I do not believe this is legal in europe so i don't expect it to be on here, ...
There have been some "just for you" discounts on the Xbox store also in Europe. So either Microsoft is breaking the EU law or it's actually legal. In case of the Xbox store such discounts are clearly labeled with a "just for you" tag.
If they stop selling games on Steam and only having them on their launcher it would be an a-hole move for PC players but I can totally see it coming, because that way they’ll be able to keep 100% of the sale (same as the PS Store), collect all the data they want and most importantly, restrict the devices that can install that launcher as a move to keep PS games off the next Xbox.
But why would they want to restrict the PC launcher on the next Xbox, if it will be a Windows PC with an Xbox branding? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a having a PC launcher if you restrict on which PCs it runs? Should Sony restrict the launcher on all Windows-based PC gaming handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go and MSI claw when they run Windows in the full-screen Xbox mode? They would earn 100% for all 1st party and 30% for all 3rd party games, content and micro-transactions via that store/launcher.
Just an observation here, but it's funny that some users on here always complaning "why do PS keep making articles about Xbox?" obviously for the people who read understand why, but here we have an article purely about Playstation and yet xbox is getting mentioned more often then not...... like I said it's just a funny observation.
It's because people are still stuck in the "PlayStation vs. Xbox console wars" mentality. Whatever the hell Microsoft/Xbox are doing and however the rest of the industry is adapting is at odds with the traditional console business strategies of the past 30 years. Some people don't want to accept any changes. 🙂
Surely this is a response to the next Xbox being able to play steam games, and therefore Sony games? If Sony launch their own PC launcher, and make that the only way to play PS games on PC (no longer releasing on steam) then the next Xbox 'console' players will no longer be able to access PS games via PC stores?
I don't see how Sony could launch a PC store/launcher which they would block on Windows PC's with an Xbox branding, unless they would restrict their PC launcher to Linux OS.
Also, if Sony releases a PC launcher, why should they block it on an Xbox-branded gaming PC? It's a PC, so blocking the access to the launcher would defeat the point of releasing it on PC. Would they block it also on other devices like the Asus Xbox Rog Ally, Lenovo Legion Go and MSI Claw handhelds if they run Windows in the new "Xbox full screen mode"?
Hypothetical question: If Sony could release a storefront on Xbox Series consoles, where they earn 100% from all transactions via that storefront, do you think they would do it or not?
I think it could be used to indicate games which can be cross-bought for PS5 and PS6
. Was there anything like that between PS4 and PS5? As far as I remember all PS4 games worked fine on PS5, but some had an optional $10 upgrade path. If the "cross-buy" label is only for PS5 & PS6, then it seems that the next cross-generation phase will be longer than the last one.
Is PlayStation going multiplatform? A PC store/launcher might be good if Sony doesn't want Steam and Epic Games Store to get 12-30% per sold game, and PC players who buy their games on the PlayStation store would require a PSN account. Such a store might also be available on whatever Microsoft Xbox is creating next.
But of course it would reduce the appeal for PlayStation consoles, as PlayStation games would be available on other devices.
I bet Sony has several business and data analysts who crunched the numbers, to get to a decision.
If the next "Xbox" is a PC and you can buy games from Steam, Epic Games and GOG, then there won't be a point in charging for online play.
Hmm... Going with rumors from previous days about the expected price difference between PS6 and Xbox Next, if you don't have to pay for online then you would even that price difference in 4-5 years.
Maybe Sony could take a lesson from Microsoft and re-release some of those old games like Killzone or Resistance remastered as multi-platfom releases including PC, Switch 2 and Xbox. It worked well for Gears of War: Reloaded. 😏
@daveofduncan Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer already admitted that they lost the console wars 2 years ago. I am not sure what more you want them to say about it? 😄
It's a predictably unconvincing, empty, nothing answer. This is surely profit/cost motivated - why add more if it de-incentivises further purchases down the road.
The thing is, Halo Infinite's multiplayer was free-to-play, so if a new multiplayer release follows the same approach, it won't be about "incentivising further purchases down the road". The problem Infinite's multiplayer had was the lack of new content after the release. Halo Studios only recently shifted to Unreal Engine 5, they need to create a new multiplayer framework and probably Forge Mode which allows for community created maps and modes. This Halo 1 remake is a quick sure-bet financial profit for the studio.
Back when they did MCC, I was amazed that every single game had it's multiplayer in tact.
For the Halo MCC the developers only had to update the visuals of Halo 2, all the other games basically had the same visual assets. Unfortunately on launch that ambitions multiplayer offer was a disaster and it took several months for the developers to fix all the issues. I guess that's one of the reasons why Halo Studios is now more cautious with their multiplayer releases.
@Rich33 Unfortunately these large corporations make decisions based on data. ABK was very profitable at the time, plus Microsoft/Xbox were looking for live-service games (COD, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, Candy Crush Saga) and success in mobile gaming.
It's not much different from Sony/PlayStation's way of thinking that they cand release 12 live service games over the span of 5-6 years with the help of Bungie.
Im referencing the recent info about how much COD, day1 on GP has cost them
That big headline of "COD losing $300m as a result of being on GamePass" isn't quite that simple. Circana analyst Matt Piscatella shared some aspects that last year's COD sold "extremely well" and "the network effect of it on Game Pass resulted in stronger engagement, and perhaps even better sales, on PS5 and PC because of it". So yes, it sold less on Xbox but the game being on GamePass resulted in more engagement (and probably revenue) via all platforms.
@Rich33 That is a good question. It's worth noting, the acquisition started on the tail-end of the COVID pandemic and the gaming industry was still making decisions based on the rapid growth seen during that period. Xbox consoles were sold out everywhere and people were buying games and subscribing to GamePass. At that point a 30% profit margin might have looked reasonable based on the growth seen in 2020 - 2022.
@themightyant I am aware of those facts. My comment was more of sarcastic remark, as this ABK acquisition evovled differently than what most of us excepted.
@OldGamer999 It probably will affect the "quality" of their games. I think they will invest in more safe-bet genres and franchises rather than something new and creative.
Xbox as a division part of a trillionaire company called Microsoft made a really bad decision buying out huge studios and those studios have/had great IPs.
The funny thing is, Xbox wasn't the one who decided to buy Activision-Blizzard-King, it was actually Microsoft. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick were in contact about TikTok, when Satya Nadella proposed the acquisition to Bobby Kotick.
@Lowdefal You are right, it is a long running series. But personally I think the technological innovations of how the 2 recent games are streaming content from the internet are very exciting. It's basically, that marketing slogan "the power of the cloud" now made true for these games.
Without exclusivity (which of course does have its problems too, as you rightly point out), the risk is that gaming becomes bland - with a lot less innovation and creativity as a result.
I would say that AAA exclusives by 1st party studios are often some of the least innovative games, as they are often (with a few exceptions) just safe-bet sequels. In that sense I believe Xbox has actually done a better job with more creative, innovative games (like Sea of Thieves, Flight Simulator, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Grounded, Minecraft Legends, As Dusk Falls), but the problem is innovation is risky and it doesn't always land well with the audience. I trust indie developers to offer more meaningdul innovation.
They have been saying it for a while, but they it didn't stop them releasing exclusives during that time which makes their words a bit hollow. Not to mention those exclusives where from studios they own, so they could have easily backed up their beliefs if they really felt that way.
I think the reason we've been seeing some exclusivity on Xbox is because they're still in the process of shifting from platform exclusivity to multi-platform releases.
Microsoft (the corporate) doesn't like exclusivity anymore. Ever since Satya Nadella took over the CEO role at Microsoft in 2014, he has emphasized working together with companies and technologies which Microsoft competes with, like Apple, Salesforce, IBM, and even Sony. They embraced Linux and made Microsoft products like Office, Teams, Edge, Azure available for platforms.
Xbox (sub-division of Microsoft) is still stuck in the video game console business and exclusivity used to be what got people into the console ecosystem. So some projects or even 3rd party contracts might be active based on that business strategy.
But after the ABK acquisition, Microsoft took over the control of Xbox and now they are dictating the business strategy for Xbox. It just takes years to shift.
Personally I see no issue with the exclusives, Whilst it would be nice to play everything everywhere, I don't think it would be great for business. Exclusives are a tool to seperate your product from the competition. Would Switch have been as popular if they had released all their titles to the more powerful PS / Xbox day 1? Something tells me it would have hurt sales.
My point of view comes from a consumer's perspective, so I appreciate what is best for the consumer, not the corporations. Exclusive games might help companies to hold their market position, but it also prevents other hardware manufacturers to enter the console market, as they don't have the means to develop their own exclusive games nor the connection and supply by 3rd party publishers. Having more hardware choice would actually be great, especially if that would result in more competitive console prices and innovative hardware, do you agree?
Nintendo Switch was a big success, because it's a portable home console at a reasonable price. Same as the Wii was successful thanks to it's innovative motion controls. The Wii U had many of those highly praised "Nintendo exclusives" which were later ported to the Switch, yet it sold less then the Xbox Series consoles.
I think exclusive hardware or platform features should be driving the gaming hardware business, not exclusive games and content.
Technically console exclusive games aren't needed since PS4 and XB One, as they have basically the same hardware architecture. And with the rising costs of game development, it makes sense to release games on as many platforms as possible.
But I guess some people need their exclusives to justify the viability of buying a certain console or because they like one brand more than the other.
My guess is the PS6 will cost more like $ 700 - $ 900 (without a disc drive). If the PS5 Pro is still $ 700+ and there is no sign of the price going down then I don't see a PS6, with a much more capable hardware, being sold for less, unless Sony is willing to eat up a loss if they go with a lower price (which would only make sense if Xbox were still competing in the console race).
@UltimateOtaku91 Well, it's a portable gaming PC, which isn't locked into an ecosystem, isn't subsidized, can play games from multiple storefronts from the past 40+ years of PC gaming, most of the games being sold for less than what they cost on console digital storefronts and doesn't require a subscription to play online.
I also think the entry price is quite high for a gaming device, but it's technically a fair price given the tech inside.
@Futureshark I believe physical media in general will have a more difficult time if game sizes are growing beyond 150 GB in the future.
The Oblivion Remastered's install size is between 119 and 125 GB on all platforms, so you would require at least 2 ultra HD blu ray discs with a 100 GB capacity. Ultra HD blu ray discs are way more expensive than regular blu ray discs and they also require special covers to accommodate the 2 discs. The game would need 5 standard 25GB blu ray discs or 3 double-layer 50GB blu-ray discs.
The only 2 games released on 2 ultra HD blu ray discs are Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I assume in both cases Sony was involved, as they are part of the Blu Ray Disc Association and they are manufacturers of the discs, so they might get different conditions/prices than a third party like Microsoft. Not to mention games, which still need a day 1 patch to work as intended.
The only point for physical media in those cases is for collectors to have "something physical" and the ability to share or trade the games.
No-one can trust a word they say, and the bare minimum to even making people think Xbox is trustworthy as a brand again is immediate firing of Spencer, Booty and Bond as a team, issuing an apology and hiring someone with the respect level of a Shawn Layden who can actually fix the problems, and quickly.
Do you believe it will become better if/when Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty are removed from Xbox? I expected their removal to result in less communication from the Xbox team in general (though that might end the confusing and contradicting messages).
Ever since Microsoft acquired Activision-Blizzard-King, the corporate executives (Satya Nadella and Amy Hood) took control over the gaming division. Whatever Spencer, Bond and Booty say doesn't matter, when the higher level has different plans.
... too be fair xbox players did have the best deal in gaming history.
I wonder if it's still a fair thing to categorize people as "PlayStation players" and "Xbox players". I bet if the GamePass subscription at the old price range had been on PlayStation, "PlayStation players" would have taken advantage of GamePass just as much as "Xbox players" did. "Being subscriped to GamePass because it's a good deal" is not a differentiating trait of behavior for the Xbox player base.
There are probably many "Xbox & PS/Switch players" who own both systems, who used GamePass to try games out and then would go on to buy the game on PS or Switch.
In the end "Xbox players" aren't much different from "PlayStation players". They all like good games and most of them play Fortnite, Call of Duty, Roblox, Minecraft, GTA 5, EA Sports FC and Helldivers 2.
@Anthony_Daniels As games take several years to develop, usually these exclusivity deals are signed years in advance. Microsoft kind of started their multiplatform releases on PS5 and Nintendo in 2024, so I think there are still some exclusive games which will come. But going forward, new deals would be pointless (and expensive), unless Sony feels the need to sign some exclusivity deal for the launch of the PS6 to make it more attractive for gamers.
This is a good thing, right? PlayStation has finally won the console race! Where's our reward? All games for PlayStation, no more games for Xbox players.
We can all celebrate now by buying a PS5 Pro, a disc drive, a PS5 Pro stand and an DualSense Edgy controller. 😁 /s
You're correct, that does sound like the Square Enix president is blaming PS5 for FF16 underperforming.
SE received a lot of money from Sony in exchange for exclusivity with Sony also helped with the marketing. All those could help SE to balance the budget. So this "it's too expensives to stay in one platform" sounds like a weird excuse. If they think the cost are too high then why they accept Sony's deal in the first place?
Square Enix are like mercenaries. They take money from the highest bidder. They also took $ 100 million for Rise of the Tomb Raider's 1-year exclusivity on Xbox, and afterwards released the game on PlayStation. From what I remember these Final Fantasy exclusivity deals were limited to 2 years on PlayStation, so afterwards Square Enix can release the games wherever they want. It's surprising that it took ao long for them to do so in case of FF7 Remake.
So why on earth SE president said as if the game is a big flop and pointed his fingers at Sony while screaming "no more exclusives, we're going full multiplat!"?
Seriously, I cannot find any comments by the Square Enix president blaming Sony or PlayStation directly for any of their recent games underperforming. They only said “profits unfortunately did not meet expectations” and they want to “shift to a multiplatform strategy”. Sounds more like a Square Enix problem to me, as their games are too expensive to keep them exclusive to one platform. Going multiplatform doesn't mean they'll stop developing for PlayStation. There's nothing wrong with targeting more players.
I'd argue that we are already at that stage. There are moments in Hellblade 2 where at a glance it was difficult to tell if the characters are from real recordings or rendered in-engine. It's a beautiful game, but the gameplay is limited.
Now, Image if Sega was suing the creators of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and Hyperfunk for copying the art style and gameplay of Jet Set Radio... You know, just like Sony is suing Tencent for that game copying the art style of Horizon. 😉
As long as Bluepoint doesn't remake it, we're good. ... Hopefully Fromsoft doesn't make that mistake again.
As far as I know, Fromsoft wasn't involved in Bluepoint's Demon's Souls remake. The IP is owned by Sony/PlayStation, so they chose to have Bluepoint develop the remake. Initially Sony didn't see the original Demon's Souls as a success, hence why they didn't greenlight a sequel and Fromsoft went on to create Dark Souls, release it multi-platfom, get it published by Bandai Namco and have it become a global success inspiring countless other games.
I'm a bit surprised to see someone be critical of Bluepoint's work. Most would agree that they did a good job with the Shadow of the Colossus and the Demon's Souls remakes.
similarities are not comparable to Palworld's. DQ's creatures mostly inspired Pokemon's designs. Or from Japanese myth "creatures" in general inspired both. Palworld's designs are just ripoffs.
Yes, my point is, if Square Enix didn't sue Nintendo for the Pokemon creature designs being similar to Dragon Quest's creatures, then Nintendo also doesn't have a chance to do the same to Pocketpair/Plaworld. That is the reason why instead Nintendo is suing based on patents.
But anybody who's not a Nintendo hater won't deny Palworld's creatures are blatant Pokemon creatures ripoff. Nintendo however can't sue them on the similarities (switched body parts)
I discovered the Evercade platform earlier this year, which is basically a retro platform with licensed physical cartridges. It's so awesome, just like in the good ol' days. You put the cart into the slot, turn on your device and you can start playing. No day-1 patches, no live services, no micro-transactions, no forced online connections - just pure fun. 😁 #BuyEvercade
Comments 347
Re: Some PS5 Owners Might Be Paying More Than Others on PS Store
@Nem
There have been some "just for you" discounts on the Xbox store also in Europe. So either Microsoft is breaking the EU law or it's actually legal. In case of the Xbox store such discounts are clearly labeled with a "just for you" tag.
Re: Some PS5 Owners Might Be Paying More Than Others on PS Store
"All PlayStation fans are equal, but some fans are more equal than others."
/joking, this is a reference to Animal Farm 😄
Re: Leaked Cross-Buy Icon on PS5 Hints at Mysterious Pro-Consumer Move from Sony
@IOI
But why would they want to restrict the PC launcher on the next Xbox, if it will be a Windows PC with an Xbox branding? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a having a PC launcher if you restrict on which PCs it runs? Should Sony restrict the launcher on all Windows-based PC gaming handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go and MSI claw when they run Windows in the full-screen Xbox mode? They would earn 100% for all 1st party and 30% for all 3rd party games, content and micro-transactions via that store/launcher.
Re: Leaked Cross-Buy Icon on PS5 Hints at Mysterious Pro-Consumer Move from Sony
@HonestHick It was a rhetorical question. 😉
Re: Leaked Cross-Buy Icon on PS5 Hints at Mysterious Pro-Consumer Move from Sony
@Oram77
It's because people are still stuck in the "PlayStation vs. Xbox console wars" mentality. Whatever the hell Microsoft/Xbox are doing and however the rest of the industry is adapting is at odds with the traditional console business strategies of the past 30 years. Some people don't want to accept any changes. 🙂
Re: Leaked Cross-Buy Icon on PS5 Hints at Mysterious Pro-Consumer Move from Sony
@Dimey
I don't see how Sony could launch a PC store/launcher which they would block on Windows PC's with an Xbox branding, unless they would restrict their PC launcher to Linux OS.
Also, if Sony releases a PC launcher, why should they block it on an Xbox-branded gaming PC? It's a PC, so blocking the access to the launcher would defeat the point of releasing it on PC. Would they block it also on other devices like the Asus Xbox Rog Ally, Lenovo Legion Go and MSI Claw handhelds if they run Windows in the new "Xbox full screen mode"?
Hypothetical question: If Sony could release a storefront on Xbox Series consoles, where they earn 100% from all transactions via that storefront, do you think they would do it or not?
Re: Leaked Cross-Buy Icon on PS5 Hints at Mysterious Pro-Consumer Move from Sony
@Max_the_German
.
Was there anything like that between PS4 and PS5? As far as I remember all PS4 games worked fine on PS5, but some had an optional $10 upgrade path. If the "cross-buy" label is only for PS5 & PS6, then it seems that the next cross-generation phase will be longer than the last one.
Re: Leaked Cross-Buy Icon on PS5 Hints at Mysterious Pro-Consumer Move from Sony
Is PlayStation going multiplatform? A PC store/launcher might be good if Sony doesn't want Steam and Epic Games Store to get 12-30% per sold game, and PC players who buy their games on the PlayStation store would require a PSN account. Such a store might also be available on whatever Microsoft Xbox is creating next.
But of course it would reduce the appeal for PlayStation consoles, as PlayStation games would be available on other devices.
I bet Sony has several business and data analysts who crunched the numbers, to get to a decision.
Re: As PHYSINT Begins Early Development, Hideo Kojima Visits Long-Time Ally Guerrilla Games
Maybe they were discussing how to port further Decima Engine games to Xbox? /joking 😉
Re: PS6 Could Be the Only Next-Gen Console Charging for Online Multiplayer
If the next "Xbox" is a PC and you can buy games from Steam, Epic Games and GOG, then there won't be a point in charging for online play.
Hmm... Going with rumors from previous days about the expected price difference between PS6 and Xbox Next, if you don't have to pay for online then you would even that price difference in 4-5 years.
Re: Random: Fans Can't Believe Halo Is Coming to PS5 Before Killzone
Maybe Sony could take a lesson from Microsoft and re-release some of those old games like Killzone or Resistance remastered as multi-platfom releases including PC, Switch 2 and Xbox. It worked well for Gears of War: Reloaded. 😏
Re: 'Our Biggest Competition Isn't Another Console': Xbox Doubles Down on Multiformat After Halo PS5 Shock
@daveofduncan Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer already admitted that they lost the console wars 2 years ago. I am not sure what more you want them to say about it? 😄
Link: https://fortune.com/2023/05/05/microsoft-exec-phil-spencer-admits-the-console-war-lost-sony-playstation-nintendo-switch/
Re: Halo PS5 Is Great, But Why Doesn't It Have Competitive Multiplayer?
@AK4tywill
The thing is, Halo Infinite's multiplayer was free-to-play, so if a new multiplayer release follows the same approach, it won't be about "incentivising further purchases down the road". The problem Infinite's multiplayer had was the lack of new content after the release. Halo Studios only recently shifted to Unreal Engine 5, they need to create a new multiplayer framework and probably Forge Mode which allows for community created maps and modes. This Halo 1 remake is a quick sure-bet financial profit for the studio.
For the Halo MCC the developers only had to update the visuals of Halo 2, all the other games basically had the same visual assets. Unfortunately on launch that ambitions multiplayer offer was a disaster and it took several months for the developers to fix all the issues. I guess that's one of the reasons why Halo Studios is now more cautious with their multiplayer releases.
Re: Halo PS5 Is Great, But Why Doesn't It Have Competitive Multiplayer?
Maybe Halo Studios finally releases the Halo Infinite multiplayer mode on PS5. That would be easier than creating a new one.
Re: 'Our Biggest Competition Isn't Another Console': Xbox Doubles Down on Multiformat After Halo PS5 Shock
Microsoft and Activision actually considered buying TikTok together, before they starting thinking about the ABK acquisition.
Re: This Is Why Xbox Is Bringing All of Its Games to PS5 Now
@Rich33 Unfortunately these large corporations make decisions based on data. ABK was very profitable at the time, plus Microsoft/Xbox were looking for live-service games (COD, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, Candy Crush Saga) and success in mobile gaming.
It's not much different from Sony/PlayStation's way of thinking that they cand release 12 live service games over the span of 5-6 years with the help of Bungie.
That big headline of "COD losing $300m as a result of being on GamePass" isn't quite that simple. Circana analyst Matt Piscatella shared some aspects that last year's COD sold "extremely well" and "the network effect of it on Game Pass resulted in stronger engagement, and perhaps even better sales, on PS5 and PC because of it". So yes, it sold less on Xbox but the game being on GamePass resulted in more engagement (and probably revenue) via all platforms.
Link: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bhqrrxt7yyfpwguioa7rwa7x/post/3m2elnk7eak26
Re: This Is Why Xbox Is Bringing All of Its Games to PS5 Now
@Rich33 That is a good question. It's worth noting, the acquisition started on the tail-end of the COVID pandemic and the gaming industry was still making decisions based on the rapid growth seen during that period. Xbox consoles were sold out everywhere and people were buying games and subscribing to GamePass. At that point a 30% profit margin might have looked reasonable based on the growth seen in 2020 - 2022.
Re: This Is Why Xbox Is Bringing All of Its Games to PS5 Now
@themightyant I am aware of those facts. My comment was more of sarcastic remark, as this ABK acquisition evovled differently than what most of us excepted.
Re: This Is Why Xbox Is Bringing All of Its Games to PS5 Now
@OldGamer999 It probably will affect the "quality" of their games. I think they will invest in more safe-bet genres and franchises rather than something new and creative.
Re: This Is Why Xbox Is Bringing All of Its Games to PS5 Now
@HaveTheSauce
The funny thing is, Xbox wasn't the one who decided to buy Activision-Blizzard-King, it was actually Microsoft. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick were in contact about TikTok, when Satya Nadella proposed the acquisition to Bobby Kotick.
Re: This Is Why Xbox Is Bringing All of Its Games to PS5 Now
So many people on this site were against the ABK acquisition. See? It turned out for the better for PlayStation players. 😁
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
@Lowdefal You are right, it is a long running series. But personally I think the technological innovations of how the 2 recent games are streaming content from the internet are very exciting. It's basically, that marketing slogan "the power of the cloud" now made true for these games.
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
@add286
The funny thing is, the PS5 generation has the lowest number of true PS5 exclusive games, yet financially it's one of the most successful ones.
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
@add286
I would say that AAA exclusives by 1st party studios are often some of the least innovative games, as they are often (with a few exceptions) just safe-bet sequels. In that sense I believe Xbox has actually done a better job with more creative, innovative games (like Sea of Thieves, Flight Simulator, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Grounded, Minecraft Legends, As Dusk Falls), but the problem is innovation is risky and it doesn't always land well with the audience. I trust indie developers to offer more meaningdul innovation.
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
@ilyn
I think the reason we've been seeing some exclusivity on Xbox is because they're still in the process of shifting from platform exclusivity to multi-platform releases.
Microsoft (the corporate) doesn't like exclusivity anymore. Ever since Satya Nadella took over the CEO role at Microsoft in 2014, he has emphasized working together with companies and technologies which Microsoft competes with, like Apple, Salesforce, IBM, and even Sony. They embraced Linux and made Microsoft products like Office, Teams, Edge, Azure available for platforms.
Xbox (sub-division of Microsoft) is still stuck in the video game console business and exclusivity used to be what got people into the console ecosystem. So some projects or even 3rd party contracts might be active based on that business strategy.
But after the ABK acquisition, Microsoft took over the control of Xbox and now they are dictating the business strategy for Xbox. It just takes years to shift.
My point of view comes from a consumer's perspective, so I appreciate what is best for the consumer, not the corporations. Exclusive games might help companies to hold their market position, but it also prevents other hardware manufacturers to enter the console market, as they don't have the means to develop their own exclusive games nor the connection and supply by 3rd party publishers. Having more hardware choice would actually be great, especially if that would result in more competitive console prices and innovative hardware, do you agree?
Nintendo Switch was a big success, because it's a portable home console at a reasonable price. Same as the Wii was successful thanks to it's innovative motion controls. The Wii U had many of those highly praised "Nintendo exclusives" which were later ported to the Switch, yet it sold less then the Xbox Series consoles.
I think exclusive hardware or platform features should be driving the gaming hardware business, not exclusive games and content.
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
Technically console exclusive games aren't needed since PS4 and XB One, as they have basically the same hardware architecture. And with the rising costs of game development, it makes sense to release games on as many platforms as possible.
But I guess some people need their exclusives to justify the viability of buying a certain console or because they like one brand more than the other.
Re: Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
@Northern_munkey
Microsoft has been saying for the past couple of years that they don't like platform exclusive games. Link: https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/28/23777585/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-console-exclusives-sony-xbox-competition
Re: PS6 Could Be Less Than Half the Price of Microsoft's 'Very Premium' Next-Gen Xbox
My guess is the PS6 will cost more like $ 700 - $ 900 (without a disc drive). If the PS5 Pro is still $ 700+ and there is no sign of the price going down then I don't see a PS6, with a much more capable hardware, being sold for less, unless Sony is willing to eat up a loss if they go with a lower price (which would only make sense if Xbox were still competing in the console race).
Re: Here's How Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Holds Up on the $1,000 ROG Xbox Ally X
@UltimateOtaku91 Well, it's a portable gaming PC, which isn't locked into an ecosystem, isn't subsidized, can play games from multiple storefronts from the past 40+ years of PC gaming, most of the games being sold for less than what they cost on console digital storefronts and doesn't require a subscription to play online.
I also think the entry price is quite high for a gaming device, but it's technically a fair price given the tech inside.
Re: Confirmed: Oblivion Remastered's PS5 Physical Edition Requires 'Additional Download' to Actually Play
@sanderson72 But you can also download delisted games on PlayStation if you bought them digitally on the PSN Store prior to them being delisted.
Re: Confirmed: Oblivion Remastered's PS5 Physical Edition Requires 'Additional Download' to Actually Play
@Futureshark I believe physical media in general will have a more difficult time if game sizes are growing beyond 150 GB in the future.
The Oblivion Remastered's install size is between 119 and 125 GB on all platforms, so you would require at least 2 ultra HD blu ray discs with a 100 GB capacity. Ultra HD blu ray discs are way more expensive than regular blu ray discs and they also require special covers to accommodate the 2 discs. The game would need 5 standard 25GB blu ray discs or 3 double-layer 50GB blu-ray discs.
The only 2 games released on 2 ultra HD blu ray discs are Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I assume in both cases Sony was involved, as they are part of the Blu Ray Disc Association and they are manufacturers of the discs, so they might get different conditions/prices than a third party like Microsoft. Not to mention games, which still need a day 1 patch to work as intended.
The only point for physical media in those cases is for collectors to have "something physical" and the ability to share or trade the games.
Re: PS6 May Go Uncontested as Rumours of Next-Gen Xbox Cancellation Force Microsoft to Comment
@zekepliskin
Do you believe it will become better if/when Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty are removed from Xbox? I expected their removal to result in less communication from the Xbox team in general (though that might end the confusing and contradicting messages).
Ever since Microsoft acquired Activision-Blizzard-King, the corporate executives (Satya Nadella and Amy Hood) took control over the gaming division. Whatever Spencer, Bond and Booty say doesn't matter, when the higher level has different plans.
Re: Silent Hill 2's PS5 Console Exclusivity Is Coming to an End
@Oram77
I wonder if it's still a fair thing to categorize people as "PlayStation players" and "Xbox players". I bet if the GamePass subscription at the old price range had been on PlayStation, "PlayStation players" would have taken advantage of GamePass just as much as "Xbox players" did. "Being subscriped to GamePass because it's a good deal" is not a differentiating trait of behavior for the Xbox player base.
There are probably many "Xbox & PS/Switch players" who own both systems, who used GamePass to try games out and then would go on to buy the game on PS or Switch.
In the end "Xbox players" aren't much different from "PlayStation players". They all like good games and most of them play Fortnite, Call of Duty, Roblox, Minecraft, GTA 5, EA Sports FC and Helldivers 2.
Re: Silent Hill 2's PS5 Console Exclusivity Is Coming to an End
@Anthony_Daniels As games take several years to develop, usually these exclusivity deals are signed years in advance. Microsoft kind of started their multiplatform releases on PS5 and Nintendo in 2024, so I think there are still some exclusive games which will come. But going forward, new deals would be pointless (and expensive), unless Sony feels the need to sign some exclusivity deal for the launch of the PS6 to make it more attractive for gamers.
Re: PS6 May Go Uncontested as Rumours of Next-Gen Xbox Cancellation Force Microsoft to Comment
This is a good thing, right? PlayStation has finally won the console race! Where's our reward? All games for PlayStation, no more games for Xbox players.
We can all celebrate now by buying a PS5 Pro, a disc drive, a PS5 Pro stand and an DualSense Edgy controller. 😁 /s
Re: Worried Fans Can Rest Easy: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Is 'Doing Very Well' on PS5, PC
@PuppetMaster
You're correct, that does sound like the Square Enix president is blaming PS5 for FF16 underperforming.
Square Enix are like mercenaries. They take money from the highest bidder. They also took $ 100 million for Rise of the Tomb Raider's 1-year exclusivity on Xbox, and afterwards released the game on PlayStation. From what I remember these Final Fantasy exclusivity deals were limited to 2 years on PlayStation, so afterwards Square Enix can release the games wherever they want. It's surprising that it took ao long for them to do so in case of FF7 Remake.
Re: Worried Fans Can Rest Easy: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Is 'Doing Very Well' on PS5, PC
@PuppetMaster
Seriously, I cannot find any comments by the Square Enix president blaming Sony or PlayStation directly for any of their recent games underperforming. They only said “profits unfortunately did not meet expectations” and they want to “shift to a multiplatform strategy”. Sounds more like a Square Enix problem to me, as their games are too expensive to keep them exclusive to one platform. Going multiplatform doesn't mean they'll stop developing for PlayStation. There's nothing wrong with targeting more players.
Re: Nixxes Confirms It's Working Alongside Housemarque on PS5 Shooter Saros
Maybe it's a day 1 release on PC as well, thanks to Nixxes' support?
Re: Is This the First Tease of Next-Gen PS6 Graphics?
I'd argue that we are already at that stage. There are moments in Hellblade 2 where at a glance it was difficult to tell if the characters are from real recordings or rendered in-engine. It's a beautiful game, but the gameplay is limited.
Re: There's Even More Classic Tomb Raider Coming to PS5, PS4
I've been replaying the original Tomb Raider series on Evercade and I think the original games are the best.
I replayed Tomb Raider Legends last year, which was decent for the time it released, but feels a bit janky to play.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 599
Duke Nukem 3D Total Meltdown on Evercade.
Re: Even More Xbox Price Increases Make PS5 Look Like a Good Deal
@dskatter
This news was posted an hour later on PureXbox, if you care about it: https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/09/microsoft-announces-new-price-increases-for-xbox-series-xs-in-the-us
I think the PureXbox staff is a bit more limited in capacity, so sometimes it takes them a bit longer to cover all the relevant news.
Re: SEGA's Jet Set Radio Reboot Has Its Work Cut Out, as Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Dev Teases Its Next Game
Now, Image if Sega was suing the creators of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and Hyperfunk for copying the art style and gameplay of Jet Set Radio... You know, just like Sony is suing Tencent for that game copying the art style of Horizon. 😉
Re: Sony's Still Not Doing Anything with Bloodborne, It's Claimed
@Issen_Mode
As far as I know, Fromsoft wasn't involved in Bluepoint's Demon's Souls remake. The IP is owned by Sony/PlayStation, so they chose to have Bluepoint develop the remake. Initially Sony didn't see the original Demon's Souls as a success, hence why they didn't greenlight a sequel and Fromsoft went on to create Dark Souls, release it multi-platfom, get it published by Bandai Namco and have it become a global success inspiring countless other games.
I'm a bit surprised to see someone be critical of Bluepoint's work. Most would agree that they did a good job with the Shadow of the Colossus and the Demon's Souls remakes.
Re: Sony's Still Not Doing Anything with Bloodborne, It's Claimed
@Zeke68
But didn't that generate countless articles and a ton of clicks/user engagement? 😄
Re: Sony's Still Not Doing Anything with Bloodborne, It's Claimed
I wonder, if Bloodborne was on PC, would there be a remake or sequel by now? 🤔
Re: Interview: 'We Don't Consider This a Port': Battlefield 6 Dev on Why It Built the PS5 Version Concurrently with PC
What are "impulse triggers"? 🤨
Re: Despite Legal Dispute with Nintendo, Palworld Plans Full PS5 Release in 2026
@antlion
Yes, my point is, if Square Enix didn't sue Nintendo for the Pokemon creature designs being similar to Dragon Quest's creatures, then Nintendo also doesn't have a chance to do the same to Pocketpair/Plaworld. That is the reason why instead Nintendo is suing based on patents.
Re: Despite Legal Dispute with Nintendo, Palworld Plans Full PS5 Release in 2026
@antlion
Apparently many Pokemon designs
were copied from Dragon Quest creatures. Pocketpair were probably aware of that fact when they created Palworld.
Re: Everyone's Talking About How Little Physical PS5 Games Contribute to Sony's Bottom Line
I discovered the Evercade platform earlier this year, which is basically a retro platform with licensed physical cartridges. It's so awesome, just like in the good ol' days. You put the cart into the slot, turn on your device and you can start playing. No day-1 patches, no live services, no micro-transactions, no forced online connections - just pure fun. 😁
#BuyEvercade