Xbox and EA have recently made baffling moves that define how bleak the future of the gaming industry is with major companies at the helm. Ryan Bates from "Last Word on Gaming" posits in this op-ed that maybe it's not ineptitude, but intention.
The problem for PlayStation right now – through a heady combination of its own adjusted marketing plans, the aftermath of the pandemic, and never-ending development cycles – is that it feels like it’s abandoned the kinds of software that fans have always valued most.
My issue with the announcements over the past 2 years or so is that now these "big" announcements they hint at or whatever end up being just PC ports.
For most of their core audience, the people watching, we've played them, a PC announcement being made into a big thing and counting as one of their major announcements means f*** all to most of us. Also you have to think if they didn't have them then first party wise they don't have much else.
So now it's split between PC ports (God of War Ragnarök), live service shit (Concord) and the first party games we actually do want (Astrobot).
Yeah they really should leave the PC announcements to blog posts, most of the audience watching are PlayStation console players, not PC players.
I'm not sure I understand the stance. They surely want to sell their games no matter what platform they are on. Also leaving out PC port announcements isn't gonna magically make more PS5 announcements.
This particularly was a bad showcase in my opinion. Derivative Souls-like (which in all honesty I will check out because I like the genre, but I couldn’t tell you the names of the games without looking it up or how they’re different from one another), Concord, a mid Silent Hill 2 Remake. I’m not really into platformers so Astrobot didn’t stick to me. The only thing that got me hyped was Monster Hunter: Wilds.
Truth be told though, most of these showcases are ass anyways. I’m struggling to think of one that was firing on all cylinders like the good ol’ E3 conference announcements.
The shift to GaaS is absolute sh*t and for them to think that’s the game to make the focus shows just gives me little hope for the future of gaming, especially the state that the industry is in.
I wish they’d have shown Wolverine or something that would’ve been a “holy sh*t” moment… but nope.
Ballad of Antara and Where Winds Meet. They both look dope to me 🤷🏽. N If Concord is on PS+ then I'll take it. It wasn't as bad as people are making it out to be.
This gen just sucks, period. More PS4 games have come out than PS5 exclusives, and we're almost 4yrs in. Then this unwanted GAAS push which is completely tone deaf, and not what their fanbase wanted. Feel like im just watching a childhood friend kill themselves with an addiction.
the gas is in ADDITION, to all their other games, thats why they brought more studios,
so the old ones can continue doing what they do best.
The argument 'GAAS is in addition to what we already had' kinda goes out of the window when we can see very clearly a lack of SP offline games, Sony killing studios and IPs left, right and center, and pushing 'always online' in games that never had it and don't need it (Gran Turismo).
You can clearly tell that earlier generations offered far more in terms of diversity/variety of genres, be it Everybody's Golf, Driveclub/Motorstorm, LittleBigPlanet, Modnation Racers, Jak & Daxter, Gravity Rush, Ico, Sly Cooper, Locoroco, Tearaway, whatever.
It feels like they killed off anything that wasn't going to sell massive numbers but did offer something fresh and original and were just 'fun'.
Imagine if some of those new studios were working on single player games. Sony would have it locked. Instead we get trash.
Though, do note that since summer last year, more and more games have been current gen only. Lots of smaller titles, but of bigger stuff there's Baldurs Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Rise of the Ronin, Dragons Dogma 2, FFRebirth and so on. Being on ps4 only, means you will be missing out on a lot of releases both major and minor.
Yeah this 9th generation has been the biggest let down out of every console generation I've experienced since the 8 bit era.
For the first time in near 30 years I feel like Sony has completely abandoned the fanbase that got them to where they are. We see GAAS being shoved down our throats and fun replaced by lootboxes and milking us. This isn't the Sony experience I ever wanted
if I wanted to be exploited I'd play a mobile game
I find the modern line up though just lacks innovation which earlier generation games had in spades we only get what is going to sell big numbers even if the games a single player games it's likely so by the book I feel like I've played it before.
I think the PS2 was likely the golden era for experimental game design everything since that has been game design by bored room
Atleast I think they've pivoted back to singleplayer stuff. But it will take a while. I think they will announce some big game next year, like Ghost Of Tsushima 2 or something. Notice how they showed us Concord and Astro Bot a few months before release. I think the time of knowing what's on the horizon is over.
Although the lack of 1st party ps5 games only is there. I'm still having a blast. Much more then the ps3 generation.
Not me I mean I am having fun, but the PS3 generation was my favorite ever, by far, and man do I miss those times...
Care to list all the "Sony" GAAS games with all the loot boxes and milking? Aside from Destiny (which already was like that when they bought it), what are you referring to?
Granblue relink
FF7 Rebirth
Helldivers 2
Rise of the ronin
Stellar blade
Concord
Astro bot
Silent hill 2
How is this years list not mostly games that a playstation fan would like?
Sony fans usually just type list out in abundance to make it look good, no matter how crappy. I used to literally laugh out loud back in the ps3 days when people will type out long list of exclusives, and add “Afrika” and also “the last guardian” and “the agent”. Lol The last guardian didn’t even see that generation, and sony fans are still waiting for the agent.
TL;DR ignore the sony list, they just like to name games only on their console no matter the status.
Versus, I know you have to defend to the end, but dont be dense.
If you read the comments, you can see that people are talking about Sony's first-party output, past innovation, and its usually high-level game output. You posted a list of 3 games that are not out yet: 2 mid games, one Gaas, and 2 paid-for 3rd party exclusives. I do not hate your list, but that is not what people here are talking about.
I am replying to the article.
i"s that it feels like it’s abandoned the kinds of software that fans have always valued most."
Sony is making deals for mostly single player games just as it always has.
And the argument that only games made by studios that Sony owns matter is beyond brain dead and i just look at all the games released on a console that isn't on the competitions.
The only game on that list that interests me is astro bot and I'm a PS fan since it's inception. Let be honest there's not a lot of amazing games on that list maybe astro bot and helldivers
FF another rpg in a long running franchise selling less and less each entry
Helldivers 2 a fun live service game I got a few hours of enjoyment with friends
Rise of Ronin may aswell play ghost of Tsushima
Stellar blade yeah ok you have to admit this one is beyond niche
Concord amazing cutscenes lackluster Game
Astro bot day 1 I'm so there
Silent hill 2 verdict is still out on this one.
Granblue ok I take stellar blade being niche back granblue I've never heard of
The games your listing here are not all that great outside of astro bot and helldivers.
This is the bare minimum release schedule as far as exclusives I'd expect similar on switch and Xbox really.
You'd expect similar on xbox and switch but you aren't getting it. Without looking into it i just think hellblade 2, princess peach and paper mario is the only console exclusives that the competition has released and are selling less than the "niche" games on the playstation side.
Actually I thought paper Mario sold quite well peach however yeah that was a flop on the switch side of things they kind of have an excuse it's the end of life for that system but they are still getting new games of a good quality.
Yeah Xbox I don't own a Xbox I don't want one especially with their recent flip flopping and basically killing of the brand but there's a good chance they have a new Doom game this year and I've been a room fan since the first game.
@VersusDMC yes, I own the first four on that list and I have had an absolute blast with them. For those who play a variety of games, they really are fantastic with over 100 hours of gameplay for each title. Granted, only one is a true "blockbuster" like a traditional first party Sony game. Which is Rebirth.
Sounds like the people complaining only want that, which is fine, I guess. Their loss by not choosing all the games on that list 😂
Silent Hill is looking a little rough and not my cup of my tea, but the rest of that list is excellent.
The talented music maker discusses her process, challenges and, of course, magic!
Sony owns a fair few iconic franchises - many dating right back to the original PlayStation. But while we’re pretty familiar with the likes of ongoing series such as God of War, Horizon, and Gran Turismo, there are plenty of PlayStation franchises that haven’t seen the light of day in a long time. So in this video, we’re going to be taking a look at the status of PlayStation’s many IPs, and checking in on when we last heard from them.
Indeed. We hear this “underutilized” talk as if every old franchise should have a comeback or reboot.
When new IPs start looking like Concord, you can't blame people for wanting another Resistance or Killzone instead.
J&D and Resistance are good ones. As much as I love these, though, I'm not sure they would payoff without an enormous marketing push. Younger gamers today do not have taste and the older gamers that would appreciate these might not be enough. But yeah, I would day 1 Resistance.
Well that’s just the consequence of consistently producing new IPs isn’t it. Not all studios can be or want to be like polyphony digital who made gran turismo all the time.
Here lies The Infamous Series; once a shining beacon of free flying, lighting bolt sniping, and wire riding amazing gameplay, it has been laid to rest and be forgotten for what seems like forever despite being loved by millions. Plot next to Wipeout across from NBA Jam.
Still baffling they cancelled Twisted Metal, Factions 2 and Spider-Man Multiverse LS game but thought Concord looked good enough.
Ape Escape, Parappa / Lammy, Gravity Rush, good times. Always hoping for them to make a return, or at least similar type games, such as the newly-announced Astro Bot, but one game isn't enough. Bring back the joyfulness of the 90's era of gaming.
Name someone that isn't trying to look us these days maybe cdpr.
Take two, ubi and yes even PlayStation are pushing us to own nothing and be happy with our live service ad injected games on a sub so they can raise prices at will and take access away when they see fit.
If it keeps up I'll be a full time retro gamer and this industry will be crashing hard
As rediculas as it sounds we need government reforms to defend consumer rights