God, how do these rumours gain traction? It would appear that people are incapable of using their brains. Following on from Microsoft’s insinuation that Sony is paying to keep games off Xbox Game Pass – a notion that’s already misleading, as the Redmond firm is really referring to bog-standard marketing deals – a podcast rumour claimed that PlayStation had paid to prevent Cult of the Lamb from being included in the service.
Considering the game doesn’t have a marketing deal with Sony and is not one of All PS Plus Games, the suggestion that the company would pay to purposefully prevent a release from being included in a rival subscription is already ludicrous – but it would appear that the source, Gary Whitta who was speaking on a Kinda Funny livestream, got the information from a Twitter account with 28 followers! Of course, that didn’t stop the paper-thin rumour from spreading all around the Internet, and even being picked up by many reputable news websites.
Recognising the furore, Devolver Digital was forced to put out a statement, telling The Gamer the story “is absolutely untrue”.
There have been a string of these bad faith rumours of late, none of which make any sense and insist on painting PlayStation in the worst possible light. We’re not saying the organisation’s business practices are perfect – far from it – but we’re not entirely sure why the firm is being heralded as some kind of supervillain when thus far its rival is the only one to buy up an entire publisher and make its output permanently exclusive. Strange.
Cult of the Lamb, meanwhile, has had no trouble flogging copies outside of any subscription service – it’s already totted up over one million sales, following its warm critical reception.
[source thegamer.com]
Comments 103
Zzz. It's unbelievable how easily these bullsh*t rumours spread!
Believe this won't be the last lie twitter xbots make up.
But the worse part is there's actually people who believe them.
@UltimateOtaku91 I've seen people saying Devolver Digital are lying in their statement! I swear this job is going to end up giving me brain damage...
Let’s all start a rumor that Sony is making PS All Stars 2. Maybe it’ll come true then.
The problem with the internet is that anyone can say anything and if it gains enough traction, it soon becomes fact, regardless of the actual facts.
And then, if the actual facts go against what you believe, well you can claim it's all lies, disinfo, fake truth... Whatever the cool kids are calling it these days.
Yesterday some reputable Twitter games journalists started to run with the story that Embracer had also bought the rights to Infamous, Sly and something else from Sony.
They were linking Wario64.
I noticed his Twitter @ was different. His name and profile was Wario64 but his at was Warlo64.
I told them you guys are quoting a fake account. They deleted them.
I have no pull on Twitter but these guys with a decent following need to watch for that crap when they are stating news.
@Dudditz09 It's true. And obviously we're most interested in games here, but you see this sort of thing happening across a variety of topics — many of which are much more dangerous than video game rumours!
Drinking the cool-aid sammy. Which publisher has MS bought and made its entire output exclusive? Bethesda? The only games confirmed exclusive so far are starfield and redfall…
Where as, as you know, since the deal all the Bethesda output has only been on PlayStation so far… clearly showing how starfield and redfall were likely to go.
Need a bit of patience before crying the entire output will be exclusive yet. Reckon indiana jones is heading PlayStations way too.
@get2sammyb Haha and this is just the beginning of those rumours, sure there's more to come.
Ever since that "leaked" document there seems to be a social media campaign to bring sony down.
Can't wait for the writer of...idk let's say Shang Chi...to give us the next reputable gaming leak.
Not heard the podcast but why is Gary Whitta bringing that up? Other than to stir the pot. He clearly prefers Xbox. Always known that. I enjoyed Rogue One but he does annoy me sometimes. I'll stick with Sacred Symbols.
@OmegaStriver I can kinda understand how that happens, but you've got to double-check these days. Everyone's too damn quick trying to get likes!
@Bleachedsmiles I actually edited before you posted because I knew I was going to get a gotcha on that. Touche.
@get2sammyb very true, video game rumours are probably way down the list of bull that people create a storm over, but no topic is off limits it seems.
@get2sammyb Gotcha!
Lol, even if Sony were to pay to keep a game off GP Cult of the Lamb definitely wouldn't be it. Too much idiotic "leaks" and made up nonsense being pushed as factual nowadays. Like there's a RE4 "leak" every week and each one contradicts the previous one.
It's unfortunate that such claims had to escalate to the point that a dev had to step in to debunk this. Unfortunately, the damage has been done and idiots on SNS will still believe earlier claims
@Dudditz09 easy clicks, easy money. We all love a ‘good’ rumour. Now we get to watch countless YouTubers talk about it for countless podcasts over the next couple of days
There's been a string of these kind of stories because you get hacks like Colt Eastwood taking anything Sony related and turning it into a pro Xbox story.
Not helped by the so called platform neutral guys liks Parris Lilly (aka the walking Game Pass AD) end up bringing these things to attention without doing due diligence.
@Stragen8 we can only hope
People like drama, so when you have something that can stir up drama, people eat it up. It's kinda sad.
so what , y’all don’t think corporations & game developers lie ?? what’s the real punishment for it , a vocal minority of crybabies ??
Microsoft's PR machine worked then. This is exactly the kind of thing they want to see happen to show Sony in a negative light
Gary should just work on improving the horsedung that is Forspoken's dialogue and stop spreading these rumors.
@Stragen8 Rumors about Sony has to be bad, not anything positive because it won't catch fire.
Sad thing is many believe false internet rumors. Mainly due to laziness to checking sources themselves. Thrives everywhere, especially politics. Glad to see the publisher step up and quash the rumors.
Until recently I used to lament that PlayStation didn't run their own pr campaign to compete with the one XBOX has been running.
But what's the point when the mob is ready to believe every negative thing they hear about you?
Better to just focus on the games and let them do the talking.
From what little I have heard of Gary Whitta he never struck me as someone who is in the know very much so I'm not shocked this rumor started from someone like him. I don't listen to KF much at all anymore anyway but I make it a point not to listen to any content he is involved with.
Wait Is thegaMer considered a reputable website or is Sammy being sarcastic?
This misinformation distribution seems to follow the old Fox News playbook. Only write stories that fit your ideology and if there’s an unverified rumor that will make your audience foam at the mouth, preface it with “people are saying that…”, just in case its not true.
I miss the days when Sony rumours were more positive like "Sony has a Playstation Showcase/State of Play this month". No rumours are best but those kind of rumours are better than the current types.
I thought we've evolved past all this cult- like fanboyism at this point ...It's just sad, man. So sad.
This is gonna be spread by xbox for every game that doesnt go to gamepass. Oh its PlayStations fault that we cant keep supporting your unwillingness to buy something. Theyll probably bitch that god of war isnt coming to gamepass
Kinda Funny and total bulls**t go together like chocolate and peanut butter.
@Dange Definitely prefer Sacred Symbols myself. I still listen to Kinda Funny all the time but they’ve really been going down hill over the last year or so.
KF sucks if I’m being honest. “Famous” friends and woke mob have become a little redundant.
I thought the original 4 guys were hysterical a lot of the time too. It’s sad.
@BeerIsAwesome I don't know anything about this game, why is the best version on Xbox? Usually cross-platform games are the same for PS/Xbox.
The most ridiculous aspect of this "Sony pays to keep games off gamepass!",as pointed out is XB & Nintendo are both as guilty as Sony.
Noone batted an eyelid when in between the squabbling over the new Monkey Island visuals is it being a timed Switch exclusive!
Octopath Traveller has seen a Switch,then PC/XB gamepass release but despite rumours even on this very site has yet to see a PS port!
Likewise Xbox's initial purchase of Zenimax got accolades from XB & certain gaming sites despite the fact that multiformat releases from Bethesda are becoming a thing of the past as various deals & contracts finish up.
Nevermind that XB/Microsoft are spending $70 billion for Activision Blizzard & clearly playing the same "we love all gamers" line to convince antitrust authorities but will do the same.
Phil "Gamer" Spencer can keep trotting out Minecraft but one merely has to look at more recent actions to see their intent.
Heck even Psychonauts 2 was supposedly held back for "additional polish",but also magically saw a Series S/X version get funded after Double Fine's purchase but PS owners got told too bad it wasn't part of the original crowd funding campaign!
Yes,XB know how to pull off consumer friendly moves...but this is also the same M$ that likes to force Windows 10/11 users into setting up a Microsoft account just to install & use their OS on pc,(& enable a bunch of snooping by default).
The pure Xbox crowd all had their pitchforks out lol
@Bleachedsmiles Indiana Jones is a licensed IP so it will be up to the license holder weather or not they'd want it to be exclusive
@SinfulDestroyer So you'd rather believe a random nobody on Twitter then the ACTUAL company representative involved?! Yep, that's a mindset right there.
Really Gary? Writing Forspoken wasn’t enough for you?
It's hard to imagine Sony being able to keep any third party games away from Game Pass when they can't even keep their first party games away from it
@AdamNovice 100% agree! Not to make this a full blown console war thing (though it kinda already is) but you dont get this sort of thing from Nintendo fans. But Xbox has the market cornered. It's sad that this is what people get excited about when there are actual fun games to play.
This is one of the problem with subscription services... people are going to be loath to buy games, especially smaller indie games, at full price.
@jcordeiro that’s just a personal problem
@3Above Nintendo fans are too busy being whipped by Nintendo to care about anything else.
Not every indie games has to be on gamepass, I like gamepass but I still bought good games, like lost ruins and now cult of the lamb.
Surely the only people silly enough to believe this were xbox fans right?.. Sony doesnt need to do that to succeed as last generation showed in 2:1 spades.
strange everything written on the internet isnt true who knew
no one looks into anything anymore to corroborate sources everyone just copies stuff like its fact. frankly its embarrassing that news outlets sink this low
Removed - inappropriate
Gary Whitta was complaining on Twitter 6 days ago about Cult of the Lamb not being on game pass with a whole bunch of crying emoji’s. I remembered seeing this and thinking, it’s an indie game and your upset about having to buy it, wtf. Your an adult and you haven’t already learned that not everything is “free”, come on man.
Actually, this is quite fun. I was getting tired of all the love among the big 3. Bring back console wars!
@AdamNovice
Individuals are free to go on their own propaganda. Social media gives all the tools for everyone to push their own narratives and propaganda. That’s fine. Even on diverse forums like here people do so.
The issue is Ms is supporting numerous console war channels. Then they give PlayStation backhanded compliments. All while going full virtue signalling every where they can. That’s this generation Xbox PR unfortunately.
I didn't even know the game wasn't on Game Pass, shows how little I keep track of the green box lately lol.
You are also guilty to ride the bullet for every negative article about Sony true or false.
Sacred Symbols > Kinda Lame
@SinfulDestroyer gotta love the irony. Thanks for the laugh, man.
@Grimwood just read some of the comments here. Even now they're questioning it. Facts don't matter any more.
@trev666 and why should they? While self-respecting journalists take some time to corroborate stories, everyone else publishes the story and gets clicks. And their audience eats it up. Was the story false? Even better. Add an update and get even more clicks.
They wouldn't do that if people stop visiting their site after losing credibility. But the average gamer prefers drama over fact.
@Amnesiac Very well said
It's a shame because it's almost enticing the console sparring in the comments in a article written like that.
Kinda Funny have got a big following though and if something is insinuated on it, people will run with it.
It's getting a bit ridiculous now. I think lots of games now going forward will be thrown in the notion that if they don't appear on GP, it is because Sony is blocking it.
The people over at Kinda Funny love starting up BS rumors because they know with their large following people will run with it. Gary probably had an Xbox fanboy tell him Sony paid to keep it off and he of course is stupid enough to believe it. Anytime something doesn't end up on Game Pass now you'll have conspiracies about how it's Sony's fault somehow.
@IAmAshCohen17
The most ridiculous part is they are basically saying Ms arrogantly waits for devs to beg to be on GP and are shocked when they find out big bad wolf Sony went to see them and make them an offer Ms didn’t.
It just doesn’t make sense at all.
There is also the notion that all games are supposed to be on GP by default and it’s fishy if they aren’t. It’s just bizarre brain washing.
Edit
Apologies about one above comment that was not appropriate. I meant to edit it but was referring to the attitude of accusing wrongly and didn’t mean to offend anyone.
Kinda funny is a mess of a podcast. Bunch of people that don’t seem to know much about games and the industry.
Microsoft's PR machine is in overdrive as they try to justify why buying out Activision/Blizzard wouldn't be a problem and how Sony have the monopoly on console sales.
And Sony have replied with....? Nothing, absolutely nothing. So business as usual for the gaming company I always had faith in up until the Ryan days.
"a notion that’s already misleading, as the Redmond firm is really referring to bog-standard marketing deals"
How can this be true.
Game Pass only launched like 5 years ago. So either the "don't launch on a competitor's subscription service" is rather new to marketing deals, or, what?, that was always part of the deals, even before the sub services were a thing?
Or are you refering to launching on a competitor's platform?, in which case, how does a game like RE8 launch on xbox even though it was part of a marketing deal that prevented a Game Pass release?
What do we call that "everything but Game Pass exclusive"?
The internet has loved jumping on PlayStation since E3 2016 or 2017. The show wasn't as good as the year FF VII Remake was revealed, so the mob was disappointed.
Ever since then "arrogant Sony is back" or "Sony is anti-consumer" and MS is the plucky underdog ready for redemption, and the media ran with it.
Something I've noticed in the past few months though is that you see more voices pointing out that MS are just as full of bs as anyone else, especially with their whole "All games should be on all platforms" spiel when they had no games, and then they buy a publisher and wall off the IP.
PlayStation's "anti-consumer" practices have been;
Edit: As @Neverwild points out below, that was taken out of context too.
There's probably more I'm forgetting, but my point is, if they listen to the consumer how are they anti-consumer?
"I don't like that decision they've made" is not the same as "anti-consumer"
@Richnj
RE8 is a multi platform game and if you really believe it would have been on gamepass day 1then you are dreaming.
Big third party games dont go on streamin service day 1.
Which big third party gsmes has been on gamepass day 1?
Ah yes, typical Xbox fanboy bullsh*t rumours again. The jealousy is real.
@Shepherd_Tallon
Thing about Ryan and old games is not really true.
He said why would anyone want to play GT2 over new GT sport that was showcased.
Since then Xbox fans has lied about Sony and Ryan hate old games.
I swear Gamepass stans are like a cult they're absolutely insane
@Neverwild You are 100% correct.
I mentioned before that what he said was taken out of context, but two or three people jumped down my throat for being a shill so I steered away from it this time.
I should have stuck to my guns.
@Keyblade-Dan
Yeah. I thought, Nintendo fanboys were annoying, but team green is reaching up at a same level of stupidity very quickly.
@Neverwild "if you really believe it would have been on gamepass day 1then you are dreaming."
I'm not saying that, and you're missing the point. Clearly Sony is concerned about it, or they wouldn't have started to include this section in to their deals. They have singled out subscription services in their marketing deals to undermine those subscription platforms.
If Sony wanted full platform timed exclusivity, they could have done that, but they didn't.
"Big third party games dont go on streamin service day 1.
Which big third party gsmes has been on gamepass day 1?"
But is that because big third party games just don't do Game Pass day 1?, or is it because Sony has a lot of marketing deals with big third party titles because Sony is the market leader and can do that?. We won't know.
'big third games don't do game pass day 1, therefore it's ok for Sony to prevent big third party titles from being game pass day 1'. It's self fullfilling logic.
@Richnj
You still try to bash Sony and if you really think they blocked all big games going to gamepass then it is just sad.
Maybe it is because bigger games dont earn enough money on gamepass and need its sales.
No Sony cant get full exclusive on some games since they are big enough to sell good.
Xbox had marketing deal on Elden ring but that is not on gamepass, how is that?
You Xbox fans have said all developers want their game on gamepass since it is so good that they earn money on it.
@Neverwild "You still try to bash Sony and if you really think they blocked all big games going to gamepass then it is just sad"
I'm criticising the practice, not Sony in particular. The fact that people on these forums can't tell the difference speaks more to your fanboyism, not mine.
"No Sony cant get full exclusive on some games since they are big enough to sell good."
If they are big enough to "sell good" why does Sony still block subscription releases?
"Xbox had marketing deal on Elden ring but that is not on gamepass, how is that?"
You've essentially just said "PS had a marketing deal with RE8, but it wasn't on PSPlus, how is that?". It's not a response to my issue. Because it was a marketing deal and not a Game Pass deal? This isn't the same thing. "Did the Elden Ring marketing deal block its release on PSPlus?" That's the question you should be asking.
"You Xbox fans have said all developers want their game on gamepass"
Did I say that?. How about you talk with me and not some monolith you've built up in your mind.
@Lando_
We're seeing the launch of the new PS+ subscriptions, with all the games that Extra & Premium bring, and at the same time Gamepass has pretty much run out of steam with no big day 1 exclusives (the thing that is cited most as being the big advantage), and more games being removed then now being added.
Indeed the jealousy is real and the cult of Gamepass can't stand it.
Lots of tin foil hat wearing in here. Incredible content.
To be fair I'd know nothing about it if you guys hadn't done an article on it....
Ludicrous rumours are far from an Xbox exclusive haha. Internet tribalism sucks, and the vast majority of this site LOVES to play along.
The thing that makes me want to tear my hair out is that these people who were grabbing their pitchforks and were mad about this are the same people who conveniently ignore that Microsoft is literally paying devs to put their games free on gamepass and are also buying up as many major game publishers as possible. So if Microsoft does it they are angels but if Sony pays for extra incentive to a game then they are suddenly the devil incarnate?
You are paid by Sony too!!11
@get2sammyb you should see the shiz we have to put up with in the World of Darkness Discord RE Bloodlines 2
Which leaked document are you referring to, @UltimateOtaku91?
I guess you could argue that Outriders was a big third party game that launched day one on to Game Pass, @Neverwild...
But but but it was shared by a Kinda Funny best friend!!!!
@Colour It's almost like Colin isn't a monster and brought tons of knowledge and value to the group.
lol pinch of salt this stuff , gamepass releases are contracted i suppose Microsoft throws down a lot of money to make their gamepass shine , i enjoy the day one releases if its a game i want ive the disc on my shelf, when it goes off gamepass i have it , one of those games is quantum break ive the disc and ive got it on steam a fantastic game ,its still on gamepass reminds me so much of singularity , id love to see sequels to those games.
@Shstrick So let me get this straight...I'm in a place I wouldn't call the internet, I'm seeing freaking delusions, and I'm talking to a bunch of fanboys?! Yeah, ok, this is what I do now.
@Fiendish-Beaver the Brazilian Court one
It shouldn't surprise you really one it's Twitter where the news is made. Two people believe absolutely anything these days, especially cannot control their emotions with zero critical thinking skills.
That's what I thought, @UltimateOtaku91. You do know that the documents were not leaked, don't you? They were published. It is standard practice for the Brazilian regulators to publish documents from cases in which they are involved...
@Fiendish-Beaver ah I see, sorry I didn't know that.
Learn something new every day lol
its on the internet must be fact
Got the GOG version free and bought a PS5 version.
@get2sammyb luckily this fake rumor is of little significance but imagine if it was this easy to spread false news about important things that actually have real world consequences... Funnynotfunny
Sigh. I remember the days when all we talked about were the games, not this rumor and acquisition BS. What a world.
@Richnj 'But is that because big third party games just don't do Game Pass day 1?, or is it because Sony has a lot of marketing deals with big third party titles because Sony is the market leader and can do that?. We won't know.'
ms had the marketing rights for bf 2042 & that wasn't game pass day one...
@Bleachedsmiles Activision Blizzard has had several properties that wont be on Playstation anymore they started it themselves. Maybe you should stop drinking Coolaid.
Sigh. Unfortunately has almost become normal to report on leaks and rumours as news stories. It definitely has become more prevalent since the lockdowns started. I try to ignore most of them as something likemthis always happens. Would have thought the whole Abandoned thing would have taught people a lesson, apparently not.
@Flaming_Kaiser 🤨...😗🎶 <---- Me, whistling and slowly walking away.
I love Gary Whitta for his hot takes and entertaining ‘old man screams at clouds’ rants. But you have to take 80% of what he says with a pinch of salt as he never does his due diligence.
That’s part of his charm really, he reacts to things passionately without knowing much beforehand. Often be misses the mark and no one should take it too seriously. On this occasion people did.
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