be exclusive.
It's basic!! If your ecosystem is mainly based on one console, you have to have games that don't exist anywhere else... Playstation needs to take the competition with Nintendo and Steam more seriously.
I remember the enthusiasm in 2016 for the PS4 and its exclusives... we already had a catalog with Bloodborne, Uncharted 4, etc... but we knew that in the future came God of War, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Horizon, FF7 Remake, Death Stranding, Spider-Man, Days Gone, and The Last of Us Part 2... that enthusiasm is lacking today.
Re: Sony Is Buying Snoopy for $457 Million in Surprise Acquisition
@themightyant I'm not talking about investments on the level of Microsoft...obviously not.
I'm talking about something like what Sony did with Insomniac.
Most of those studios you mentioned are support/remake/port studios...and others are live services (which so far haven't been very successful). Ironically, the only successful live service game from Sony is from a studio that doesn't even belong to them.
I'm not devaluing that, but the truth is that from those acquisitions, Sony acquired few IPs. I think Sony needs one or two more established studios. Sony's own CEO admits that they lack IPs.
You realize that Sony is losing those exclusive temporary game/marketing deals it used to have with Square and Capcom. Games that weren't previously released on a Nintendo console will now be released...they are betting heavily on multiplatform. All of this, added to what I said earlier, makes me think that Sony needs to take action to think about the medium/long-term future.
Re: Sony Is Buying Snoopy for $457 Million in Surprise Acquisition
Is it just me, or does Sony not invest as much in studios/IPs in the video game industry?
I don't know...although I'm not in favor of large acquisitions in this industry...I feel that Playstation needs to invest a little more!! increase and diversify its studios a bit more (FPS, RPG...) to also try to combat these 5/6 year developments that games take to make.
Re: Sony Signs Award-Winning Korean Girl Group QWER to Promote PS5 This Christmas
@get2sammyb These are the kinds of news stories that make me come here to the website.
Re: Expedition 33 Breaks the Game Awards Record for Most Gongs in a Single Show
@Korgon
Okay, I understand... Kena crossed my mind, and I think it shouldn't have won either. However, I still think Expedition 33 is on another level in terms of budget and support because of the voice cast (better than most AAA games), the soundtrack (I think there were even live performances). I did a quick search and they say Kena cost 1 million to make and Expedition cost around 10 million or more... I don't know if those numbers are 100% accurate or not... but that doesn't really matter.
What matters is that neither should have won... this category should be for studios with few or no resources and very small teams. That's the magic of this category (in my opinion). If we continue as we are, this category ceases to make sense...
P.S.: I said 3D game because 3D games are a greater challenge.
Re: Expedition 33 Breaks the Game Awards Record for Most Gongs in a Single Show
@Korgon
Kepler, French Government, Microsoft (financial support)
A voicecast that puts many AAA games to shame
A game made in Unreal Engine 5
A game that immediately had physical and collector's editions at launch (a rare thing for an indie game)
30 hours of gameplay
3D Game
Over 400 people are credited in the game.
Tell me another indie game like this in the industry (honest question)
Re: Expedition 33 Breaks the Game Awards Record for Most Gongs in a Single Show
I had the opportunity to talk to people who work in the "indie scene"... and they all told me the same thing:
"This isn't an indie game."
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@Darylb88 I think what happened with Exp33 goes beyond the game itself: the narrative of "a game made by only 30 people," "turn-based games can be good," "Final Fantasy should be like this," "devs who came from Ubisoft where they didn't have the freedom to do something different," "low budget," "a lesson for the industry," etc., etc. I think all of this caused a "wave" on social media/content creators/media that meant almost all other games weren't considered for awards.
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@TruestoryYep The journalists/content creators are from all over the world...my biggest problem is that many of them haven't even played all the games in a category when they go to vote...which to me doesn't make much sense, it's simply unfair. I'm sure many haven't played Kingdom Come or even DS2.
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@Darylb88 Did you play Exp33? This isn't meant as a provocation, it's a genuine question... I always like to know if people have actually played games when they talk about them xD
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@lazarus11 I agree...KCD2 is more RPG (much deeper and with more decisions) and should have won. However, the people who voted thought, "I'm going to put Exp33 for game of the year, obviously it has to be the best RPG too..."
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@themightyant
Perhaps it's necessary to have a truly specialized jury...and to have tremendously well-defined criteria (studio budget, number of people)...the question is, I don't know if the studios would provide this information.
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@themightyant I absolutely agree... the settings should be better.
For me, what should an indie game be? I think an indie game should be a game made by a very small team with few or no resources/support... that, for me, is the magic of being an indie game.
Managing to do something special with very little. That's what it's all about for me.
If I were to make a game now, I'd hardly be able to have a cast like Exp33 had. To be honest, it's a cast that many triple-A games don't even come close to. Using UE5, having a good compositor, etc., etc... that costs a lot of money.
And once again, I have nothing against Exp33 (maybe I gave that impression), I just want things to be done well... and the indie category deserves special care because these are games that need visibility to survive, many of them.
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@themightyant Come on, man...
This studio had support from Kepler, the French Government, and Xbox (the game is on Game Pass).
The game has hundreds of people (around 400) who worked on it. The game has about 30 hours of gameplay, and very well-known voice actors...
Let's not kid ourselves... we all know that Expedition doesn't belong in that category. It's a great game, but let's not put it where it doesn't belong.
I know there's an "Exp33 wave"... which should be a lesson for the industry... and yes, the industry needs change... but it doesn't need to get to this point.
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
@themightyant That's a good message!!
But you know... my problem is more about how these votes/nomination selections work.
I talked to people involved in indie gaming, did a lot of research... and came to the conclusion I already suspected. Exp33 is not an indie game. It's taking the place of games that desperately need recognition. Last year we had another big mistake... which was having a DLC nominated for game of the year.
We're in the 11th edition of this event... shouldn't there be a willingness to correct certain things? Shouldn't there be more rigor/criteria in these nominations? Shouldn't there be a guarantee that those who vote (the jury) should have played all the games in the category?
That's my problem...
Re: All The Game Awards 2025 Winners
Let's be honest...nobody's surprised, right?
Congratulations to all the winners, especially EXP 33 obviously... however, I have something to say:
I confess I had some hope in the indie categories, and that the winners would be fair...but the people who decide the winners don't understand and have no clue about anything.
On a personal level, I want to congratulate DS2, Dispatch, and KCD2. I think they deserved something yesterday. The "wave/narrative" of EXP 33 was too strong...something that even surpasses the quality of the game itself. It even seems like it wants to send a message to the industry.
Geoff... let's go to edition 11...because there isn't:
Re: Want a Three Minute Slot During The Game Awards? That'll Be $1 Million, Please
I know a lot of people are excited about the TGA... but I preferred the E3 announcements. Back then, it was guaranteed that everyone would show up and display their weapons, we had breaks between events, and we didn't have to put up with advertisements.
Re: Want a Three Minute Slot During The Game Awards? That'll Be $1 Million, Please
@get2sammyb You have a point, but...you know where I'm going with this conversation. We all know that Exp 33 shouldn't be in this category.
With all due respect...the "game made by 30 people" narrative kind of fried the brains of the people who voted.
Again...the quality of the game isn't in question!! What's at stake here is a game that should be occupying Exp 33's place and that desperately needed and deserved more visibility.
Re: Want a Three Minute Slot During The Game Awards? That'll Be $1 Million, Please
"...and Keighley curates free slots for what he personally wants to champion"
This might be a bit controversial... "If you're not close to Geoff, you have to pay."
......
"One source said that Sandfall Interactive, the team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, bought many more tickets (apparently $300 each at face value), in addition to the two complimentary ones, to ensure more of its team could attend"
Any indie game would do that...right? ...right ?
Re: Feature: Predict The Game Awards 2025 with Our 20 Question Quiz
It's 99% certain that Exp. 33 will win the GOTY category... my problem is that it will probably win categories it shouldn't (we all know Exp. 33 isn't an indie game, right?).
And winning certain categories proves that the selection/voting at this event should be more rigorous... something tells me that many people who voted haven't played KCD2, DS2, and Blueprince. Dispatch is another unfairly treated game and further proof that this event needs some changes to be taken more seriously.
Re: Key Square Enix Shareholder Publicly Criticises Weak Game Sales, Company Management
Well, I know some will say it's the Playstation exclusives' fault, but I ask:
Where is Kingdom Hearts 4?
Where is Dragon Quest XII?
Where is the FFIX remake?
Where is the Chrono Trigger port/remaster?
...
There's clearly a management problem and also an identity problem... Square tries to please everyone, but someone needs to tell them that a game for everyone is a game for no one.
Re: Geoff Keighley's Cryptic Game Awards Teaser Reportedly Not Related to Diablo 4 After All
maybe Saros ?It reminds me of some things from the last trailer.