Astray
Member
Bethesda pushed their teams into GAAS games because they wanted to fatten up the company value before cashing out and Microsoft held that bag.
Same happened with Bungie and Sony I assume too.
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PlayStation has canceled two more live-service games, from subsidiaries Bend and Bluepoint, Bloomberg has learned
Same happened with Bungie and Sony I assume too.
Fake
Member
After Horizon LEGO fail I still surprise Horizon gaas is still alive. This alone tell how much influence Herman have to keep this game alive.
Negotiator
Member
Sony/Bungie want to be bought by Microsoft?
Astray
Member
No, Bungie fattened itself up to get a higher price from Sony, same as Bethesda/MS.
Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
This is what PlayStation said after Concord...
You’re crossing into Lost guy territory with the Concord nonsense.
We do have an idea of how Concord was testing internally because as the other user said, just look at what they had lined up for it. You don’t do that for a game you aren’t thinking is going to be a hit.
“So for us, for our reflection, we probably need to have a lot of gates, including user testing or internal evaluation, and the timing of such gates. And then we need to bring them forward, and we should have done those gates much earlier than we did.
I think it's pretty obvious their testing was lackluster. It bodes well for Fairgames if what Christopher Dring said is true.
Bumblebeetuna
Member
Lackluster testing doesn’t change whether or not they did testing and thought it would be a big hit. Xbox did internal testing on Redfall and thought it was a great game. If they come out afterwards and say their testing needs to be better, it doesn’t change history.
Sony tested Concord and thought it would be huge, which is why they had all the outside stuff lined up. It wasn’t going to be just a game launch, it was going to be a multi faceted launch of a new brand into numerous mediums plus hardware.
Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
Everyone speaks using context. Christopher Dring seemed to be optimistic after the Concord flop. That's the best info we have. Plus, let's be real...PlayStation is culling their weakest titles and Fairgames is still on track.
I like those odds.
diffusionx
Gold Member
you're right, it says something that Sony still believes in that game post-Concord, whereas they obviously dont in God of War and whatever.
That said, they are still the same people who believed in Concord.
Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
...and Helldivers 2.
Plus, are we even sure that the people responsible for pushing Concord through are still in their positions?
This is why playing sports (and PvP multiplayer) is so important to becoming a fully realized man. It teaches you not to melt down when you miss a shot or lose a game. Play on.
diffusionx
Gold Member
If your shooting form is bad, then it doesn't matter how many shots you take, you're not going to make as many as you should. Even if you occasionally get a bucket.
Sony seems to have major issues with their live service process and it's showing. Helldivers 2 was the sequel to a game that found some success on PS3/Vita and made by the same team, makes sense, what doesnt make sense, having Bluepoint make a fucking God of War live service game. Again, the process is bad. With Fairgame% they bought the studio immediately, we dont know what they are doing except for what they have shown and it is dogshit cringe.
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Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
They're 1 for 2. Scouts don't judge a player based on two shots. Crazy MMQB radio show call ins do.
There were new 10 GAAS hits that released in 2024. Their Metacritic average was 72. Sony Bend, BluePoint, and Haven aren't outclassed by those 10 developers...not by a long shot. Anti GAAS echo chambers breed lots of bad thinking. It's always good to step outside every once in a while as see that NeoGAF and gaming twitter is not real life.
God of War as a modern day Gauntlet sounds like a solid idea.
Fairgames only looked like dog**** to people who suffer from GDS. The characters didn't look any worse than Valorants. It's just an out of touch echo chamber bouncing the same idea off one another.
Next few years is going to be fun.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
You can actually tell that Sony did believe in that old exec quote saying all they need is one big one. And that was is H2. Though there’s no way H2 success would cover the costs and all these cancelled games, shit down studios, Concord and whatever value Bungie was decreased since they’ve tanked the past few years.
How can you tell?
Because I think aside from the Horizon MP game (and the cancelled Horozon MMO) and which should focus on melee bow and arrow combat, all the others I think are shooters. Oh, TM too. So a couple non shooters.
And there’s no way any company could support and find success with up to 10 shooters on the market all around the same two year window.
It would be insane if Sony held to the schedule they first said about 12 gaas games by 2025. You’d have horizon, 10 other shooters and also whatever bungie shooters has coming as those games were even included at the time.
So in a nutshell, all the game studios could had seen it coming that if you didn’t become the big success (H2) chances are you’re gonna get cut.
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With different variations of Kratos tunes changing as you pay more to sony, this is beyond art and entertainment.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
They didn't faze after Horizon COTM either.
Astray
Member
This is the problem with the transmedia approach Sony (and others) are now taking imo.
If you want to make the most of it, then it either pushes you to overexpose your hit IPs (like Horizon), or it pushes you to greenlight some subpar games that you wouldn't otherwise greenlight because the pitch got you to imagine the billions you're supposedly gonna be raking in from films and tv shows etc.
Negotiator
Member
Sony's goal with transmedia (PS-themed movies) was to bring the cinematic audience to video games.
But let's be honest: do you think Karen (that has never bought a console, nor do they care about video games) will suddenly become a gamer, just because she saw the Uncharted movie?
Who in the right mind believes that BS?
Dorago
Member
Remember when Sony and MS spent two years making waggle controls and casual games and everyone switched to PC? This is even worse. They just had one of the most abysmal years since the crash of 1983. They aren't even cognizant of how far they've fallen. We'll see a complete crash when GTA VI inevitably gets delayed again.
bitbydeath
Member
This did happen though.
Fallout Games Surpass 5 Million Players in One Day Following TV Show Success
Believe it or not, Fallout is once again one of the most popular video game franchises on the planet. Despite having not seen a new release since 2018 with Fallout 76, Prime Video’s new Fallout TV series has proven to be a gateway for many lapsed fans (or perhaps new ones) to return to some […]
comicbook.com
I hope Bend and Bluepoint can still make a great game in this ps5 era within 2 years. It will take time, but let us not be surprise if they are working on two projects before live service was cancelled. Maybe there single player games project are also in development at the same time with the recently cancelled live service games.
SenkiDala
Member
Has Sony lost their mind ? A God of War GaaS ? A Horizon GaaS ? In fact... All their solo player games transformed to GaaS ? I know it can be tempting as GaaS can make a lot of money pretty fast. But... Those licenses are loved by solo gamers... Nobody wants to play a GoW online or Horizon Online...
Reminds of of the time when they made online modes for everything, for Bioshock 2, for Dead Space 2, for Condemned 2, etc.
I don't say that it was horrible but... There are better investments to make I guess.
This hultz dude (dunno how to write it, doesn't even deserve a capital letter) is really the worst thing that ever happened to Sony.
It might take time but on the long term I can see him ruining Sony's gaming, more than Mattrick did for MS, and at least MS had the unlimited money to take the hits, Sony doesn't.
Reminds of of the time when they made online modes for everything, for Bioshock 2, for Dead Space 2, for Condemned 2, etc.
I don't say that it was horrible but... There are better investments to make I guess.
This hultz dude (dunno how to write it, doesn't even deserve a capital letter) is really the worst thing that ever happened to Sony.
It might take time but on the long term I can see him ruining Sony's gaming, more than Mattrick did for MS, and at least MS had the unlimited money to take the hits, Sony doesn't.
Negotiator
Member
You really think Karen (that has never played video games in her life) suddenly bought a PS5 to play Fallout? Really?This did happen though.
Fallout Games Surpass 5 Million Players in One Day Following TV Show Success
Believe it or not, Fallout is once again one of the most popular video game franchises on the planet. Despite having not seen a new release since 2018 with Fallout 76, Prime Video’s new Fallout TV series has proven to be a gateway for many lapsed fans (or perhaps new ones) to return to some […]
At best she can play Candy Crush on her smartphone, RPGs are too complicated for the average person (especially non-gamers).
We're talking about already existing gamers and more specifically PC gamers.
Sony gained nothing out of it... zero, nada!
Unless you think it's a "good" investment to boost Valve's profits.
Weird Sony, that throughout the history of PlayStation brand, from ps1 to ps4, there strengths lies on single player exclusives. That mad them number one. For me, if I'm part of a board, i will vote for no confidence on the head of Sony especially those in the west.
Ps6 will surely go back to its roots of single player exclusives after the lesson learned, but i still hope there will still be time to create more single player game exclusives for ps5 especialyl from bend and blue point.
Ps6 will surely go back to its roots of single player exclusives after the lesson learned, but i still hope there will still be time to create more single player game exclusives for ps5 especialyl from bend and blue point.
Madserb2023
Member
It's a shame that so many potential games have had to be shelved to make way for all these GAAS titles that will never see the light of day. Bluepoint probably could have released their next big game by now. Could even have done a remake of Bloodborne. All this has done is make it so that we might not see their next game till the PS6. At least Nintendo understands why they are popular as to why we keep getting Mario and Zelda etc. How can Sony be so stupid. Probably arrogance because Microsoft has lost their minds.
Felessan
Member
Same Karen who bought playstation after looking at ad?
Maybe not for herself but for husband/children
Transmedia essentially is more immersive (and thus more impactful) advertisement. It doesn't expected to have 100% hit rate as with other advertisement, but it will spread recognition of the brand, helping future sales
Horizon based loosely on MonHun which is widely popular game with heavy coop/online elements
Ps5 still has a long way to go, maybe 4 to 5 more years which means allot more time for ps5 single player exclusives to be develop. Ps5 pro for me is like a rebirth and relaunch of ps5, so lets just look at it this way, 2025 is year one again for ps5 due to ps5 pro. I think starting this year, it will be back to focusing on single player exclusives.
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Bernardougf
Member
Too much testosterone and manhood in that game for modern Sony's liking
PeteBull
Member
God of war gaas.... Im still trying to wrap my head around that one.
Negotiator
Member
Felessan
Member
Why would she go to Uncharted movie that represents everything she hates?
Negotiator
Member
That's exactly my point!
Sony should invest more in a new Uncharted game, not movies/series for an audience that doesn't care.
We want games.
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Nothing to do with ‘fattening up’. People didn’t buy Prey or Dishonored so Bethesda tried to chase something they thought would bring more money.
Felessan
Member
A different things for different purposes
The same as Sony advertise themselves on UEFA even though most watchers will not buy playstation - it's because some of them will and some of them will get to know and remember playstation name.
And if in some point of time the case of buying a console or something similar appear - this "brand recognition" will surface and weigh into playstation favor.
Soccer mom might never buy playstation for herself, but having know playstation name will heavily affect her choice when buying for others.
Angry_Megalodon
Member
Transmedia makes the brand stronger but for that you need IPs strong enough to become mainstream hits.
TLOU is. Uncharted with a good Nathan Drake might be. GOW can't, due to the level of violence it needs to stay true to the source material.
Sony needs to develop more IPs with iconic characters and those don't happen overnight. Totoki said something along those lines and in the current climate creativity is at its lowest.
TLOU is. Uncharted with a good Nathan Drake might be. GOW can't, due to the level of violence it needs to stay true to the source material.
Sony needs to develop more IPs with iconic characters and those don't happen overnight. Totoki said something along those lines and in the current climate creativity is at its lowest.
Negotiator
Member
UEFA fans tend to buy PlayStation to play FIFA (yes, they buy PS5 to play FIFA and nothing else!)... so no, it's not the same.
Show me one Karen (the childless feminist with tons of free time) that actually plays video games... you won't find a single one. That's why companies shouldn't cater to them.
The goal is to convert non-gamers to gamers, but it's harder than it sounds.
Non-gamers want to play simple, pick-up-and-play, short session (30min max), arcadey games (Candy Crush is strongly reminiscent of 80s coin-op games), not uber-complicated open-world RPG collectathons (the vast majority of AAA games these days) that require 100-200 hours to invest (only nerds/hardcore gamers do that, which is a minority and you need the masses to make tons of money like Apple does).
Sony has even abandoned the Uncharted franchise, which is a linear game... their priorities are totally backwards IF they want to entice non-gamers.
I'd argue Nintendo has a far stronger brand recognition, even among non-gamers.
So in that case, it totally makes sense for Nintendo to invest in theme parks. Nintendo is akin to Disney. Sony is very, very different compared to those...
PurePlatinum
Member
I said this in the other thread, but at the end of last year all of us were saying, "jeez I hope they learn their lesson from the close launches of Concord/Astro". This is what's happening and they are taking the right lessons away from it, as painful as it is to watch.
Felessan
Member
I already asked - why would Karen watch Uncharted that is essentially everything she hates (a movie targeted at a normal males)
You are arguing there no one besides gamers and Karen. But there are lot of people in between, some of them might be interested/influenced in playstation favor even though they do not play themselves.
It's not only about swaying non-gamers into gamers, it's also about having public opinion even in non-gamers vastly sway in your favor so any "new", often literally new people - children, will be indoctrinated into your favor. And their parents, even though they do not play themselves, but they are those buy toys, also will be indoctrinated in favorable direction etc
Marketing is a complex thing with many second or even third order effects.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Many of us on GAF have been saying this for YEARS!!!!
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
THANK YOU!!!! I wish more people would be more honest about this. Jim Ryan was the true cancer. But we all knew this. They "fired" Jim Ryan due to this nonsense. It's all clear now.
viveks86
Member
Boy, were you wronged by Karen in real life? Show me a recorded video like all the others do... or it never happened.
My wife and I are childless feminists with tons of free time. We both play tons of video games too. I guess we are both Karens now. Hmmmm... may be we should start harassing innocent people and their dogs.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Imagine if they gave Days Gone 2 a $150-$200 million budget, instead of this cancelled game that probably got a $100 million budget only to never come out and make NO revenue! At least Days Gone 2 would have been released and made "SOME" money back.
Oh he 100% was!
EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.1
Bend studios was clever and creative with days gone, kinda a quite game.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Him and Herman. We know who was polishing Jim's balls to sign off more horizon trash
Yeah I’d have bought days gone 2 day 1. I likely wouldn’t even have played whatever liver service stuff they were making even if it wasn’t cancelled. Likewise with bluepoint.
Negotiator
Member
1) You better tell me why Sony cares so much about Karen... I've been saying it for over 5 years that they should stop caring about Karens.
Even though I watched the Uncharted movie myself, I would still prefer an Uncharted game instead. Need I explain why?
There are other ways to sway people into buying consoles, but when was the last time they released a major Uncharted? Almost 10 years have passed since then.
If you are a big Uncharted fan like me, the PS5 has nothing to offer these days. It's already 2025 and $499 for 2020 hardware is a bit too much, especially when there's no Uncharted 5 in the horizon.
And when people ask me if they should buy a PS5, I tell them to save their money for something else. That wasn't the case during the PS3/4 era, I had convinced lots of people to buy a console back then. Not anymore.
You think Sony doesn't lose money by alienating their long-time fans?
2) I will believe Sony's transmedia strategy is successful when the PS5 becomes a mass market product like the iPhone.
So far it's been a nothingburger. The majority just doesn't care. They're happy with their smartphones. No PC/console for the Average Joe.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
So why is everything being canceled now, even though Herman is still there?