10 years on from the PS4, I'm lamenting the PlayStation that could have been

VG247:
When I realised recently that the PS4 would be turning 10 years old today, I truly felt every single one of those years right down to my bones. I might only be 26 but, jeez, that amount of time sure does change a person. It gets you to reflect on just what those changes are; who do I still have in my life, am I happy with who I've become, and most importantly, does PlayStation finally have games?
Sorry to bring up that old bit of PS3 discourse when we're meant to be talking about the PS4, but looking back on the last generation (and all the time that's passed since it arrived), I've come to see just how much of a shift PlayStation made from the platform it was, to the platform it now is. And I don't think I like it.

[Brazz]

Playstatio used to be a better place, far away from all the GAAS... They better put their shit together, before Xbox can use all the "new" studios/Ip's and steal the momentum.

[isarai]

While I groan at PlayStations GAAS focus, I don't think MSs even harder GAAS focus and lack of quality is going to "steal the momentum"

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

I agree. If anything, Sony is trying too hard and failing to be MS, but when Sony are themselves, they mop the floor with their closest competitor.

Also, I do not understand the line of thinking that company producing fewer exclusives than usual and focusing more on GAAS had better watch out for company who still somehow turns out even less games and focuses even more on GAAS. Anyone who genuinely dislikes the track PlayStation is on should be that much more critical of the path MS has been on for even longer.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

@Unknown_Gamer5794,

I do agree, it feels like Sony is trying to emulate Xbox for whatever weird reason, Playstation already dunks on Xbox and has for generations. So to see them head in the direction they are now is mind boggling.

[S2Killinit]

“All the Gaas”

What gaas? They haven't even released any…

[ApocalypseShadow]

They don't care. It's just the same dumb narrative they continue to spew.

[ChasterMies]

How far back in time are we going? Remember the days of Atari 2600 when one person would code an entire game in 6 months? Good times. Though not really.

[bloodymeatballz]

Fk this rticull

[Retroman]

As a 65 year old gamer I agree with who published this article . Playstation has changed over the years, im staying with my PS3 and PS4 consoles. they have games i enjoy, PS5 is a Whole another level for me im not willing to take that step into open world type games. far as for me Playstation do Not have games I enjoy anymore few trickle here and there.

[shinoff2183]

You on the switch then?

[phoenixwing]

He better be on switch or pc because xbox is watered down playstation

[Retroman]

Last time I owned any Nintendo products was Super Nintendo
back in the day. I would Never buy a Switch.
Sorry my liking of games not your cup of tea . I can't see myself playing the same game since 2006
same format but different titles over and over and over and over again to 2023 I like variety different platforms.

[ravinash]

@Retroman
I remember back in the day going from Spectrum to C64 to Amega to console/PC... developers were always trying new things and we as gamers were always spoiled for choice.
These days its the big dev names have a hard time giving us new games, because of big budgets they can't risk make something that will fail. so in the end we just end up with the same small group of games over and over with just a new number at the end but not really a new game at all.

[Vits]

Unfortunately, PlayStation's "smaller" games probably died with the Japan Studio. They were the guys behind things like LocoRoco, Patapon, White Knight Chronicles, Tokyo Jungle, Freedom Wars, Gravity Rush, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. Without them we still have London Studios and Media Molecule doing "smaller" and more experimental titles, but those guys have been silent for the last couple of years. The rest of the studios are definitely on the cinematic experience loop.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I think it's greatly understated how big of a loss Japan Studio was, those are most of the games I would happily fork out the money to buy a Playstation console for, Playstation really hasn't been the same since.

I would kill for a Gravity Rush 3, if I remember right, the 2nd game ended on a bit of a cliff hanger.

[DarXyde]

Japan Studio's closure is still Sony's biggest sin in my eyes. I absolutely loved their games. Gravity Rush 2 was one of my favorite games in a long time. Super underrated, along with Siren and even Locoroco, Patapon, and The Last Guy.

Those weren't massive budget undertakings and it really would have been amazing to keep that studio of wonder. I get that they weren't these big AAA titles, but that's the point: they don't have to be.

Gaming in general is less interesting for me and I think I'll hang it up after this generation. Japan Studio and Media Molecule have always been those excellent studios for me. I get that budgets are getting out of control, but again, not every game needs to be this crazy financial undertaking.

[Einhander1972]

PLAYSTATION CHINA HERO PROJECT

Games

Daba: Land of Water Scar
The Winds Rising
EXILEDGE
The God Slayer
AI-LIMIT
Convallaria
AWAKEN: Astral Blade
Will-less
Lost Soul Aside
EVOTINCTION
Boundary
In Nightmare
ANNO: Mutationem
F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch

And they also have the India Hero Project

[shammgod]

I just want Fat Princess back. Please bring it back!!! PLEASE!!!!!!

[Retroman]

As a 65 year old gamer I agree with who published this article . Playstation has changed over the years, im staying with my PS3 and PS4 consoles. they have games i enjoy, such as Ratchet and Clank Crack in Time, Tools of Destruction, GT 5, Knack, Diablo 3, Drive club, R-type Final 2 etc..

[isarai]

They are certainly lacking in creativity compared to last gen, and even moreso the gen before that. Every gen they seem to step a little bit closer and closer to play it safe. I miss the odd offshoot project with far out concepts. Hell Gravity Rush 1 and 2 and Puppeteer I still hold as hidden masterpieces, they shine far more than a gem. Hopefully Asobi will be just as cool as it's basically just a small studio who absorbed Japan studio and it's staff anyways. We'll have to wait and see, but honestly the wait is getting ridiculous this gen.

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

PlayStation has always had games. Troll harder. If you don’t like PS exclusives then fine, you do you.

[P_Bomb]

“Sorry to bring up that old bit of PS3 discourse..”

PS3 era turned the corner into something special. Lots of first party support, new IP galore, lots of variety. Competition was furious. Peak output.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

The PS3 just had some major stumblings at the beginning, once it got started, the PS3 really popped off.

[Good-Smurf]

Gravity Rush case y'all didn't bought the game so I don't blame them calls it quit.
Even the excellent GR2 still no one buys it.
People slept on Sony's smaller internal teams it's sad.

[derek]

Complain, complain, complain. I go on ps store and see hundreds of games, AAA, AA and A etc to buy and play. Is this an article about wanting more of these smaller indy games, because they're there more than ever before. Or is this just another whine about playstation article about how they're aren't making such and such games that cater to my specific likes, we all know these articles attract the usual deranged playstation haters.

[Plague-Doctor27]

How am I supposed to criticize them for only making open world narrative games if they start making some multiplayer live service games too?

[ApocalypseShadow]

Complete nonsense.

The only thing Sony did was up their game when it comes to realizing their worlds when it comes to their games. GT7 is bigger and better than previous titles when it comes gameplay, graphics, online competition. You could make a linear Spider-Man game. But gamers would complain you can't swing through the city like Spider-Man does. Open world makes that game more just by web slinging. Games like Onimusha were great. But Ghost of Tsushima destroys that game in, again, gameplay, graphics, story, presentation, etc. Same goes for GOW, Horizon, Ratchet, etc.

Sony also publishes and or supports smaller indie titles. Like Stray, Sifu, Trek to Yomi, etc Sony also supports indie projects from China and India to help the next generation of game developers. Sony is also the only console company that supports VR which takes gaming to that next level. Making games like GT7 and RE8 even more thrilling than looking at a TV. PS VR 2 puts you in the game.

As for in-house games that are smaller, look no further than the FREE pack in game of Astrobot. Showing gamers and developers what their new and innovative controllers came do. VR gamers already new how innovative Astrobot was in VR. They gave flat gamers a taste. Asobi is also their Japanese studio. Sony refreshed by making that developer the lead because of the fun they make in flat or VR. We have yet to see their next game. But it's already a given that it'll be fun. Those other teams took to long to make anything. Sometimes having to jump a generation to realize their games. You can't spend 10 years making a game and having Sony wait for the results.

As for GaaS, they HAVEN'T released one yet to spew nonsense that they are concentrating on it. Not one. Every game released is single player with the exception of GT7. Their remakes and remasters are single player. Yes. They want to create an online game with longevity. But online isn't their only focus.

Stay on PS3 or PS4. No one cares. Those consoles had online games considered GaaS, open world games, etc too.

[Zenzuu]

I sincerely hope Sony focuses and do what they do best, and that is stick to releasing new single player games from their first party studios, including eccentric/wacky/ Japanese games from Japan Studios, and stop pouring resources for Live Service titles or Multiplayer games.

[Daeloki]

Wtf are you on about? I have more games than I have time to play, and they're almost exclusively single player games too. The fact there aren't any big interesting ones (to me) coming out for the rest of the year actually feels relaxing, I have time to catch up on my backlog. And no I don't care if theyre Playstation exclusives or not, a game is a game is a game.

[plmkoh]

I bought 3 copies of Gravity Rush and 2 copies of Gravity Rush 2 and even I would admit that they just cannot survive in todays gaming world.

Unfortunately people these days want some shitty grindy game or multiplayer grave digging game instead. It's just how things turned out and if the world changes then so be it, I'll just leave.

[lellkay]

Just seing a Gravity Rush picture is enough to tell me where this article is going. A painfully average and dull to play game with a rather cool and unique gimmick and a decent art style. The bastion of all "sony don't take risks any more" discourse.

The games didn't sell well. Sony gave them a second game and it still didn't sell well, and failed to make any real waves among players.

Sony continue to make amazing games, and people will throw out the "it's all the same third person game blah blah"

The rose tinted eyes people have for PS3 and how they really want to try and tell people it was a better era than the PS4 is wild.

[RaiderNation]

I guess I'm living In an alternate universe because for me the PS5 has been pretty damn great so far.

[Charlieboy333]

Playstation brought out some of their best games ever in the latter years of the PS4. I think you should cone back in another 10 years...hopefully you'll be smarter by then.

[jznrpg]

Man, some people have a lot of time on their hands. To think about the past and what could have been sounds very stressful and pointless. You can shape the future but we can’t change the past.

[Pepsi_Man3000]

Ah. Another article saying how sony isnt what it used to be. I said it before and I'll say it once more. Those cool whacky experimental games dont sell dick unfortunately. Its all about the money. Tis an issue with gaming in general and not just sony. No matter what kind of amazing, innovative games you put out, if theyre not selling then they get the axe. Not enough people support those kinds of games. Its the same riskless safe games or the constant sequels that sell millions. The horizons, the god of wars, the spidermans, the resident evils, monster hunters, etc etc. Weve got plenty of devs still putting out great games that are fresh, uncommon, or innovative but its like they have to get lucky to find success. Oh but when they shut down everyone wants to come out crying, screaming and throwing up wondering what and how it happened