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Where do we go from here PlayStation Nation?
- Thread starter Ass of Can Whooping
- Start date
- Drama Cringe
MatrixReloaded101
Member
Sony could lose a big piece of the market because they will not be able to compete with MS's output.
MS can put out a couple big games out each month with the number of studios they own and these games will be cheaper through game pass while Sony is charging $70 for their first party games. The value swings more in MS favor because they can offer more games at lower prices.
But two things Sony does better than MS, is managing studios and releasing higher quality games (based on reviews), if they can continue to do that and build more organic first party studios quickly than maybe this isn't a impossible situation.
It won't work for Sony like it does for Nintendo. Sony don't have mega franchises like Pokémon or Mario. No matter how big Uncharted or God of War are they don't come close to Nintendo IP. Sony can't just churn out AAA games as well. Their games are high budget and take a long damn time to create and polish. Nintendo can churn out the Mario Parties, the Pokemons and etc as the development and cost is way shorter and cheaper. Nintendo can survive on first party where as Sony don't have any chance. They need to rely on their 3rd party partners. And if they continue to lose them to Microsoft they are fucked. Let's not forget those 3rd party game sales and microtransanctions are what fund Sonys first party and the ability to make risks creating IP.
John Wick
Member
They won't lose Fifa. It has to be multiplatform.
ChiefDada
Member
You're not making any sense.
Sony and Nintendo are in similar situation in the sense that they are console manufacturers who focus heavily on closed ecosystem strategy. Microsoft is disrupting this approach.
DonkeyPunchJr
World’s Biggest Weeb
Sony should fund a covert operation to entrap and humiliate Xbox execs by posing as an underage boy on Tinder
BouncyFrag
Member
Kerotan
Member
Where do sony go from here?
Microsoft are really throwing down the gauntlet. Bethesda, Minecraft and now Activision Blizzard. There will likely be more.
Sony are in a very strong position and continue to get Minecraft and will likely continue to get call of duty and some other Activision games.
However their position of power they find themselves in is weakened going forward and with more acquisitions inevitable surely they'll react?
Possible moves for Sony.
1. Buy a publisher.
The obvious list is Sega, Konami, kadowa, Ubisoft, Take 2 or Square Enix.
With sony open to PC ports buying a publisher is now more feasible as they'd make a bigger return on their investment compared to making their games playstation only. This could be part of their strategy change.
2. Merge with Nintendo. Both are Japanese and together would have the greatest line up in gaming with an insanely big fan base. They also don't directly compete much so together would be a huge force to be reckoned with.
Is it time they bury their differences and merge? A 2 console strategy moving forward would make sense. The portable / hybrid switch and the powerful traditional home console. They'd also have more buying power for the likes of Ubisoft or Take 2.
3. Sony gets bought out by Apple or Google. I'm not sure what sort of money we'd be talking here? 300BN? I've no idea but what I do know is Apple and Google have been desperate to get into gaming and owning Sony and the PlayStation brand would guarantee a dominant position in future. I'm also not sure if the Japanese government would allow this but maybe a merger between Apple/Google and Sony instead? Again I'm not sure if it's allowed.
4. Merge with EA. Sony are much bigger then EA but I don't think they could ever afford them. Could a merger be possible? EA made no secrets in the past they'd like to make a console of their own. Well now they'd have playstation under their belt and playstation would have EA.
Do any of the above make sense and is there a 5th option?
Microsoft are really throwing down the gauntlet. Bethesda, Minecraft and now Activision Blizzard. There will likely be more.
Sony are in a very strong position and continue to get Minecraft and will likely continue to get call of duty and some other Activision games.
However their position of power they find themselves in is weakened going forward and with more acquisitions inevitable surely they'll react?
Possible moves for Sony.
1. Buy a publisher.
The obvious list is Sega, Konami, kadowa, Ubisoft, Take 2 or Square Enix.
With sony open to PC ports buying a publisher is now more feasible as they'd make a bigger return on their investment compared to making their games playstation only. This could be part of their strategy change.
2. Merge with Nintendo. Both are Japanese and together would have the greatest line up in gaming with an insanely big fan base. They also don't directly compete much so together would be a huge force to be reckoned with.
Is it time they bury their differences and merge? A 2 console strategy moving forward would make sense. The portable / hybrid switch and the powerful traditional home console. They'd also have more buying power for the likes of Ubisoft or Take 2.
3. Sony gets bought out by Apple or Google. I'm not sure what sort of money we'd be talking here? 300BN? I've no idea but what I do know is Apple and Google have been desperate to get into gaming and owning Sony and the PlayStation brand would guarantee a dominant position in future. I'm also not sure if the Japanese government would allow this but maybe a merger between Apple/Google and Sony instead? Again I'm not sure if it's allowed.
4. Merge with EA. Sony are much bigger then EA but I don't think they could ever afford them. Could a merger be possible? EA made no secrets in the past they'd like to make a console of their own. Well now they'd have playstation under their belt and playstation would have EA.
Do any of the above make sense and is there a 5th option?
Venom Snake
Member
I am not a fan of "if you want to be competitive, buy your competitor's head" tactics, the right to choose is an elementary good that i like to have.
Hate the idea of having to subscribe to newer and newer services in order to watch a series/movie or play a game that interests me.
But it seems there is no escaping it anymore. Now I'm gonna have to pay for PS+ and fucking Gamepass...
Oh wait, i won't have to. This is the right to choose. Use it however you like.
Hate the idea of having to subscribe to newer and newer services in order to watch a series/movie or play a game that interests me.
But it seems there is no escaping it anymore. Now I'm gonna have to pay for PS+ and fucking Gamepass...
Oh wait, i won't have to. This is the right to choose. Use it however you like.
The Lunch Legend
GAF's Nicest Lunch Thief and Nosiest Dildo Archeologist
It's over, bros.
Airbus Jr
Banned
You seems to underestimate sony ip
In any cases the absense of cod will give opportunity for sony to grow and rebuilt their own fps game
(They will learn not to rely to much in third party game in the future)
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StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Sony's user base has barely budged. It was at about 100M for PS1, 150M for PS2, 85-90 for PS3 and 120M for PS4.
Gaming has increased a ton since PS1, yet their latest user base is only 20 million more units than 25 years ago when PS1 was around. It's actually gone down vs PS2 days. And that doesnt even include all the sales they used to get from PSP 10 years ago.
Game companies have really zoomed up sales and profits from cutting out disc sale cuts to stores and the big skew to mtx which are probably 99% profit transactions.
However, there's only so much you can squeeze from a stagnant user base unless the trend to even more digital copies and mtx keeps going up and up.
But the biggest way to increase sales is to expand the pie with more pools of gamers. Sony is doing the same thing, but slower paced than MS. Sony is doing PC ports of their first party hits. Something they never touched with a 10 ft pole for decades.
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yurinka
Member
Each CoD sells 20-30M, I assume that under the half of it on PS. Under 10-15M is under 10% of PS4 consoles sold.
A portion of these users already have an Xbox or gaming PC, or may simply don't care and buy other games in PS instead. Or came via marketing deal with Sony which now will go to other game.
So the amount of players who would leave PS would be a tiny percent, which also can be compensated with the growth Sony is having every year and same goes with game sales, remember 1600-1700 million games until Sony started to merge PS4 & PS5 sales in their reports following to PS5 release.
So won't have an important impact on PS hardware and software sales and this is considering they stop making games for PS, which I think at least partially is the case.
Spartacus will start with around 50M subs, around 2X of the Gamepass ones. PS consoles are selling around 2X than MS. Even if they don't remove the Activision revenue from PS, Sony's game division will continue generating more revenue than the MS one.
Some talk as if Sony would be doomed, and it isn't the case. MS now will be a top actor in mobile gaming, eSports and PC, where they will be bigger but they don't compete with Sony there. And they now have a lot of teams and IPs more.
But regarding to the areas of direct competition with Sony, things won't change a lot: MS will continue behind. But not that far, now they will be very close. Now there will be a closer competition. Which it's fair to assume will push Sony to keep improving more than before.
A portion of these users already have an Xbox or gaming PC, or may simply don't care and buy other games in PS instead. Or came via marketing deal with Sony which now will go to other game.
So the amount of players who would leave PS would be a tiny percent, which also can be compensated with the growth Sony is having every year and same goes with game sales, remember 1600-1700 million games until Sony started to merge PS4 & PS5 sales in their reports following to PS5 release.
So won't have an important impact on PS hardware and software sales and this is considering they stop making games for PS, which I think at least partially is the case.
Spartacus will start with around 50M subs, around 2X of the Gamepass ones. PS consoles are selling around 2X than MS. Even if they don't remove the Activision revenue from PS, Sony's game division will continue generating more revenue than the MS one.
Some talk as if Sony would be doomed, and it isn't the case. MS now will be a top actor in mobile gaming, eSports and PC, where they will be bigger but they don't compete with Sony there. And they now have a lot of teams and IPs more.
But regarding to the areas of direct competition with Sony, things won't change a lot: MS will continue behind. But not that far, now they will be very close. Now there will be a closer competition. Which it's fair to assume will push Sony to keep improving more than before.
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DJ12
Member
Microsoft be buying up stuff PlayStation rely on third parties for, surely you see the end game here?
Gamepass on everything.
If we believe heinsenbergfx4, who does have beer sessions with MS higher ups, Microsoft have already asked Sony if they can play on the platform.
No way Ms brought Bethesda and now Activision for fallout/Skyrim and CoD to give it away for pittance to subscribers that massively underpay for the subs.
All this is just so PlayStation can no longer feasibly say no. (And eventually to charge Xbox customers what they should be paying)
Gamepass on everything.
If we believe heinsenbergfx4, who does have beer sessions with MS higher ups, Microsoft have already asked Sony if they can play on the platform.
No way Ms brought Bethesda and now Activision for fallout/Skyrim and CoD to give it away for pittance to subscribers that massively underpay for the subs.
All this is just so PlayStation can no longer feasibly say no. (And eventually to charge Xbox customers what they should be paying)
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Rhazer Fusion
Member
Isn’t Sony planning on bringing some, if not most of those juicy exclusives to PC anyway? That’s why I keep saying Sony has to be really careful with this PC strategy.
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First party Sony is nothing compared to Nintendo first party. Sony cannot pump out first party games like Nintendo as they cost more and take longer to develop. While Sony takes 4 years to create the next big Last of Us game, Nintendo can outsource a shitty Pokémon game that looks like a PS2 game and still make more money than the next Last of Us. Sony need 3rd party so they better hope they don't lose anymore or start getting their wallet ready. On top of that Nintendo make more money than Sony on hardware.
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rickybooby87
Member
Further thoughts:
Sony needs to blunt the blow of these huge consolidations we see happening before 50-75% of AA and AAA 3rd party publishers get sent to the Microsoft farm, never to see the lush blue fields of the Sony farm ever again. I don't think they can spin up studios/bust out new IPs fast enough to combat the disruption that the disappearance of third-party titles will cause.
They still have a decent amount of cash on hand that should allow them to make investments elsewhere for some of the smaller publishers, heck, there are even other options besides cash for acquiring companies, and taking on debt isn't out of the question either.
A reason as to why they might not want to do it, if you buy a publisher and they take a dump, that's a big liability on your earnings report. MS can afford to eat that because they got that dumb cheddar.
The immediate effects of Bethesda/Activision Blizzard acquisitions? Not much, but the long-term effects could be a compounding issue, not even including other studios/publishers that MS could be looking to gobble up.
Sony needs to blunt the blow of these huge consolidations we see happening before 50-75% of AA and AAA 3rd party publishers get sent to the Microsoft farm, never to see the lush blue fields of the Sony farm ever again. I don't think they can spin up studios/bust out new IPs fast enough to combat the disruption that the disappearance of third-party titles will cause.
They still have a decent amount of cash on hand that should allow them to make investments elsewhere for some of the smaller publishers, heck, there are even other options besides cash for acquiring companies, and taking on debt isn't out of the question either.
A reason as to why they might not want to do it, if you buy a publisher and they take a dump, that's a big liability on your earnings report. MS can afford to eat that because they got that dumb cheddar.
The immediate effects of Bethesda/Activision Blizzard acquisitions? Not much, but the long-term effects could be a compounding issue, not even including other studios/publishers that MS could be looking to gobble up.
Airbus Jr
Banned
Sony can learn and adapt to this situation
Im sure they can come up with some new ideas
Im still angry at xbox for putting ps on this situation
Seriously feck them from taking away activision and bethesda game from ps gamers
This phil spencer guy is the devil and not willing to play nice with the other two
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Tarin02543
Member
Sony needs to retaliate with Sega.
Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
Two words buddy.
Jade. Raymond.
Jade. Raymond.
Rhazer Fusion
Member
I still think it’s crazy to supposedly allow your games on the competitor’s platform when you spent $70 billion on them. I know they will be making money, but it still weird and almost counterintuitive to me. They have to keep some exclusives I figure.
PaintTinJr
Member
Xbox's and gamepass' problem IMHO is still going to be the lack of new original content at that release cadence you mentioned.
Of the three deals Microsoft have done, the only great one IMO was them getting Minecraft long before it had reached its peak. Both Bethesda and ActivisionBlizzard both seem past their best - and the reason they were available to be bought.
CoD and Halo are essentially rival twitch shooters games - that completely take hold of their gamer audience to the exclusion of playing other games IMO - so owning both becomes problematic in giving both enough breathing space. It also creates a bit of a vacuum on PlayStation - even if Xbox still release CoD on PS5 - and provides a great opportunity for a new FPS IP to fill that role - either from Sony 1st Party or a 3rd party publisher.
I think this is a better way from Microsoft to spend $70b than give it as a dividend to their shareholders, but I don't think it damages PlayStation or the wider games industry much in the long run. CoD, etc will be usurped or run out of legs before they do any lasting damage from being part of this acquisition, would be my guess.
iHaunter
Member
Yep. They still sell out instantly.
Outside of WoW which I unsubbed for 2 months ago. I player literally none of those games.
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wipeout364
Member
If only Sony hadn’t locked down Goodbye Volcano High as an exclusive Phil wouldn’t have been forced into these extreme measures.
A game with the FIFA name has to be multiplatform. EA is trying to get rid of FIFA. Player licenses go under FIFPRO.
They can easily release Football by EA Sports and make a truckload of money. After all they have no competition.
Javthusiast
Banned
The only way forward is for Sony and Nintendo to merge into one big mega corp. Let's do this baby!
akaFullmetal
Member
You raaaaaaaat!I'm gonna move to Xbox ecosystem
I was loyal sony fan since ps1 days
But its time to move on
I'm Xbox fan now
skit_data
Member
Personally it doesn’t impact my console of choice, neither Zenimax or Activision/Blizzard have IP that I consider essential to me personally.
But, this will probably hurt Playstation economically at some point which in turn possibly leads to a lower and/or slower output of their 1st party games.
But, this will probably hurt Playstation economically at some point which in turn possibly leads to a lower and/or slower output of their 1st party games.
akaFullmetal
Member
It's going to be interesting what Sony decides to do with all this.
Banjo64
cumsessed
Some people play nothing but Candy Crush. It doesn’t mean everything else is shit.
DonkeyPunchJr
World’s Biggest Weeb
Guess it’s not much different from selling their games on Steam. We’ll see
Sosokrates
Report me if I continue to console war
Not on the same scale though, playsation is still sonys primary pool, while they are now starting to release games on PC there traditional retail and ways to play is significantly different to Microsofts. Sonys strategy is more about creating a product and games that cater to there fans and fans of more niche content ,. They clearly have different goals.
Dr Bass
Member
Based on what numbers/evidence please?
Rhazer Fusion
Member
I think they will be way too much money for Sony. The only thing I think Sony will buy is a timed exclusive or a tiny, unknown indie studio.
yurinka
Member
They also said the same when acquiring Zenimax.
DeceptiveAlarm
Member
Green Rats getting fat today boys.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Read the next sentence after the the line you bolded.
Lognor
Banned
I'm making perfect sense. Sony relies on those games developed by the publishers that Microsoft has gobbled up. Nintendo has not. Nintendo relies on their own IPs. Unlike those games that Sony relies on, Microsoft can not take those games away from Nintendo.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Man....STOP CRYING. PlayStation will be fine. Trust.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Way too fat.
Cant wait to renew my GPU membership later this year. It'll now include COD and Diablo soon.
GHG
Gold Member
No no no.
You must feel compelled to buy a Series S now.
At least that's what I was told today.
lastmessiah
Member
Take Two would laugh Sony out of the room if they offered to buy.
yurinka
Member
Sony top games have been increasing their units sold.
Games like TLOU, Uncharted 4, Spider-Man, GoW, Horizon are on track or already passed the 20M units sold mark, and who knows if others like TLOU2, GoT, Horizon 2 or Ragnarok may achieve it too. Plus the revenue they generated via subscriptions, DLC, refubished re-releases and soon movies and tv shows. Plus now the PC ports.
It has been less time in the market, but Switch only has 6 games that sold over 20M copies, and another one that sold over 15M.
It's a huge step compared to what they had before PS4, which was 0 games selling over 20M copies.
DJ12
Member
Phil is no longer Head of xbox, but Microsoft gaming.
Read between the lines. Gamepass is all they care about.
They are making plays to become Sonys preferred 3rd party partner.
They will continue to buy up studios with strong multilayer games, while leaving the folks that make games Sony excel at alone. If it was to make xbox better they would be buying up studios in areas Microsoft gaming are hammered by Sony in.
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