640°

Microsoft Again Stretches Definition Of 'Exclusive'

One of the most annoying trends in video games is the word “exclusive,” which perhaps once meant “limited” or “restricted” but now, thanks to Microsoft and Sony, means absolutely nothing. Today’s big exclusive is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Which probably isn’t an exclusive.

JaguarEvolved2464d ago (Edited 2464d ago )

"Microsoft telling lies again"

Araragifeels 2464d ago

They still haven't learn. At least the old bosses of Xbox at least care about exclusives more than hardware.

bouzebbal2463d ago

Phil Spencer crushed every hope of a comeback.
fanboys calling him a savior of the xbox is just crazy

Unspoken2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

Sony defense force out in full effect!

Better looking games coming this November!

"Which probably isn't an exclusive"

Probably?...no confirmation for your own story. Sad fanboys.

fiveby92463d ago

If MS spent half as much energy on developing a true first party games development as they do on marketing spin, maybe they would not need to PR spin so much and have actual exclusives. Their priorities are so misplaced. They hope to convince the larger consuming public they have exclusives as many are not really attuned to the business as others. So they'll see the term exclusive online or in a store and think they have something special.

2463d ago
frostypants2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

@Unspoken, I play Battlegrounds on PC. It's 100% not an Xbox exclusive. It's also generally believed that it will be released on PS4 at some point, so it's not even a "console exclusive" if you use that silly term.

InTheLab2463d ago

I think this nonsense started last gen on the 360. People made up the term "console exclusive " and now there's launch exclusive and platform exclusives and wtf.

I've been saying it for over 10 years. Games are either exclusive or multiplatform. If they only appears on one platform, it is exclusive. If it's on multiple platforms, it's exactly as the name implies.

If I don't need an xbox to play it, it's multiplat. If I can also play a game on my Vita like Sly Cooper, it's multiplatform. It's simple.

Unspoken2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

What platform's has this game released on? Windows and Xbox? Wow, MS owns both. Why do you guys keep forgetting that? We can split hairs all day. Not once did the dev's confirm it was coming to PS4. It may at some point but until them those of us who can enjoy it will. The rest can grumble and curl up with their PS4 for comfort.

darthv722463d ago

@inthelab, I like the way you think but it isn't just MS that boasts something like "console exclusive". On the cover of my SFV it says "PS4 Console Exclusive Game"... Do we blame Sony for the misleading wording or Capcom for using Sony's "PS4" moniker leading to the misleading wording?

The other offending phrases are "Only on Playstation" as well as "Only on Xbox" where both phrases have appeared on game cases for games that are also available on some other platform (PC/Portable/Mobile)

indysurfn2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

As long as your not talking about Mark Cerny he was bad for software OWNERSHIP in general. Not just games. He was attempting to set a president at gamers exspense. Which he could then apply to the PC space.

I think Microsoft knows more than we want to admit. They just don't want to risk money making AAA games.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 2463d ago
Kiwi662463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

But it is in regards to consoles, only going to be on Xbox this year so how is that a lie

Kiwi662463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

To disagrees is it going to be on PS4 this year or not as the article only said about it going to be on Xbox
@edmix so if no one cares then why are people talking about it

_-EDMIX-_2463d ago

yet coming to PC.

Buddy, no one cares. Thats like saying Madden is PS4 exclusive because PS4 is the only system called PS4 its coming to.

Oh its coming to XB, but its PS4 exclusive you see, as Madden on PS4, is the only Madden that can be found on PS4 /s

Do you not understand how stupid that is?

At the end of the day, it can be found else where.

KwietStorm_BLM2463d ago

So we have to add specific years to the list of labels now too? "2017 exclusive" ...should that go on the actual box?

G20WLY2463d ago

Lol the game won't even be finished this year, it will be one of those beta tests they market as 'early access' 😂

Go play it for me ASAP, Kiwi66, so that the devs can tighten it up for me in readiness for retail multiplatfom release. Thanks buddy 👍

CoryHG2463d ago

They can say play it here first, timed exclusive, what not. Technically nothing is an exclusive on the system anymore since the FRANCHISE EXCLUSIVES are all available on PC. Which I suggest putting that $500 towards a capable PC rather than the Xbox One X.

CoryHG2463d ago

Also, Street Fighter V is considered a PS4 exclusive, even though it's on PC. Mainly because the competition doesn't have it.

SixFragz2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

Something like "(timed) early access" or "early release" or "first to be released on" would be much more suitable.

I know how bad the actual first party exclusives are on the Xbone, so Xbots are desperate for something worthy to be called an exclusive. Battlegrounds is not a "true" exclusive to the Xbone. We all know how Microsoft likes to throw things around loosely to make things sound better than they actually are.

Don't worry though, you guys can call it an exclusive all you'd like if it'll make you all happy. The word "exclusive" won't mean jack once it's released on PS4.

Kiwi662463d ago

Guess i should've known that you can't ask a question because people get upset with such things it would seem

rainslacker2463d ago

The whole term exclusive has been twisted to be more complicated than it needs to be. I don't think this is really something just from MS, although they certainly have been using the word a lot lately.

People can take it however they want really, and on here, most of us are educated enough on a particular release to know where things are releasing, but in terms of marketing, it does do what it's supposed to and helps give the perception to the larger gaming market that something is special and unique to the system.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 2463d ago
2463d ago Replies(2)
denawayne2463d ago

What I find funny is how fed up people are with Microsoft. I mean every damn article about MS is filled with comments about how Microsoft lies, deceives, underpromises, has no exclusives, etc. Really people need to get a life. I don't play on any Nintendo consoles, so guess what? when things aren't going good for Nintendo, I don't give ashit. I'm not in Nintendo articles complaining about a company I don't support. If someone in here is a legitimate Xbox supporter and has an issue, then fine. But all of these Sony fanboys commenting about MS is really pathetic and it makes you look like you actually care about MS and how well they are doing.

Why o why2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

Nice D control bro

Fisrt off, this is n4g and secondly when I see you in a crossplay article telling xbox guys the same thing I'll actually take you seriously.

The difference with this topic is its not just ps fans showing disdain. This is a clear case of MS trying to mislead the whole public not just their fanbase. Try not to take it personally...ms done sh#t not you.

You shouldn't shoot the messenger just because you dont like the message. What are you telling the pissed off xbox fans.

Rude-ro2463d ago

Except Nintendo adds to gaming by bringing innovation and games... Microsoft wants to monopolize while not adding to gaming.
You can not go around like Phil and preach about in house games and show nothing but third party deals...
It's been over 7 years since Microsoft has made a new AAA game.. "sh!t or get off the pot" as my old man would say.
If you are not going to be a gaming business then why be in the gaming business?

letsa_go2463d ago

Won't someone think of Microsoft's feelings?!?!??!!

G20WLY2463d ago

- "Sony fanboys".
- "legitimate Xbox supporters".
- No mention of general gamers.

Yup, you showed your true colours today.

OB1Biker2463d ago

Well if Nin was calling games 'exclusive' but you find out they are coming to your console woudn you say the same thing to people criticising it?

rainslacker2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

So when the obviously biased towards MS Kotaku puts out an article like this, they're Sony fan boys?

There is a lot of disdain towards MS. This is nothing new for MS. I think it's just that Xbox fans are suddenly seeing how most people talked about MS for decades before today. MS does a lot of shady things. They have some good products, but MS always looks out for it's best interest, and will manipulate the markets, and marketing in order to try and sell their vision of the future to the general public in any way possible, even if it means not being completely truthful.

It's easy to dismiss an argument by just saying everyone's a hater or biased, but it takes actual intelligence to be able to say why something is or isn't by ignoring that, and just addressing the argument at hand.

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Relientk772463d ago

I don't want Microsoft to ever use the word exclusive again, unless they actually mean it aka only on Xbox One

2463d ago
MegamanXXX2463d ago

The Xbox/MS hate is strong with this article!

2600Thunder2463d ago

MS has been in so much litigation crap by the businesses they bully and for breaking trust laws it's incredible. Their lies and draconian business contracts/EULAS are how MS stays in business. Their enterprise level stuff can all be done on Unix or Linux for free. MIT has one of the most advanced networks on the planet and it is all Unix and Linux.

rainslacker2463d ago

Not technically a lie, but certainly misleading to the layman.

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FallenAngel19842464d ago

The term exclusive has been stretched so far in the 8th gen

freshslicepizza2464d ago

World exclusive
World exclusive premiere
Exclusive content
Exclusive launch
Exclusive launch window

The whole gaming business is shady.

Yui_Suzumiya2463d ago

Exclusive Early Access such as We Happy Few and PUBG

YAO-BLING2463d ago

desperate times over there at MS

OffRoadKing2463d ago

My favorite is "Console Launch Exclusive" which Microsoft came up with for this years E3 to make it look like they had more games then they actually did. But perhaps even better is their new buzzword "Enhanced".

bouzebbal2463d ago

you forgot the best one:
Exclusive non exclusive game... by Xbox!

Cueil2463d ago

Actually I think launch exclusive was first used by sony a couple of E3s ago

thehitman13982463d ago

That was literally word for word from micro$oft's own e3 from this year moldy....

So let's get this right, "micro$oft's gaming business is shady".

#justsaying

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AspiringProGenji2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

At this point Sony doesn't even have to say whether a game is exclusive or not. We know as soon as we see "Sony Interactive Entertainment presents" and then the Logo and name of studios they actually own. They don't have to say it themselves anymore. Just let the games do the talking

Lilrizky2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

true to an extent. only games published by Sony.

you wont see a Persona 5 or nier automata trailer with Sony at the front. but Persona 5 is a Playstation exclusive and Nier atm is a PS4 console exclusive

they try to make things a bit more clear at least with the labels they put on cases

playstation 4 exclusive or content or first etc

Bathyj2463d ago

The beauty of a platform holder making their own games.

rainslacker2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

This exclusive talk is more for the general market. Consider how often MS threw up the word in their E3. Why would they bother with this for the more informed gaming community? They know we'll see through it, and they know their fan boys can't change the course since everyone was looking so closely.

So, they throw it up there because it's possible that the general market has seen the talk about MS having "no exclusives" and that might have stuck at some point over the year, and they make a big fuss about it at E3, hoping to make the person who isn't paying as much attention but might hear it from E3 since it's a bigger gaming event, and now they might think MS has all this exclusive content when they don't.

Sony the past few years has focused mostly on marketing deals and their actual exclusives, along with a couple other games thrown in here or there, and the "no games" argument is hard to throw at them when they have actual games to show which overall, appeal to a rather wide variety of gamers.

@lilrizky

The Otaku gamer is a bit different than the general market. They don't really need to be informed through general marketing because they stay pretty informed in their own ways. It's just a different culture, although they do intermingle with the regular gaming community.

Would be nice if they did market some of those games a bit more though.

XiNatsuDragnel2464d ago

No matter how stretching they do it doesn't take away from the fact right now they have no xbox only no W10 exclusive right now.

Cueil2463d ago

Do you expect them to not support all of their platforms that is foolish

XiNatsuDragnel2463d ago

Apparently it's been so man

UCForce2463d ago

Sure, but lost the will of competition is not something I expected.

rainslacker2463d ago

They removed games from PC to try and push Xbox 360 sales, so at one point, MS was foolish for it. They understood the draw that exclusives have, and now they seem to not really care except to push the perception instead of the fact.

While there's nothing wrong with pushing their Win10/Xbox platform, or whatever it is they're trying to do, they are marketing these games primarily for the purpose of selling the console, while just having a side note that it can be also played on a Windows machine, thus, I do feel they are being disingenuous about the usage of the term.

Cueil2462d ago

they are not marketing these games to push consoles... they've not done that in years now... Microsoft has been playing the Windows 10 game for a while the Xbox is a gaming focused Windows 10 device and that's how it's seen.

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brich2332464d ago

They need to use the term "Temporary Exclusive" instead.

Segata2463d ago

How about they get an actual exclusive game instead. You know only on Xbox One and nothing else. HA! fat chance.

xX1NORM1Xx2463d ago

you know its a good thing for us as consumers that there is no Xbox one only games right? it means if we aren't happy with how it plays on Xbox one we can play it on PC. Unless this comment is just mentally deficient console war non sense, then i apologize please continue your chest beating.

UltraNova2463d ago

xX1NORM1Xx

If for some reason they could not make a game play as good as possible on just one system what makes you think they can optimise for two?

You need to see the flaw in your statement.

MS needs to stop finding new words to describe the obvious because its very disrispectful to their fans, first and foremost and start investing in true exclusives.

Rude-ro2463d ago

@xx2norm

Bring what? They can have windows gaming... but that does not change the fact Microsoft brings so little to the software side.
Are they going to try and have third party exclusives on pc as well?

kneon2463d ago

@xX1NORM1Xx

you're right, it is good for consumers as it means there is no need to waste money on an xbox.

xX1NORM1Xx2463d ago

@UltraNova incase you aren't joking thats exactly my point they have to make games play well on xbox one or people won't buy one and just play on pc and optimisation has been pretty good for xbox games on pc you dont need a 1080ti to play them but incase you have never used a pc before you can change the graphics options to suit your hardware turn down some effects and maybe the resolution depending on your hardware and boom 60fps easily and as for the rest of what you said i have no idea what you are talking about i never said anything about them finding new words and i know they need more exclusives everyone does
@Rude-ro i genuinly have no idea what you are talking about i never said "bring" anything
@kneon pretty sure your just trolling but i meant it means they have to put effort into making games run well or ppl will just play their games on pc and not bother getting an xbox one.

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frostypants2463d ago

"Alpha testing exclusive" in this case.

Miss_Weeboo2464d ago

Is not just a problem of Microsoft (Though I feel they are the ones doing it the most). The word means nothing these days. This stretching of the language is deceptive... it shouldn't be allowed

mark_parch2463d ago

true both Microsoft and sony are to blame. look at all the games that were ps4 exclusives like the witness, firewatch, what became of edith finch and rime for example now all on xbox. I still think crash will also release on other consoles. the difference is just like every other bad practice we don't care with sony because they have so many other great exclusives where as with Microsoft it's more noticeable because they have no games to keep people happy

oasdada2463d ago (Edited 2463d ago )

Sony themselves never said these games were exclusives unlike MS who without a thought use the word even their execs shamefully say exclusive without a second thought... and in the case of rime the ip usedto be owned by aony but due to development issues they gave the ip to the devs.. NOT cancel the game

CrimzonRazor2463d ago

@oasdada dont dare say sony doesnt do this at this very time they have a timed exclusive deal with cod for all its dlc. They all play this game.

oasdada2463d ago

@crimson im afraid you dont understand what we are talking about here.. having exclusive dlc and clearly expressing that u have exclusive dlc or timed exclusivity isnt the same as saying said game is "xbox exclusive" .. they delibrately used shady terms to confuse the consumer and we only heard the word "EXCLUSIVE" even with games where only dlc was exclusive.. so yea big difference my friend.. sony even comes out and say for eg. Hell balde is timed exclusive where MS dont even answer ir give a twisted answer when asked the same question.

CrimzonRazor2462d ago

@oasdada sorry but I do understand we are talking about the word exclusive being used to make a system look better and it hardly matters if its being used for a game or dlc. You just are tring to spin it to make you feel like your right. Sony has done this with games and content and you are tring to use word play to support your bias. All three of the console's play this game.

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90°

Two Decades Later, the Original Splinter Cell is Still a Masterpiece

They don't make games like this anymore.

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vgvill4d ago

Too dated in my book. The AI is way too unpredictable to be acceptable today. It's definitely a game of its time.

Jingsing4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Agreed with those sentiments. The quality of the CPU controlled characters make or break a stealth game and they are pretty poor in all the Splinter Cell games by today's standard. This is what led me to playing Spies vs Mercs all the time in later games just to get a better stealth experience from a real person. Arguably Sony are making better stealth games albeit not Tom Clancy stuff.

TheProfessional4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

You should stick with fortnite or one of the countless bloodborne style games then. What a joke.

rlow14d ago

I had a good time with the game. It is a product of its time. But when it came out it was a must have game for a lot of people. I wish Ubisoft would make another game in the series or at least a reboot.

vgvill4d ago

They are making a remake, I think. I loved the original game when it was released, but I tried to play it again in recent years and just couldn't get on with it. The same with the older Hitman games.

PrecursorOrb4d ago

Yeah chaos theory still holds up though I gotta say. If you’re a fan of the series I highly suggest you go back to that one. Ubi has said they are remaking sc for “modern audiences”. I don’t have a lot of faith for the future of that company

Chocoburger4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Due to the lack of modern stealth games, and me constantly playing the MGS series, I've been looking for alternative stealth games to play, and went back and re-played the SC series recently. I wouldn't call SC1 or SC:PT masterpieces, there are AI issues, they're very much trial-and-error games, and that can lead to a lot of frustration. I also found the stories in this series to be boring, uninteresting, and just sloppily told. Cinematics are also of poor quality for both in-game scenes and CG cut-scenes, the soundtrack didn't leave any impression on me either.

Chaos Theory is better, but there was still a lot of room for improvement, and Double Agent (old gen ver.) was a sloppy mess that ended up a regression from CT. But still, at least they tried back then, these days Ubi-junk doesn't even try to make good games!

70°

A Matter Of Trust: What The Game Industry Should Do To Win Gamers Back

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anast10d ago

Nothing. It's up to the gamers to stop consuming content from companies that they don't agree with.

Garethvk9d ago

How do you know if you agree with it or not unless you play it? Which without conventions forces gamers to rely on trailers. Perhaps Demos should be made more frequently. But companies need to do better as well.

anast9d ago

Wait until release. Watch Gameplay. Exercise patience.

Garethvk9d ago

But is that not what they have now? Tons of gameplay or are you talking about watching actual gamers play it versus the trailers and streams? The big issue is that some companies pay streamers and influencers and they create content but for me; that is hardly a fair, unbiased, and factual look at a game.

1nsomniac9d ago

Get rid of the suits in the industry and job done!!

Garethvk9d ago

They usually are attached to the money sadly. It would be nice to have gamers in charge but you have so much money invested that business people are needed. Hence the issue; you need people who know business but are also gamers who know have an eye to the community. It sounds simple in theory that if you give gamers quality games that they want to play; money will be made. But that is not always so.

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