Sony Lowers PS5 Shipment Prediction; Plans Over 10 Live Service Games Thanks to Bungie Acquisition

Today, during Sony’s quarterly conference call for investors and analysts, chief financial officer Hiroki Totoki talked about the performance of the PlayStation Business and the acquisition of Bungie.

[Jin_Sakai]

I’m fine with that. Sony will have a diverse lineup including plenty of great single player games.

[senorfartcushion]

These games are literally designed to remove any kind of diversity from a portfolio.

[Jin_Sakai]

Is it stopping you from enjoying their single player games?

[GhostofHorizon]

Yeah, because Avengers, Fortnite, Overwatch, Genshin Impact, etc. are all exactly the same.

What exactly are you talking about?

[dumahim]

@Jin
"Is it stopping you from enjoying their single player games?"

If they're taking away developers from single player games to make those service games, then yes. Can't play the single player game that isn't being made.

[sparky77]

This means there will be no more single player games.

Tell me the list of studio with successful live service games which make anything else.

Halo, Fortnite, SoT, COD etc in order to succeed you can’t make other games you need an army of devs.

This will be the last year of single player Sony games guaranteed.

[Crows90]

... yeah. That's the most ridiculous thing ive ever read on n4g.

[Spenok]

What? That's one of the most short sighted things I've ever read on this site...

[sparky77]

You need to think logically here Sony has VR and GaaS to support they don't have the capacity for SP games.

Last year they released only 3 games (not including re-releases), this year also looks to be 3 games. In order to reach 10 by 2026 they will need to release 3 GaaS games every year how will the do that AND release VR AND release SP games.

Not going to happen.

[GhostofHorizon]

Talking about logic and then completely dismissing the fact that they just acquired like 5 studios in the last 12 months.

Even before all these aqusitions, Jim said they had over 25 games in development.

"We create some of the best single-player games out there, why don't we stop making those and shift all of our focus into something we have very little experience with."

[BlaqMagiq1]

"This means there will be no more single player games."

Source for this claim? Since you must have the inside scoop about Sony.

[senorfartcushion]

Not last year, but they are making sure to emphasise multiplayer only games. Easier and cheaper to make in every way.

Game taster jobs are going to be common, like Amazon jobs or call centre jobs.

[Lightning77]

Basically what you're saying is ND and SP are putting whatever games they're making on hold or flat out scrapping what they're making in order to make live service games.....

Lmao no. That's not how it wor.. No man just no.

[chronoforce]

Respawn made Apex and Fallen Order. The latter of which is getting a sequel.
Bioware continue to support Swtor and are making new Mass Effect and Dragon Age games.
Bethesda support Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 76 and make single player entries in those franchises. They are going to release Starfield this year which is not only a new IP but not a live service.

I'm sure Sony's studios can pull it off.

[Elda]

An absurd comment.

[ABizzel1]

Slow down Chicken Little. The sky is still here.

Demon's Souls, Miles Morales, Returnal, and Ratchet and Clank all released as single player. Horizon Forbidden West, God of War, and most likely Spider-Man 2, and Wolverine will all be single player focused (maybe co-op for spider-man, but still Single player at core).

Bungie has around 800 developers, and they are about to be a 3 team developer with a New IP already in production (likely one of the live service games), more than likely Destiny 3 (another GaaS), and something a third IP that they have said nothing about as the 3rd studio is still being built.

2/10

We already know Twisted Metal is supposed to be made to coincide with the TV series and is likely another GaaS, as it was being made by Lucid (Destruction All Stars) and then handed over to FireSprite.

3/10

The Last of Us Factions is supposed to be a Standalone F2P / GaaS game being made by Naughty Dog.

4/10

Guriella Games has 3 teams, the core Horizon team, a smaller team working on Horizon Call of the Mountain VR, and a third studio that is allegedly working on a Multiplayer game which is also likely going to be GaaS.

5/10

That's already 5 of the 10 games, leaving 5 left over the next 4 years, so the narrative you're trying to spin is again illogical and baseless.

Some of the studios have 3 teams now (Naughty Dog, Guerrilla Games, Bungie, Insomniac, and maybe Santa Monica and Firesprite (at least two and hiring for more)). While most of the others have at least 2 teams. Not to mention Sony has already said they're planning on more acquisitions which could also mean they already have projects in the works from said other acquisitions for GaaS games. So Single player and GaaS are covered. VR games are being made by smaller teams, there are a ton of VR experiences on things like Oculus and Vive that PSVR1 wasn't up to par to run with the PS4, that can now be ported providing plenty of VR content whether it's first or not for the next 2 years, but FireSprite is also a VR studio, and clearly other devs can have a small team create a VR experience for PSVR.

[tay8701]

lmao, what a crock. single player games will continue to thrive on playstation. do you think for a minute teams like sony santa monica, media molecule, housemarque, sucker punch, naughty dog, insomniac and guerilla are all of the sudden going to drop what has made them successful devs. dont get me wrong id love to get another resistance and killzone game though. insomniacs next 2 projects are single player spiderman 2 and wolverine. you can guarantee there is another last of us in production and im sure there is another uncharted that will be made as well. we havent even touched on psvr 2, which will feature a bunch of single player games as well.

[-Foxtrot]

I’m not

I don’t want Sony to adopt live service shit and then them potentially getting greedy…which COULD happen they are a company after all

There bread and butter is single player driven games

Why waste Bungie on the same kind of shit as Destiny when they could try to do something more story based and new

[lonewolf10]

"Why waste Bungie on the same kind of shit as Destiny"

$$$$$

[S2Killinit]

Destiny is successful and tons of people play it together.

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

Destiny just made Bungie $3.6 billion, why would they want to make something different? Insomniac Games makes better rated games than Bungie but since they are single-player games not filled with predatory microtransactions they only got $229 million from Sony.

Sony has clearly spoken with their checkbook about how they feel about live-service games filled with microtransactions.

[senorfartcushion]

Exclusive games are $70, they’re already greedy.

[Lightning77]

Sony as a corporation needs to make money anyway they possibly can. Adopting a live service games and "aggressively" want more live service offerings is how they see things. That's not all they're gonna be doing no but that's one of the models they want to adopt. Acquiring Bungie wasn't just for Destiny or any of their future IP tbh, it was for their live service expertise and net code tech that can span across all of their first party if they choose to make a game with MP, live service, or MMO types.

I still disagree that every new game going forward will end up on everything (including Xbox) when Sony can build up their ecosystem for more platforms, for their games can thrive. Hopefully when they build that up they won't need to be on Xbox or Nintendo in the future.

[kneon]

Bungie isn't good at stories. The story in Destiny is boring at best. They put a lot of effort into it and produced vast amounts of lore to go along with it, but they just aren't good at telling their story.

[brewin]

It does seem crazy they spent so much on Bungie but they got Insomniac for what, $200 Mill? That's crazy to me. Insomniac was a steal comparitively. I really don't see how Bungie was worth that much.

[CS7]

The writing was on the wall that Jim Ryan is a greedy corporate jerk long ago but you guys wouldn’t listen.

I love Playstation brand alot they gave me my best gaming memories.

But look since 2020:

Unusable last-gen controllers
$70 games push
Confusing upgrade paths
“Directors Cut” games with barely any upgrades
Playstation “Mobile” Games
Playstation “Movies”
Cross Gen Flagship games
And now Live Service games

His north star is how to extract as much money as possible from us. Not make great games. That’s all he cares about.

He’s gonna wreck Playstation.

[ABizzel1]

Fortnite makes billions per year. One game is making more each year than entire publishers full year catalog.

[S2Killinit]

Why the downvotes. Is it bots?

Also, I believe Sony will continue to deliver their AAA single player games as they are good at it.

What puzzles me is, how come people were not this concerned with live service when MS’s gamepass is designed with live service in mind? Do they not want great single player games to play on Xbox? Is it only a concern for PlayStation?

[dumahim]

I’d say that’s part of the reason for their studio acquisitions. I don’t think Starfield will be a service game at all. I wouldn’t expect Obsidian to be making service games. Hellblade II won’t be a service game. I think I’ve heard Fable won’t be one after talk that it was.

I think they might be realizing that they can’t make every game a service based game. I get the feeling that a lot of gamers are getting fed up with it, on top of the fact that the market can only support so many of these kinds of games. I hear people complaining about the service crap in Halo and I was just looking at Forza Horizon 5 Steam numbers last night and there's significantly more people playing FH4 than FH5 right now.

[Lightning77]

Lol Gamepass is absolutely not designed with Live Service in mind. It's clear you don't know what gamepass is. It's subscription service where you play games of all kinds.

[Lightning77]

@Silver that's why I said Gamepass has games of all types.

Gears has single player and MP Halo has the same thing. SoT and H5 are live service games. As I said they have games of all types on gamepass. I never claimed they didn't have any live service games. @S2 said gamepass is designed with Live Service when its designed for all game types. Single or live.

[King_Noctis]

It’s a concern for PS because PS is known for great SP games, not Live Service game. People never wanted those Live Service games, but now why those people suddenly support these kind of games? And tell me, who is gonna make those 10+ live service games?

@Silverhawk

How about Gears Tactic, Wasteland 3, Psychonaunts 2, Age of Empire 4, Ori, and Cuphead?

[S2Killinit]

You guys are just proving that there is a double standard here. Gamepass is DESIGNED FOR live service. But we are criticizing Sony, which is known for making non-live service story driven games, because they have purchased a developer that does live service as if that erases the company’s other portfolio.

@dumahim
Sure, but you are hard pressed to provide major MS examples of story driven games, and also you are having to speculate.

@Lightening
Gamepass is made for filler material in the form of live service games. It needs them.

@King-noctis
True, Playstation is known for great story driven games. Doesnt mean they cant/shouldnt also have live service games. Otherwise they lose out to MS/Tencent/others who do provide these lucrative game models. As to who will make them? Bungie of course. They just acquired them.

As to your list of MS games:
Gears Tactic, Wasteland 3, Psychonaunts 2, Age of Empire 4, Ori, and Cuphead
You DO see that its a weak list right? (and Cup head is on Playstation btw)

[ABizzel1]

People are only "concerned" about what they care about or what affects them. Xbox wasn't publishing AAA GOTY cinematic experiences last-gen. So there was nothing to do but look up from there.

PS4, however, was. This concern is pointless and baseless, as there have been several single player games released already on PS5, and new ones already coming this year and announced in the future. It's fake / self inflicted concern from lack of knowledge.

[thesoftware730]

Hahaha, of course you are.

Sony is slowly doing everything Sony only fans said they wouldn't, now all of it is good stuff. I have never seen a goal post or flip-flop change so frequently.

All of a sudden live service games are cool.

[HICK]

I don't like it. My goal posts are firm.

[Sitdown]

Weird that you say you are fine with that, as if it really mattered to them at this time.

[King_Noctis]

“ Is it stopping you from enjoying their single player games”

So who are making those (more than) 10 live service games?

[S2Killinit]

Bungie of course. Sony just acquired them. Doesnt mean Sony will stop being Sony. Their business model has made them the number one selling console. They will be expanding on that.

[King_Noctis]

Bungie can make 10+ service games in the span of 4 years by themselve?

[Andrew336]

You sound like a bot.

[n-skyline]

“Sony intends to launch over 10 live service games by 2026” seems like a lot.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Sounds like 2 or 3 a year. Depends on how you look at it on if that's a little or a lot. Sounds like extra revenue to continue making big single player games. Just like AAA game sales allowed Sony to publish the quirky games and indie games.

But if I were guessing, I think whatever online changes they are making that balances out their single player experiences they make, it sounds like they are developing something huge.

Recently, they have been acquiring things that have to do with E sports like buying Evo. They've also expanded to PC more than before which has cross play. They start buying companies that do technical support in the background, they buy developers like Bungie that are familiar with live services and shooters, there's rumor of Sony changing their online service.

Whatever the final thing is, I think it's all related. Like that rumored Spartacus name. Sounds like an online battle network.

[Abriael]

The thing for me is, 2-3 games as a service a year definitely is a lot as they would accumulate over time, unless they count on a significant number of them failing (which kind of is the track service of Sony's GAAS to be fair).

If they don't fail, they'd end up with many ongoing GAAS to support, and I'd rather these resources be spent mostly elsewhere. I don't specifically mind GAAS, but it's not like there's a shortage of them on the market.

Sounds a bit like throwing a lot of sh*it at the wall and hoping that some of it sticks. If they had to throw themselves into GAAS, then I'd prefer them to launch say one a year, but putting all of their weight into it so that it's a strong contender.

Wouldn't want Sony to turn into Ubisoft lol.

[UltraNova]

They can release as many GAAS games they want as long as this doesn't impede their single player focused release cadence, and quality for that matter.

[lonewolf10]

2-3 a year is a lot to churn out for decent LS games.

[thesoftware730]

Oh please, something huge my ass. They need to make money and this is the way the market is moving and they want to make more money. They are a company that sees where things are going and have to expand and adapt. There is no magic here, they are doing the same as MS, they just have fans that held on to some misguided fantasy that Sony was a benevolent entity that cares deeply about them.

They will make games similar to every other live service game, Destiny 2, overwatch, CoD:WZ, and the like..fictionalize the greatness of it all if you want but it's nothing special.

The biggest takeaway is that 10 in 4 years? that is insane. It begs the question if that means some of their biggest franchises will see live services added, because I can't imagine them putting out 10 stellar live service games and then still making 3-4 stellar SP games(yearly) and Vr games and porting some to PC...that is a big order to fill in 4 years.

[ApocalypseShadow]

The thing is is that it's happening that they are expanding their online. They told us that this is what they are doing. I play single player and VR. So, online is something I'm not jumping into anyway.

Some gamers wanted Sony to build more online games because that is what they do for fun. I think it's boring and repetitive over single player. But it generates money. We see it makes money. So, why not use that as a revenue stream to continue making their big games.

The only worry is that it cuts into single player games. But Sony knows single player is their bread and butter. Until we see less single player games coming from Sony, I think having balance is okay that supports both types of gamers. Single and multiplayer. GOW and Horizon are coming out that's single player but we know more is coming. What would be wrong in offering 2 online games for multiplayer gamers? There isn't anything wrong with it. It just means they support both and not get locked into doing just one thing.

We shall see though.

[ScootaKuH]

Yeah, I would say it's 10 too many.

[senorfartcushion]

Making own competition

[Orchard]

“Plans Over 10 Live Service Games”

Please, no.

[Jin_Sakai]

No one is forcing you to play them.

[Orchard]

Fortunately. I hope they keep doing what they’re best at and don’t try to become a live service company like others.

[senorfartcushion]

American advertising and YouTube and other things prove by themselves that this isn’t true.

I’m the only person in my circle of friends and family who hasn’t seen the last 4 Marvel movies, and within that circle, I usually am the person who likes Marvel movies.

[Yi-Long]

“No-one is forcing you to buy them”

True, and I won’t, thanks, but it would be a damn shame if Sony is kinda pushing devs like Media Molecule to focus their next LBP game as a GAAS product instead of a SP game with a (free) community-driven creative MP component.

This isn’t good news, and you can tell it isn’t good news because pretty much the most common ‘positive’ response to this news is “come on, it won’t be that bad, people”.

But TBH, I feel Sony has been slipping ever since Herman Hulst took over.

[King_Noctis]

It is this kind of mindset that pushes companies to be greedy.

[S2Killinit]

@Orchard
Dont worry. Sony will not stop the strategy of making big single player games as they are good at it and it has made them the number one selling console. Thie live service plans are to make sure they dont miss out to MS’s live service offerings.

[RaidenBlack]

Some live service projects are ok to have ... but really, no need to go overboard (Ubisoft has already done that)
But on the other hand ...
MS will focus on live-service games to sustain gamepass - to keep players hooked & hence continue subscribing
So, if Sony decides to introduce the rumored "spartacus" - they need to introduce more live service stuffs as per business.

[Flawlessmic]

Im with ya orchard!!

Anything but live service games, show me one live service game that is a masterpiece and ill show you a liar.

Just do what you do best sony, single player games that are the best in the business leave rubbish gaas games to everyone else.

Maybe one or 2 but 10 in the next 4 years, what of waste of your great studios.

[Shane Kim]

My friend, the days of single player games are over. Kind of. These GAAS games generate billions of dollars. Look at Fortnite and Shark Cards in GTA. It would be mad from a business standpoint to think MS and Sony wouldn't want a piece of the cake. Instead of all these concerns that people are writing, accept it or stop gaming all together.

[Flawlessmic]

@shane kim

Mate if they were actual good games i wouldnt mind them, but the storys suck, gameplay is repetitive and a grind not to mention a cheap cash grab

Like i said 1 or 2 is fine to have in your arsenal but 10 in 4 years is a lot. Not to mention most of these games end up being massive failures critally and financially at best there sucesful money wise but still average games and ur ok with that?

U clearly dont have an issue with being given crappy games and paying out ur ass for it judging by your comment.

People like u will be the reason gaming goes to shit and we will end ul with half assed half finished games that keep requring more money to unlock new things because if u dont pay it will require 300 games hrs to unlock one character.

Its the older crowd spending the money not kids.

Console makers should love me co sidering have owned majority of them plus the handhelds since sega mega drive.

People like me are the ones that put money in there pocket. If i have kids and this is what gaming has become trust me my kids wont be playing and the console devs wont see a dime.

[gangsta_red]

@flawlessmic

"People like me are the ones that put money in there pocket"

If that were true then Sony wouldn't be saying they are getting "aggressive with live services" and announcing 10 GaaS type games in the next few years.

Truth is, it's probably because of gamers like you that Sony has to go this route. The industry has changed and it's obvious Sony is playing catch up by making these sudden moves.

But you are right in one aspect of your comment, the older gamers are spending the money, they're spending it on Live Services and GaaS games.

[Shane Kim]

Flawless

What are you talking about. I hate those games like everyone else. But they do generate money, that's a fact.

[EvertonFC]

I hate GaaS but unfortunately Sony have to make them because of GP and casuals flying towards the light like a moth.
My friend and I both 46 yrs have already said we're not the target audience anymore.
VR is our only hope now really and a handful of SP and indie games each year.
Everything else is just GaaS or rinse and repeat seen it all before a thousand times 😔

[kneon]

I can see some pretty cool potential with live service spin-offs of games like HZD and GOT. Those are worlds that are fun to explore.

[XxSPIDEYxX]

It'll be interesting to see how Sony decides to tackle live service. Avengers, Battlefield, Anthem, a successful one seems like it's not the easiest thing to accomplish.

[CBaoth]

exactly, hence the reason they bought Bungie. I'm not happy with the direction but it's not like every 1st party studio is making GaaS games. Bungie is. Insomniac, ND, Santa Monica, Sucker Punch, and Guerilla are all making SP content. With Sony's commitment to PC I do see more co-op integration. They are acutely aware of console concerns of rampant cheating playing by PC gamers (whether real or not) so I do see more PvE in the future.

[Stanjara]

This is exactly what Sony needs.
Said no one ever.
Seems like Microsoft is leading garbage service game mindset, and Sony follows.
Sad.

[Flawlessmic]

Honestly all this talk of live service games has me so down, i think the only thing that will make me feel better is sony buying konami so we can get hideo making a new MGS and a sony developed silent hills and castlevania.

3 classic series that are dust in the wind atm, to have sony specifically being those games back would be amazing.

If not sony then please MS i need those games back.

[jznrpg]

I’d rather they bought Kadokawa . they have been buying anime stuff so it would make sense and they get their game devs too which is what I like , we will see what they do in the future

[Jay767]

I’m down for some great multiplayer sony games a long side the great sony single player games :).

[Shane Kim]

This would be the best of both worlds. Lets just hope Sony don't cut budget for SP games.

[jznrpg]

I doubt they would , it would give them more $ for SP if succusful

[alb1899]

Sounds good but resources goes where the money is. So if they have two or three live service games with success, they will focus on them more than anything.

[Father__Merrin]

Even with pandemic and chip shortages that's fantastic number. Ps5 could easily shift 9ver a million a month easily possibly 2 million but these are the times were in unfortunately

[Good-Smurf]

Hope they don't go ahead with that plan.
Live service games are one too many nowadays.
One or two is fine but 10?
That's far too many.

[Tedakin]

10 live service games in 4 years?

[dumahim]

10 live service games in 4 years.

[Nineball2112]

Inconceivable!

[moriarty1889]

Live service games are bullocks.

[darkrider]

It was just the second best quarter in Playstation history! Playstation network counted 111 million active monthly users!

[Crows90]

All I'm going to say is Sony hasn't touched liver service games.

Path of exile and Warframe are both technically live service games but also incredible games.

[dumahim]

My liver could use some service.

[darkrider]

Here comes bungie. Cool. You got studios to do mp games and others to do sp. Really smart from them. It seems many aren't understanding the reality of the plan of Sony. Trying to spin and think that the best publisher in the world for sp games that is making billions with those games will stop making them... Nope... But now they have studios to make mp games... They already have destiny for starters...

[thesoftware730]

10 though? 10?

Bungie is one studio...and all the studios they have are not enough to produce 10 GOOD live services games in 4 years. On top of 3-4 single-player games PC and VR. Let's stop pretending, technology has moved the industry forward, and being stuck in selling $70 one platform games will not sustain revenue when the Content-driven competition, Netflix, Disney, MS, Amazon, Nvidia, Steam, google, and apple are all moving towards leveraging new cloud, streaming, MT integration, and live service..it's about the content man and PS NOW and $70 one-offs ain't gonna do the trick.

But according to you, we don't see Sony's magical, earth-shattering master plan, but you see it so clearly right? SMFH.

[ScootaKuH]

Live games? Ugh. I don't want this at all.

[CBaoth]

I'll take a F2P Socom from Bungie. It could easily replace COD eventually going exclusive. EA has tanked the BF series so's now the time! Dedicated servers, full clan support, classic and new maps, sell 4P co-op expansions...let season passes and micros make the money.

[ironmonkey]

Hugely agree

[MegaLogic]

Actually happy for Sony, anything that helps them with long term prosperity I will support. I don't like Gass but they absolutely need to start doing what's right for them instead of pandering to their niche blindly short sighted fans.

[GhostofHorizon]

I'm going to reserve my judgement because we don't really know what the games are going to look like, personally I'm not a fan of having to constantly go back to a game.

I have the platinum in Destiny but haven't done any of the expansions yet for example.

I would say the worst part of these games is just the always online aspect, you know that 10 years down the line these games just won't be around anymore and you can't really go back to them. I still enjoy a PS3 game here and there and that's just not possible with these games.

With that said, if they can retain the quality of their single-player games I'm keeping an open mind about it, having one of these games to jump into once a week or something doesn't sound terrible.

[dumahim]

"personally I'm not a fan of having to constantly go back to a game."

Yep, I'm getting pretty tired of it as well. Play a game to completion and move on. I mean, I usually skip DLC most of the time now too since so much of it is junk compared to what the main game is. These service games just feel like work, and that's why I quit playing MMOs.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Sony GAASing up

[Nineball2112]

And so many people think it stinks.

[JayRyu]

You know what The Rock says about what people think!?

Sony is moving in the direction of the money.
Jim Ryan himself said that wants users playing Sony games.

[brewin]

I'm curious what this does to the rest of their lineup. They've clearly got a new direction with wanting to put 10 of these in 4 years! That seems like a lot.

[gangsta_red]

I remember a while back when Phil Spencer was interviewed and said that SP games just didn't have the impact today that MP and GaaS type games do.

Of course other media outlets and some gamers misconstrued that interview as Phil saying he hates SP games. We can obviously see that wasn't true, SP games are all well and good but doesn't even compare to the amount of money a developer or publisher could get with a GaaS game well over time.

And it makes sense, especially if a developer is spending 4 to 6 years making a game just to maybe have strong sales in the first week, then a drop in retail price the second or third and then waiting years to recoup costs on just that one project.

And that's if you're lucky or have a well known IP.

Sony knows this even with their high rated, excellent, cinematic, single player games. All the GOTYs in the world isn't going to pull down Fortnite, Destiny, CoD or Minecraft money.

Good to see Sony getting aggressive in this area with way more GaaS games. It'll be fun to see what they come up with.

[Kribwalker]

It always felt like this was the direction they were also gonna head in. So many folks were living in the bird box universe covering their eyes so they couldn’t see the signs

[gangsta_red]

Agreed, even waaaay back here on N4G there were talks of Sony going in this direction and Phil Spencer saying why the industry is headed this way. Sony was in the process of making these moves they and laying down the foundation early on. It's amazing how some people couldn't see this

https://n4g.com/news/211614...

https://n4g.com/news/207147...

Phil was only speaking on the status of the industry and shared it with gamers.

[gangsta_red]

@Silver_Hawk
Playstation sold off of having a popular console, but the number one games played throughout it's life span has consistently been CoD, FiFA, Madden, Fortnite and other GaaS games, while their exclusives like GoW, Horizon, etc charts high for maybe one month before fading into obscurity.

"All you're looking for is vindication, and not the larger picture"

Not true at all, vindication is seeing Sony at this moment dedicate themselves to multplat games, GaaS, playing Sony games across multiple platforms and Live Services. Exactly what Phil was saying, he never said single player games aren't relevant, they just don't have the impact that GaaS games do which is why Jim Ryan is getting into these type of games and plans to release TEN of them themselves. That is the bigger picture that Sony sees and has seen even when Phil Spencer said it. It's why we saw Sony move Playstation from a more eastern way of gaming business to now a western gaming mindset in gaming.

"Plenty of "Live Service" games totally crash and burn. Having the next Fortnite or Apex Legends is capturing lighting in a bottle. And the more competition in that market, the more will fail."

You can say the exact same thing about single player games. We have seen a lot more single player games crash and burn and very few take off and even after see that same developer then go the GaaS route because their single player offerings weren't paying the bills.

"PlayStation 4 was successful because they did something different from what the industry was doing and attracted a lot of people who valued that."

They didn't do anything different, they capitalized on their success and name brand from previous generations. They're changing their focus that many were saying they would never do and criticized the competition for stating the obvious. Sony knows where the trends in gaming are headed and they know they need to get in on Live and GaaS games if they want to remain on top and relevant to a much more wider audience. It's why we are seeing a now acceptance of releasing their coveted first party games on PC.

"Nintendo did something even more different, and they were also hugely successful."

Nintendo completely bowed out of the console war and went the handheld mobile console route and didn't even try to compete in the HD market. They're successful because they have no competition in their space.

[Christopher]

Sony buys multiple SP studios: *crickets*

Sony buys a single MP studio: look at them getting aggressive in the GaaS market.

[gangsta_red]

Sony buys a couple of SP studios:
Everyone congratulates them and welcomes organic growth.

Jim Ryan quotes in an actual interview getting aggressive with live services and wanting more than 10 GaaS games by 2026:
*Crickets*

Is this how revisionist history works?

[Christopher]

1. Jim Ryan isn't the one quoted.
2. "They're changing their focus that many were saying they would never do" --- this is what you're trying to push. All the SP studio purchases don't speak to a change in focus, but adding to them while growing their SP studios.

Yes, revisionist indeed.

[gangsta_red]

1. Jim Ryan is quoted:
https://www.gamereactor.eu/...

Sonys chief tech is quoted here:
https://www.tomsguide.com/f...

2. Buying serveral sp studios that were mainly PlayStation focused isn't adding anything. And for all we know these SP studios may be working on GaaS type games to meet the 10 wanted by 2026.

But sure....no change in focus.

[Inverno]

10? Bungie can barely make the one they're supporting so far worth playing.

[ironmonkey]

3.6 billion revenue for destiny 2, someone's playing it.

[Inverno]

Humans are stubborn, they keep at things no matter how screwed over they are. Destiny 2 launched with the same issues that made em abandon Destiny 1 and years later Bungies greed shows no sign of stopping. The way they've handled their payed content is ridiculous. Removing access to stuff people bought, and yet their fanbase continues to support Destiny 2. Money has never been and never will be the only indicator of success for a product. A product can be a failure to it's consumers even if financially it's a success for the company.

[Nineball2112]

Imo, Destiny has really been run into the ground. I stopped playing it recently because it just wasn't what it used to be, or maybe it's because it's still the same old, shallow gameplay loop and I got tired of it. - shrug -

[Vizigoth04]

I can see Sony’s strategy moving forward. If Sony decides to adopt a similar service like game pass this will be expected to include your live service games as well as third party Sony can strike deals with. I don’t see games like GoW: Ragnorok or Forbidden West on the service though as these are story driven narrative games. And they sell best through retail and traditional purchase. So I guarantee eventually we will see day and date but it’s going to be in the form of Destiny 3 and Last of Us Factions.

[Sayai jin]

Selective day and date isn't concrete and will be frowned upon by some, while some will be ok with it. If it swlectove it will not be match as a direct competitor to game pass. Time will tell.

[agnosticgamer]

A lot of Sony gamers don't understand... It's what Sony wants not you. If they want to do live service games they will. They also just dropped $3B on a company that part of the agreement okayed for them to stay multiplatform and self publish their games. I really don't understand the purchase... except it guarantees Xbox wont buy them so it will keep Destiny and other Bungie IPs on Sony forever and allow Sony to reap the profits of Bungie's live service games But... um yea Sony doesn't care what's on a N4G gaming forum.

[CS7]

They will when we stop buying their consoles/ games.

The PS3 was a stark reminder…

If you are the leader and you become greedy and arrogant you would be replaced.

My wallet is ready and waiting for whoever makes the strongest single player story driven games.

If Sony wants to try their hand at making the next Avengers/Anthem let them go right ahead without me.

[agnosticgamer]

First off Sony's PS3 initially failed because they wanted to win the Blu-Ray Vs. HD-DVD format war. Which they did largely because of the PS3. They put a very pricy Blu-Ray player in at the time; while the Xbox 360 stuck with a regular DVD drive (With a half-assed HD DVD add-on.). PS 3 was more difficult to program for often times making 3rd party platform games better on the Xbox 360; PS3 was forced to reduce back-compat titles because of the cost.

There were lots of reasons PS 3 didn't sell as well, but it wasn't because it wasn't a quality system it's because it initially cost $599. That was always going to be a non-starter with a lot of households especially in the days when it launched. Once Sony fixed some of the missteps and reduced costs it sold really well and eventually barely outsold the Xbox 360 by the end of the generation.

So you are literally saying... Because Sony grew their studio presence... To include live service games people are going to stop buying their single-player games? Live service games will always be included in the market going forward because their earnings potential is exponentially higher than that of a single-player game. But live service games and single-player games will co-exist in the marketplace for sure.

You don't always have to love every single game a 1st party puts out. If they continue to put out a wide variety of games... Why would it matter if they enter live service games to you?

I am sure Sony has done their homework and studied the live service side of gaming to know of the advantages and disadvantages and the potential lifetime earnings of such games. All the research and data gathering they did tell them to enter the space and they will.

[Ethereal]

It all comes down to the simple fact that games are becoming increasingly expensive to make. We will still get amazing single player games but Sony has to branch out into this market and get a few GAAS bangers to support the overall studio umbrella. Not saying I love all aspects of the GAAS model but it makes sense.

[annoyedgamer]

Sony will stop making SP content if the Grass model is profitable for them. We see this all the time. One thing takes off and all other franchises are gutted and rebooted as live service games. Most fail but companies keep doing it.

[younglj01]

This could work if Project Spartacus is the codename for the PSP2. If Sony releases a streaming version and physical version of the PSP2, similar to the PS5 versions. I think that would be an awesome idea. Internet in my location have an horrible connection so going streaming completely is out of the question for me. With the PSP2 and PS5 you will have the option of mobile and streaming. Just the thought of being able to play Spider-Man on a PSP2 is just unimaginable. If Project Spartacus is the codename of PSP2, it would be an insane to see SM2 running on it at the Spartacus reveal.

I hope with the acquisition of these gaming studios, we get a return to the gaming days of the PS2. Exclusive games is better for the gaming industry and the gaming community. I can't wait to see what 1st party Exclusive games are going to be shown soon.

[agnosticgamer]

You do realize this is not your normal acquisition, right? Bungie can stay multi-platform and self-publish their games. While being wholly owned by Sony not much actually changes for the studio except it will be all Sony's funding and Sony receiving the profits to their GAAS games. It's a little too confusing as of now to say this deal will result in exclusive games or not.

[younglj01]

The backbone of PS gaming has been built on 1st party titles. And to think Sony would purchase Bungie and not get at least one exclusive titles from the creators of Halo would be mind-blown. I don't think Sony would turn Bungie into just an live service factory. Just don't be surprise if Sony/Bungie make an announcement near E3 of an exclusive title that have been in the works for 3 years or so.

[Walweeze]

Sony will still make the single player games...just hilarious reading people just cry about anything now a days. Since ps3 era sony has been consistent with delivering great single player games and many of them are new IPs. I guess ill just continue to play them while others can just make ridiculous comments and articles about sony abandoning single player games🤣

[dumahim]

Now if players could push back on service games like they are NFTs, we'll get somewhere.

[DMgHalt]

what is a live service game, like runescape and world of warcraft?

[annoyedgamer]

Fortnight. Free to download and full of MTX.

[anubusgold]

Live service games suck the whole industry needs to stop with it.

[SprigganN4G]

Japan Studio closed, 10 live service games until 2026... the PlayStation we all know is about to change, drastically. Greed levels are over the top.

[mastershredder]

Service game suck. Aside being trope as F, they basically have the same greedy foundations as mobile apps. While I'm intrigued with the idea of Bungie working on PS / PSN titles (because they DO have a lot of potential and have done really kick ass stuff) but, they have been so damn one trick pony and milking their IPs like Blizzard (yuck). I DO NOT want to see them go straight over to making what is the equivalent to the carney-level ticket/chance game section in a modern family arcade. That would be straight up wasted potential. I can see them having to make time-limited promotional incentive crap like unicorn fart guns and stuff already.

[FanboysKiller]

People think all bungie staff are the same as they were when they developed halo , look into studio 343 staff members before stating a major conclusion out of them , it's like saying the guys who made the online multiplayer of halo but decided to run with the studio name , look into the guys who made the online part after halo 3 , it all makes sense who's the messing staff members after halo 3, even destiny campaign hardly share any elements of single player gameplay , get woke guys , bungie isn't a single player studio no matter how JR chew it by sharing their future plan , it's not a single player game.

[isarai]

Just dont use your top talent to make them, i dont wanna see that something special their 1st party games have, ruined by this.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

As someone who love SONY , I believe the SONY first party single player games will be fine . No worries here.

[Ninver]

The end of gaming is nearing for me personally. The moment Sony fails me I quit.

[JayRyu]

Wow!
Sony buys studio to make games on PC - confirmed
Sony buys Bungie to make live service games - Jim Ryan confirmed
Day and Date games releases are on Sony Gamepass
aka - project Spartacus - pending

[brewin]

My how the tides have turned. Now MS owns a ton of studios that will be putting out alot of SP games over the next several years and then Sony suddenly decides to devote a ton of resources to the live service games that so many of their fans seem to despise?! What the hell is going on?!?!

[Rimeskeem]

While I am not a fan of live service games, when done correctly they can be fun. As long as they don't stop making amazing single player experiences!

[jznrpg]

I don’t mind them having live service games but they better keep the main focus on SP games . Live service is shite to me and many others who love PS. If live service is for casuals and whoever likes them that’s fine but make the dope SP games for us that love PS SP and hate GaaS . I do believe they know SP is what makes them the market leader not live service but I understand they want to delve into live service .

[KingofBandits]

This is less then encouraging. I can't believe there are enough people who actually want this kind of crap

[StarkR3ality]

Glad people are calling Sony out on this, if it was Xbox people would be at the gates with torches.

Live service games aren't all bad, but there's only so many games that people can play, if you work full time you barely get any time at all to play games, let alone pour all your time into these kinds of games that demand you play for hours and hours for little to no reward.

Shown time and time again with only a few exceptions, these games always fail.

[Persian_Immortal]

Not a fan of this but hopefully this means this is Sony's way of maintaining those high production values single player games they make. As far as who is making those 10 live service games here is a short list of what I belive are the live service games.

Naughty Dog : Factions/standalone 2022?
Bungie : Matter (2025)
Destiny 3
Haven Studios : Sims like game metaverse? Pshome
Deviation Games : FPS RPG
Guerrilla Games : Simon Larouche KZ2/R6 Director most likely FPS or Horizon Machine Hunter
Firewalk : Bungie/Cod Alumni most likely FPS
Insomniac Games : hiring for mutliplayer possibly Marvel related
London Studio : also working on online project