@Jay767 Sony still has to try. If it didn't, people would leave for the other choice and the stakes would be different.
Just because it's a runaway success, doesn't mean Sony can simply rest on its laurels.
Xbox 360 dominated the market until the tail end of that generation and PS3 picked up steam. That can still happen with Series consoles if Sony stopped trying simply because it's 2:1 ratio.
If Microsoft wasn't a "threat", then Sony wouldn't be pumping so much money into ensuring games don't release on Xbox (whether through exclusion clauses single out Xbox - as court documents revealed - or through third-party exclusives).
@Jay767 You don't want an unchecked Sony, that's why.
Sony only tries (and succeeds) to be on top because it has something to contend with. If it is just free to do as it pleases, it will stop trying so hard. Why spend the money and effort when there are little other choices in the "premium console" market? Quality will dip.
If Microsoft does go full on PC and is able to make it very console-esque in the way Steam Deck is very console-esque, plus makes it affordable and allows Steam games to be installed (and Sony doesn't somehow succeed in blocking its PC games from the platform - which would go over like a lead balloon), I will skip PS6 and get the Xbox PC. I don't have FOMO and have no problems waiting for Sony to release its PC games.
If Microsoft can't get that right and does go full-on third-party and publishes all its games to PlayStation, I will probably just buy a PlayStation from here on out.
I will still buy a Nintendo system, though. I will forever support Nintendo! If I am a "fanboy" of any of the Big 3, it would be Nintendo. I get so giddy at new Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc. releases!
At 43, I am tired of needing to buy all the consoles to play everything I want to play, but prefer couch play - which PC currently isn't....
I, too, am blessed to be able to afford it, but it doesn't mean I want a gazillion controllers and plastic boxes under my TV.
@amatmulisha Truly amazing. I rarely do New Game+ for games, but Alan Wake 2 had me hooked on Day 1 and continued to hook me after The Final Draft came out.
Console Gamers: "The game looks great, I would have bought it if were physical"
PC Gamers: "The game looks great, I would have bought it if came to Steam."
Me: "Game is great. I buy great games."
@Intr1n5ic I pay for games I want on Xbox and don't use Game Pass as a crutch. I'm not one of those "wait for Game Pass" people. Now that being said, I won't buy a game if it is on Game Pass because that would economically wasteful for me to do so.
I do apologize for the inflammatory accusation about just "accepting" things and deleted it prior to reading your response - that was wrong of me. So please accept my apology for the accusatory language there.
I look at things from a PC lens, though:
Developers spend time optimizing for a huge range of hardware and they don't charge different prices for a version that runs on $2000 PC and one that runs on a $500 potato. It makes no sense! Most times, PC games don't release for $70, either!
Steam has given away a ton of upgrades over the years as new versions come out. Heck, Epic Games hands out free games weekly despite losing money on it! I think GOG also provides access to the "latest" version of games as they come, but can't confirm as I only buy games from the 80's, 90's and early 00' on that platform.
I am an Xbox fan. I am a PlayStation fan. I am a Nintendo fan. I am a PC fan. I like gaming as a whole and I am pro-consumer, not pro "please charge me more, multi-million dollar corporation, for tweaking a few settings".
Despite liking the exclusives that have come to PlayStation, I do feel like Sony abuses its power as the market leader to nickel and dime its customers.
I am sure if Microsoft was market leader, it probably would have been the same or worse.
The same with Nintendo.
The only side I take is my wallet's side.
"I don't care what anyone else does, it doesn't factor in to my opinion on that"
I do think that is the most dangerous mentality to take from a consumer standpoint. You should be looking at what others are doing! That's the entire point of maintaining healthy competition and the exact kind of mentality that continues to drive prices upwards! If people just accept things without even considering what others are doing to offer a better deal, then the one not offering the better deal will continue doing what its doing because it's not being penalized for it!
The game already used 3D Audio on PS4 but it was locked behind owning the Platinum Headset (actually a lot of first-party games used 3D Audio on PS4 but was locked behind using the Platinum Headset). The PS5 does enable this capability for PS4 games for any headset, but it was originally not like that.
" The PS5 version is 4K whilst the pro version is 1800p."
The 4K was also a checkerboarded 4K (so it could probably still being running at 1800p native).
"That's cool, maybe Sony can use that as an excuse to not pay the devs for the extra time it takes improving all those things."
While I hate to inject Microsoft into this because it triggers people into thinking I am doing console war stuff, but the developers of Forza Horizon 5 optimized a game for not 2 not 3, but 6 different "platforms" during development (base X1, X1S, X1X, Series S, Series X, PC) for that game and Microsoft still only charged X1 prices for it upon release!
The Witcher 3 - free upgrade
Cyberpunk 2077 - free upgrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake - free upgrade for base version
Rise & Shadow of the Tomb Raider - free upgrades
Resident Evil 2, 3, 7 - free upgrades
Jedi Fallen Order - free upgrade
Fallout 4 - free upgrade
If you owned the PC versions of Quake and Quake 2 (or even got them for free from Bethesda when they gave them out and then added them to Steam when the Bethesda launcher shut down), those got upgraded to the Remastered versions for free.
Sure, Sony is in its right to charge what it wants, but it shouldn't go unchecked or uncontested when there were plenty of other developers and publishers who were willing to give these perks at no extra cost.
It doesn't matter if you do or don't like the publisher or games that got free upgrades or if you feel Sony's quality tops the games listed, it's the fact that these developers/publishers chose to give gamers a good deal - whether we deserved it or not - and Sony chose not to.
"According to VGC, Square Enix is eager to "reduce the amount of development it outsources to external studios, and wants to focus on in-house development for its more high-profile titles, with the aim being to increase both quality and profit margins".
So Square Enix is going back to how it used to do things during its prime.
Remember in-house games like Brave Fencer Musashi? Xenogears? Vagrant Story? Mana Series? Saga Series? Chrono Trigger?
@TechaNinja Nope...still blame Sony for making it that complicated for developers/publishers to have to sort out every "iteration" of the same game because Sony has a separate SKU for physical, digital, PS Plus Extra, PS Plus Collection, etc. etc.
Developers should just mark the upgrade for the game and it updates regardless of how the game was procured.
@Intr1n5ic For me, it's about what's in the update.
Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut was a cash grab because there was zero difference between the PS5 version and the PS4 Pro version running in backwards compatibility. It was literally an extra charge for the ability to use DualSense ($20 for PS4 DLC or $30 to upgrade to the Director's Cut with same DLC).
God of War Ragnarok had no content differences, only looked better (sorry, but improved game settings aren't a reason to charge extra in my eyes). $60 for PS4 and $70 for PS5.
Horizon Forbidden West cost $60 for PS4 and $70 for PS5, but if you bought the PS4 version you got a free upgrade - very sneaky tactic for those not in the know and a ton of people ended up paying more money. Even this site noted that 70% of physical discs bought in the UK were the more expensive PS5 version despite paying less with PS4 and upgrading. In my eyes, Sony charged you a $10 convenience fee to not go through the upgrade process (no thanks).
Now, Death Stranding Director's Cut had extra content and the $10 was more for the additional content and not just a settings difference.
Same with The Last of Part 2 "Remastered" - it had additional content worth the $10.
Square Enix made the base version of Final Fantasy VII Remake free and charged $10 to access the Intergrade DLC. That was a valid charge.
Seeing as how the codename for 2024 Call of Duty is "Cerberus" (according to a data breach from December 2022) and there is a Cerberus logo in this teaser...you are probably on the nose with it being Call of Duty.
@Intr1n5ic Oh I don't mind being wrong - I am glad I was in this instance!
I just hope this generation has been a learning experience for Sony for the future - especially if the PS6 also does backwards compatibility, cross-gen releases, and upgrade paths.
@Intr1n5ic Oh it was definitely a pessimistic jab at Sony because of the way it nickels and dimes people like charging $10 for upgrades for the same game because...DualSense (I guess?)...when other publishers were offering free updates.
I wouldn't put it past Sony to simply ignore that version because it's an "expired" way to have the game and force people to either subscribe to PS Plus Extra and claim it there or buy the game outright.
@Intr1n5ic Sony's backend sucks and until this was "fixed"...it was stuck behind a paywall for those affected by Sony's ridiculous SKU design. This shouldn't have been an issue to begin with.
But it's okay, continue to enjoy archaic designs without contention while everyone else on different platforms had zero headache waiting for an update to finish downloading (now the actual consequence of the update is a different kind of headache - lol).
Unfortunately for Square Enix, all that effort putting up the conspiracy theorist thread board just to iron out the plot was all in vain because I barely remember what it was even about.
Hopefully the new Saga has a lot less confusing terminology and reduces the amount of plot twists.
Keeping important plot points on "mainline" consoles and not locking plot elements behind Secret Endings also kind of helps.
I don't want to have to play the Apple Arcade-Only Kingdom Hearts Card Saga Rhythm Fighter X-Blade Final Cut Mix R and get the Secret Ending by getting 300% game progression in order to be able to follow what is going on with Kingdom Hearts V.
@MrBook Decisions made during X1 era caused a huge shift towards PlayStation. Those gamers amass game libraries on PS4 profiles that transferred to PS5.
The need to switch didn't make sense - especially those who only play Fortnite, sports titles, COD, etc.
PlayStation became the habitual gaming purchase due to X1 irrelevance.
First-party drought for the first couple of years of Series console release.
Now, with the decision to publish a few first-party games on PlayStation have got people questioning even buying the console at all.
But mostly, losing so bad with X1 basically got the snowball rolling that Microsoft is desperately trying to stop from growing, but can't.
@theSpectre Sure, but if you are looking to play every Halo, every Gears, Forza, every Fable, Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, every Crackdown, etc., it might be more economically sound to subscribe to play them all over the course of a few months (and then unsubscribe) than to outright buy every one (which, yes, you can still do on Xbox).
Clearly, even people here want to enjoy "the staples", so why not try to take the most economical approach to doing so - especially if Xbox isn't your primary platform of choice?
@nyr2k2 ...well the back of the character is the most seen part of a character in third-person action games...so.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Actually, that was one of the reasons Bayonetta's creator took so long to get her rear-end "right" (apparently it took months of designs).
I know what you are saying, though. I watched one rant about censorship for Stellar Blade and the level of detail with which they go through was...well...a lot.
I just wanted to see if the claims were true, not a pixel-by-pixel analysis of string placement around the torso on one outfit vs. another - I turned it off at that point.
Perhaps some of them should go into fashion design instead of zooming in on video game captures. 😅
@exit I think I am getting it for my birthday (which is today) and it will be a nice palate cleanser from the super long JRPGs and survival horror games I have been playing.
For all the Microsoft-published games people are saying they would buy on PlayStation if they were ported over, it would probably cheaper to buy a used Series S (or in some cases just a cheap X1) and get a couple months of Game Pass to play said games.
If Sony decides to continue with backwards compatibility with PS6, I really hope it sorts out the backend side of things to be an automatic process with any cross-gen upgrades.
The fact upgrading requires instructions is just such an archaic design. I am sure Save file transfer won't be automatic, either. Having a bunch of Trophy dings pop-off when you start the upgrade is also annoying because you have to have a new, but identical Trophy list for the same game simply because it's the new console's version.
I got this game for Christmas and have yet to play it. I hope there is still a "default" way to play the game since I have yet to experience it without modifiers.
@frankmcma You can play it solo or online (with 3 other people). There are 4 kids you can play that you choose when you start.
There is a campaign - you wake up shrunk (I don’t even know if there is an opening cutscene to explain how you shrink - at least not when I played a long time ago) and must figure out how to get big again. But to do that you have to survive and craft to get where you need to go to achieve that goal.
We aren’t talking a cinematic experience here, but there is a “goal” you are trying to reach. There is at least one NPC (I never got far) to guide you along, so it’s not completely devoid of campaign tropes.
The spiders in this game are nightmare fuel! I don't have arachnophobia (which this game does tackle by allowing you to reduce spiders to essentially a blob visually), but spotting one still raises the heart rate and makes me run the other way.
Dolby has virtually a monopoly with sound as most DVD/UHD Blu-ray/movie theaters/streaming services use it. Disney+ will start using DTS:X with IMAX Enhanced titles starting in May, but at this point it's a little late to the party.
DTS had a good run in the standard Blu-ray market (as most Standard Blu-ray use DTS-HD MA), but everyone has now gone back to Dolby with Atmos being out there.
I guess because there is no active measures to block competition, there is nothing anyone can do about it. Courts can't force people to break habit/preference. 🤷♂️
The movie industry has crazy consolidation and it really hasn't helped. There are so few "standout" movies anymore unless they come from the indie studios: Fox Searchlight, A24, etc.
Sure Sony has a hit with the Spiderverse films, but I can't think of anything else that has been widely praised.
@Amnesiac @Stevemalkpus With Xbox sharing a lot with PC, it's probably a pretty easy port to make for Xbox.
I'm not a game dev, so I don't know exactly how "closed off" the Xbox environment really is compared to PC, but seeing as how the Xbox is Windows-based (albeit extremely stripped down) and uses DirectX, my guess is that it's not crazy difficult to develop for if a PC version is already out there.
Even if it doesn't sell gangbusters, it probably wouldn't take long to get an ROI for development. Some "bean counter" somewhere at Ember felt it was a good idea, so who are we to argue? The more the merrier, right?!
@Generiko1999 Sony has had a hand in a lot of cookie jars over the years, though.
Sony made the sound chips in the SNES. Sony Music has produced a lot of video game music. Heck, Sony used to be a third-party game developer. There is probably a ton of Sony-branded stuff floating around "the industry" for various uses: cameras, headphones, etc.
No different than pretty much every company in the world using Microsoft products in some way, shape, or form.
The only one of the "Big Three" who doesn't have its hand in cookie jars is Nintendo - unless Sony and Microsoft have Hanafuda-based tournaments in Japanese offices.
One topic: pretty sad to see a movie icon like Paramount falling on such hard times that it needs to look to merging. Then again, I couldn't tell you if I have seen any memorable Paramount movies in years.
Kind of a shame the game doesn't make you kill your Pawn to stop the spread.
I understand it's a video game and goes by video logic, but it would be pretty awesome if "dismissing" the Pawn with the disease causes random chaos nearby - since, you know...an infected person is literally just roaming the wild.
Can't wait! First season was fantastic in my opinion. I hate Bethesda RPGs because there are too many distractions (which is beautifully joked about in the show), but I do like the world and the lore. Having it all condensed to a focused story is a much better way for me to enjoy the world Bethesda crafted.
@NEStalgia "Do people seriously just buy whatever's placed passively in front of them (as long as it's cheap?)"
In a way, yes. Remember that the vast majority of gamers only play games like Fortnite, Destiny, sports titles, etc. I bet a lot don't even think about older titles until they are introduced to them because of headlines.
So...Fallout was actually good...it's in headlines...these casual gamers think "I wonder what this game is all about"...they see it's cheap...they buy it to "check it out".
@Ajfennell77 If you have a modern PC of some kind, you could probably run both of those games just fine even with an integrated video card - they are available for purchase on just about any digital storefront as well as available through Game Pass PC.
Or maybe Sony should just do a better job with supporting older games on modern hardware.
Or you could...I don't know...buy an Xbox to play it since it IS natively playable there. Heck, even a cheap Xbox One can handle it.
Comments 2,366
Re: Talking Point: What's Next for Xbox Games on PS5, PS4?
@Jay767 Sony still has to try. If it didn't, people would leave for the other choice and the stakes would be different.
Just because it's a runaway success, doesn't mean Sony can simply rest on its laurels.
Xbox 360 dominated the market until the tail end of that generation and PS3 picked up steam. That can still happen with Series consoles if Sony stopped trying simply because it's 2:1 ratio.
If Microsoft wasn't a "threat", then Sony wouldn't be pumping so much money into ensuring games don't release on Xbox (whether through exclusion clauses single out Xbox - as court documents revealed - or through third-party exclusives).
Re: Talking Point: What's Next for Xbox Games on PS5, PS4?
@Jay767 You don't want an unchecked Sony, that's why.
Sony only tries (and succeeds) to be on top because it has something to contend with. If it is just free to do as it pleases, it will stop trying so hard. Why spend the money and effort when there are little other choices in the "premium console" market? Quality will dip.
Re: Talking Point: What's Next for Xbox Games on PS5, PS4?
@HonestHick I feel you.
If Microsoft does go full on PC and is able to make it very console-esque in the way Steam Deck is very console-esque, plus makes it affordable and allows Steam games to be installed (and Sony doesn't somehow succeed in blocking its PC games from the platform - which would go over like a lead balloon), I will skip PS6 and get the Xbox PC. I don't have FOMO and have no problems waiting for Sony to release its PC games.
If Microsoft can't get that right and does go full-on third-party and publishes all its games to PlayStation, I will probably just buy a PlayStation from here on out.
I will still buy a Nintendo system, though. I will forever support Nintendo! If I am a "fanboy" of any of the Big 3, it would be Nintendo. I get so giddy at new Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc. releases!
At 43, I am tired of needing to buy all the consoles to play everything I want to play, but prefer couch play - which PC currently isn't....
I, too, am blessed to be able to afford it, but it doesn't mean I want a gazillion controllers and plastic boxes under my TV.
Re: Ghost of Tsushima Freezing Fixed, No Update Required
@NEStalgia I was just going to say something similar!
Was this hitching just for the multiplayer or the base game, too - which heavily implies there is an "always online" element to it.
Re: Encouraged by Baldur's Gate 3, Hasbro Bets $1 Billion on Internal Game Development
Today I just learned that Wizards of the Coast is owned by Hasbro.
Re: Talking Point: What's Next for Xbox Games on PS5, PS4?
@HonestHick I stand with you, brother! There is something so freeing about being platform agnostic.
Imagine being able to simply enjoy games for the love of gaming rather than which studio/publisher made them!
Even the buggy ones have their charm - though I am tired of the modern gaming mentality of "release now, patch later".
Re: Alan Wake 2 Yet to Recoup Dev, Marketing Expenses as Tencent Raises Stake
@amatmulisha Truly amazing. I rarely do New Game+ for games, but Alan Wake 2 had me hooked on Day 1 and continued to hook me after The Final Draft came out.
I will dive back in when the DLC drops, too!
Re: Talking Point: What's Next for Xbox Games on PS5, PS4?
It's a shame this enthusiasm for Microsoft games wasn't strong enough for people to actually go out to buy an Xbox to play them.
Re: Alan Wake 2 Yet to Recoup Dev, Marketing Expenses as Tencent Raises Stake
Console Gamers: "The game looks great, I would have bought it if were physical"
PC Gamers: "The game looks great, I would have bought it if came to Steam."
Me: "Game is great. I buy great games."
Be more like me.
Re: 'Americana Naivete' Essential to Fallout, Series Will Remain in U.S.
This is the real reason the London Mod team was never told when the patch was dropping. 😅
Re: Returnal Artbook and Graphic Novel Mark PS5 Game's Third Anniversary
What a...novel...idea. 😎
....
I'll show myself out.
Re: The Elder Scrolls, Fallout Dev Wants to Shorten Time Between Games
Maybe shoot for some smaller games first.
Go outside the wheelhouse and develop something that isn't a new Fallout or Elder Scrolls.
Or maybe make a different kind of game in these franchises.
How about an Elder Scrolls belt-scrolling brawler?
Missile-Command Style using Fallout (destroy the nukes!)
Turn-based pixel RPG of something.
Or just a new IP that doesn't use Creation Engine at all!
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Now Available for PS Plus Collection Owners
@Intr1n5ic "I don't believe $10 more for a better version of a game is an example of that though, especially one that releases years later."
Fair enough.
I feel it's a slippery slope to worse things down the road and I hope I am wrong about it.
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Now Available for PS Plus Collection Owners
@Intr1n5ic I pay for games I want on Xbox and don't use Game Pass as a crutch. I'm not one of those "wait for Game Pass" people. Now that being said, I won't buy a game if it is on Game Pass because that would economically wasteful for me to do so.
I do apologize for the inflammatory accusation about just "accepting" things and deleted it prior to reading your response - that was wrong of me. So please accept my apology for the accusatory language there.
I look at things from a PC lens, though:
Developers spend time optimizing for a huge range of hardware and they don't charge different prices for a version that runs on $2000 PC and one that runs on a $500 potato. It makes no sense! Most times, PC games don't release for $70, either!
Steam has given away a ton of upgrades over the years as new versions come out. Heck, Epic Games hands out free games weekly despite losing money on it! I think GOG also provides access to the "latest" version of games as they come, but can't confirm as I only buy games from the 80's, 90's and early 00' on that platform.
I am an Xbox fan. I am a PlayStation fan. I am a Nintendo fan. I am a PC fan. I like gaming as a whole and I am pro-consumer, not pro "please charge me more, multi-million dollar corporation, for tweaking a few settings".
Despite liking the exclusives that have come to PlayStation, I do feel like Sony abuses its power as the market leader to nickel and dime its customers.
I am sure if Microsoft was market leader, it probably would have been the same or worse.
The same with Nintendo.
The only side I take is my wallet's side.
"I don't care what anyone else does, it doesn't factor in to my opinion on that"
I do think that is the most dangerous mentality to take from a consumer standpoint. You should be looking at what others are doing! That's the entire point of maintaining healthy competition and the exact kind of mentality that continues to drive prices upwards! If people just accept things without even considering what others are doing to offer a better deal, then the one not offering the better deal will continue doing what its doing because it's not being penalized for it!
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Now Available for PS Plus Collection Owners
@Intr1n5ic "It supports 3d audio as well."
The game already used 3D Audio on PS4 but it was locked behind owning the Platinum Headset (actually a lot of first-party games used 3D Audio on PS4 but was locked behind using the Platinum Headset). The PS5 does enable this capability for PS4 games for any headset, but it was originally not like that.
" The PS5 version is 4K whilst the pro version is 1800p."
The 4K was also a checkerboarded 4K (so it could probably still being running at 1800p native).
"That's cool, maybe Sony can use that as an excuse to not pay the devs for the extra time it takes improving all those things."
While I hate to inject Microsoft into this because it triggers people into thinking I am doing console war stuff, but the developers of Forza Horizon 5 optimized a game for not 2 not 3, but 6 different "platforms" during development (base X1, X1S, X1X, Series S, Series X, PC) for that game and Microsoft still only charged X1 prices for it upon release!
The Witcher 3 - free upgrade
Cyberpunk 2077 - free upgrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake - free upgrade for base version
Rise & Shadow of the Tomb Raider - free upgrades
Resident Evil 2, 3, 7 - free upgrades
Jedi Fallen Order - free upgrade
Fallout 4 - free upgrade
If you owned the PC versions of Quake and Quake 2 (or even got them for free from Bethesda when they gave them out and then added them to Steam when the Bethesda launcher shut down), those got upgraded to the Remastered versions for free.
Sure, Sony is in its right to charge what it wants, but it shouldn't go unchecked or uncontested when there were plenty of other developers and publishers who were willing to give these perks at no extra cost.
It doesn't matter if you do or don't like the publisher or games that got free upgrades or if you feel Sony's quality tops the games listed, it's the fact that these developers/publishers chose to give gamers a good deal - whether we deserved it or not - and Sony chose not to.
Re: Square Enix Game Cancellations Likely as Publisher Records $140 Million Loss in 'Content Disposal'
"According to VGC, Square Enix is eager to "reduce the amount of development it outsources to external studios, and wants to focus on in-house development for its more high-profile titles, with the aim being to increase both quality and profit margins".
So Square Enix is going back to how it used to do things during its prime.
Remember in-house games like Brave Fencer Musashi? Xenogears? Vagrant Story? Mana Series? Saga Series? Chrono Trigger?
Square Enix was amazing in its prime!
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Now Available for PS Plus Collection Owners
@TechaNinja Nope...still blame Sony for making it that complicated for developers/publishers to have to sort out every "iteration" of the same game because Sony has a separate SKU for physical, digital, PS Plus Extra, PS Plus Collection, etc. etc.
Developers should just mark the upgrade for the game and it updates regardless of how the game was procured.
@Intr1n5ic For me, it's about what's in the update.
Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut was a cash grab because there was zero difference between the PS5 version and the PS4 Pro version running in backwards compatibility. It was literally an extra charge for the ability to use DualSense ($20 for PS4 DLC or $30 to upgrade to the Director's Cut with same DLC).
God of War Ragnarok had no content differences, only looked better (sorry, but improved game settings aren't a reason to charge extra in my eyes). $60 for PS4 and $70 for PS5.
Horizon Forbidden West cost $60 for PS4 and $70 for PS5, but if you bought the PS4 version you got a free upgrade - very sneaky tactic for those not in the know and a ton of people ended up paying more money. Even this site noted that 70% of physical discs bought in the UK were the more expensive PS5 version despite paying less with PS4 and upgrading. In my eyes, Sony charged you a $10 convenience fee to not go through the upgrade process (no thanks).
Now, Death Stranding Director's Cut had extra content and the $10 was more for the additional content and not just a settings difference.
Same with The Last of Part 2 "Remastered" - it had additional content worth the $10.
Square Enix made the base version of Final Fantasy VII Remake free and charged $10 to access the Intergrade DLC. That was a valid charge.
Re: Xbox Confirms June Showcase, Bound to Feature Some PS5 Games
@OctolingKing13 Direct 🫸 🫷 to you!
Re: Xbox Confirms June Showcase, Bound to Feature Some PS5 Games
Seeing as how the codename for 2024 Call of Duty is "Cerberus" (according to a data breach from December 2022) and there is a Cerberus logo in this teaser...you are probably on the nose with it being Call of Duty.
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Now Available for PS Plus Collection Owners
@Intr1n5ic Oh I don't mind being wrong - I am glad I was in this instance!
I just hope this generation has been a learning experience for Sony for the future - especially if the PS6 also does backwards compatibility, cross-gen releases, and upgrade paths.
Re: Stellar Blade Wanted Its Collectible Cans to Be Based on Real Brands Like Pepsi
@Kidfunkadelic83 In the words of Meryl Silverburgh:
"Women have more hiding places than men."
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Now Available for PS Plus Collection Owners
@Intr1n5ic Oh it was definitely a pessimistic jab at Sony because of the way it nickels and dimes people like charging $10 for upgrades for the same game because...DualSense (I guess?)...when other publishers were offering free updates.
I wouldn't put it past Sony to simply ignore that version because it's an "expired" way to have the game and force people to either subscribe to PS Plus Extra and claim it there or buy the game outright.
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Now Available for PS Plus Collection Owners
@Intr1n5ic Sony's backend sucks and until this was "fixed"...it was stuck behind a paywall for those affected by Sony's ridiculous SKU design. This shouldn't have been an issue to begin with.
But it's okay, continue to enjoy archaic designs without contention while everyone else on different platforms had zero headache waiting for an update to finish downloading (now the actual consequence of the update is a different kind of headache - lol).
Re: Rumour: Kingdom Hearts 4 Slated for 2025 Release
I really like Kingdom Hearts games.
Unfortunately for Square Enix, all that effort putting up the conspiracy theorist thread board just to iron out the plot was all in vain because I barely remember what it was even about.
Hopefully the new Saga has a lot less confusing terminology and reduces the amount of plot twists.
Keeping important plot points on "mainline" consoles and not locking plot elements behind Secret Endings also kind of helps.
I don't want to have to play the Apple Arcade-Only Kingdom Hearts Card Saga Rhythm Fighter X-Blade Final Cut Mix R and get the Secret Ending by getting 300% game progression in order to be able to follow what is going on with Kingdom Hearts V.
Re: Fallout 4 PS5 Next-Gen Update Now Unlocked for PS Plus Owners
"Sadly, those who acquired Fallout 4 via the now-defunct PS Plus Collection are the only ones who will not qualify for the upgrade"
This is such a dumb thing. Fallout 4 should be Fallout 4 and the upgrade should apply to all no matter how it was added to someone's PSN library.
Sony is literally putting a free upgrade behind a paywall because it wasn't added through the "proper" channels.
Re: Microsoft 'Meeting Players Where They Are' as Xbox Games Among PS Store's Bestsellers
@MrBook Decisions made during X1 era caused a huge shift towards PlayStation. Those gamers amass game libraries on PS4 profiles that transferred to PS5.
The need to switch didn't make sense - especially those who only play Fortnite, sports titles, COD, etc.
PlayStation became the habitual gaming purchase due to X1 irrelevance.
First-party drought for the first couple of years of Series console release.
Now, with the decision to publish a few first-party games on PlayStation have got people questioning even buying the console at all.
But mostly, losing so bad with X1 basically got the snowball rolling that Microsoft is desperately trying to stop from growing, but can't.
Re: Microsoft 'Meeting Players Where They Are' as Xbox Games Among PS Store's Bestsellers
@theSpectre Sure, but if you are looking to play every Halo, every Gears, Forza, every Fable, Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, every Crackdown, etc., it might be more economically sound to subscribe to play them all over the course of a few months (and then unsubscribe) than to outright buy every one (which, yes, you can still do on Xbox).
Clearly, even people here want to enjoy "the staples", so why not try to take the most economical approach to doing so - especially if Xbox isn't your primary platform of choice?
Re: Stellar Blade Half-Second Input Delay Due to 'Game's Style of Animation', Says Director
@nyr2k2 ...well the back of the character is the most seen part of a character in third-person action games...so.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Actually, that was one of the reasons Bayonetta's creator took so long to get her rear-end "right" (apparently it took months of designs).
I know what you are saying, though. I watched one rant about censorship for Stellar Blade and the level of detail with which they go through was...well...a lot.
I just wanted to see if the claims were true, not a pixel-by-pixel analysis of string placement around the torso on one outfit vs. another - I turned it off at that point.
Perhaps some of them should go into fashion design instead of zooming in on video game captures. 😅
Re: Stellar Blade Half-Second Input Delay Due to 'Game's Style of Animation', Says Director
@exit I think I am getting it for my birthday (which is today) and it will be a nice palate cleanser from the super long JRPGs and survival horror games I have been playing.
Re: Microsoft 'Meeting Players Where They Are' as Xbox Games Among PS Store's Bestsellers
@BeerIsAwesome Absolutely, but I would never suggestion Cloud as an absolute solution - great option in a pinch, though!
Re: Stellar Blade Half-Second Input Delay Due to 'Game's Style of Animation', Says Director
@exit @nyr2k2 If you think the arguments about censorship are about the content itself, then you missed the point.
It all may seem like a juvenile thing to argue about but it's about freedom of expression without "giving in" to some vocal minority.
Plus, much like the whole Tomb Raider debacle, the developer itself said "No censorship." Don't say it if you don't mean it!
On topic: Glad at least the Parry will still get pulled off at button press, even if the animation is slightly delayed. Seems like a "happy medium".
Re: Microsoft 'Meeting Players Where They Are' as Xbox Games Among PS Store's Bestsellers
For all the Microsoft-published games people are saying they would buy on PlayStation if they were ported over, it would probably cheaper to buy a used Series S (or in some cases just a cheap X1) and get a couple months of Game Pass to play said games.
Just sayin'.
Re: Sea of Thieves Fully Playable Now on PS5 via Early Access
One could say it is in....Aaarrrrly Access.
....
I'll show myself out.
Re: Fallout 4 Next Gen Version Is Out Now on PS5, Xbox, and PC
[Reading comments with upgrade issues]
Wouldn't it be nice if the Sony bullet point also read "original game receives a patch"
Wouldn't it, Sony?!
Fix this [expletive] with the PS6! You may be the market leader in 2024, but your architecture is stuck in 2006!
Re: Fallout 4 Next Gen Version Is Out Now on PS5, Xbox, and PC
"When connected to a 1440p display, the title will run at 1440p resolution at 60 FPS w/ ultra settings regardless of rendering mode"
Why not just add a Balanced Mode option then?! Seems like 1440p is the best way to play, but shouldn't require a system level change to enable it.
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 Patch 1.10 Out Now on PS5, Adjusts Dragonsplague, Pawns, and More
@Tomato_Goose Oh...okay. So..it does have gameplay implications, then.
Never played Dragon's Dogma, so it just seemed like a weird thing to fuss over from an outsider's perspective.
Re: Dragon's Dogma 2 Patch 1.10 Out Now on PS5, Adjusts Dragonsplague, Pawns, and More
"Adding the option to zoom in on the faces of the Arisen and Pawns in the status screen, shops, etc."
Seems like an odd adjustment to waste development cycles on...but, okay....
Re: Fallout 4 Next Gen Update Release Times: When Can You Play the New Version?
If Sony decides to continue with backwards compatibility with PS6, I really hope it sorts out the backend side of things to be an automatic process with any cross-gen upgrades.
The fact upgrading requires instructions is just such an archaic design. I am sure Save file transfer won't be automatic, either. Having a bunch of Trophy dings pop-off when you start the upgrade is also annoying because you have to have a new, but identical Trophy list for the same game simply because it's the new console's version.
Take notes from PC and Xbox on this aspect, Sony.
Re: Next Free Lords of the Fallen Update Turns the PS5 Game into a Roguelite
@DanteDevilHunter Well then the wording in this article is wrong as it says "When beginning a fresh playthrough or jumping into New Game+...."
Re: Grounded (PS5) - Little Bites Pack a Big Punch
@Old_Man_Harper Wow, great tips! I may have to jump back into this game someday and give that a shot.
I really do like this game, but I am so bad at it (especially because I play this stuff solo).
Re: Next Free Lords of the Fallen Update Turns the PS5 Game into a Roguelite
I got this game for Christmas and have yet to play it. I hope there is still a "default" way to play the game since I have yet to experience it without modifiers.
Re: Grounded (PS5) - Little Bites Pack a Big Punch
@frankmcma You can play it solo or online (with 3 other people). There are 4 kids you can play that you choose when you start.
There is a campaign - you wake up shrunk (I don’t even know if there is an opening cutscene to explain how you shrink - at least not when I played a long time ago) and must figure out how to get big again. But to do that you have to survive and craft to get where you need to go to achieve that goal.
We aren’t talking a cinematic experience here, but there is a “goal” you are trying to reach. There is at least one NPC (I never got far) to guide you along, so it’s not completely devoid of campaign tropes.
Re: Grounded (PS5) - Little Bites Pack a Big Punch
The spiders in this game are nightmare fuel! I don't have arachnophobia (which this game does tackle by allowing you to reduce spiders to essentially a blob visually), but spotting one still raises the heart rate and makes me run the other way.
Re: Sony Reportedly in Talks to Team Up for Paramount Bid
@NEStalgia It's a weird thing, huh?
Same as with Dolby/DTS.
Dolby has virtually a monopoly with sound as most DVD/UHD Blu-ray/movie theaters/streaming services use it. Disney+ will start using DTS:X with IMAX Enhanced titles starting in May, but at this point it's a little late to the party.
DTS had a good run in the standard Blu-ray market (as most Standard Blu-ray use DTS-HD MA), but everyone has now gone back to Dolby with Atmos being out there.
I guess because there is no active measures to block competition, there is nothing anyone can do about it. Courts can't force people to break habit/preference. 🤷♂️
The movie industry has crazy consolidation and it really hasn't helped. There are so few "standout" movies anymore unless they come from the indie studios: Fox Searchlight, A24, etc.
Sure Sony has a hit with the Spiderverse films, but I can't think of anything else that has been widely praised.
Re: It Looks Like Kena: Bridge of Spirits Is Heading to New Platforms
@Amnesiac @Stevemalkpus With Xbox sharing a lot with PC, it's probably a pretty easy port to make for Xbox.
I'm not a game dev, so I don't know exactly how "closed off" the Xbox environment really is compared to PC, but seeing as how the Xbox is Windows-based (albeit extremely stripped down) and uses DirectX, my guess is that it's not crazy difficult to develop for if a PC version is already out there.
Even if it doesn't sell gangbusters, it probably wouldn't take long to get an ROI for development. Some "bean counter" somewhere at Ember felt it was a good idea, so who are we to argue? The more the merrier, right?!
Re: Sony Reportedly in Talks to Team Up for Paramount Bid
@Generiko1999 Sony has had a hand in a lot of cookie jars over the years, though.
Sony made the sound chips in the SNES.
Sony Music has produced a lot of video game music.
Heck, Sony used to be a third-party game developer.
There is probably a ton of Sony-branded stuff floating around "the industry" for various uses: cameras, headphones, etc.
No different than pretty much every company in the world using Microsoft products in some way, shape, or form.
The only one of the "Big Three" who doesn't have its hand in cookie jars is Nintendo - unless Sony and Microsoft have Hanafuda-based tournaments in Japanese offices.
One topic: pretty sad to see a movie icon like Paramount falling on such hard times that it needs to look to merging. Then again, I couldn't tell you if I have seen any memorable Paramount movies in years.
Re: Future Dragon's Dogma 2 Update Will Nerf Its Coolest Mechanic
Kind of a shame the game doesn't make you kill your Pawn to stop the spread.
I understand it's a video game and goes by video logic, but it would be pretty awesome if "dismissing" the Pawn with the disease causes random chaos nearby - since, you know...an infected person is literally just roaming the wild.
Re: Fallout Will Officially Shoot a Second Season on Amazon Prime
Can't wait! First season was fantastic in my opinion. I hate Bethesda RPGs because there are too many distractions (which is beautifully joked about in the show), but I do like the world and the lore. Having it all condensed to a focused story is a much better way for me to enjoy the world Bethesda crafted.
Re: Fallout 4 Sales Up 7,500% in Europe as Bethesda Series Dominates
@NEStalgia "Do people seriously just buy whatever's placed passively in front of them (as long as it's cheap?)"
In a way, yes. Remember that the vast majority of gamers only play games like Fortnite, Destiny, sports titles, etc. I bet a lot don't even think about older titles until they are introduced to them because of headlines.
So...Fallout was actually good...it's in headlines...these casual gamers think "I wonder what this game is all about"...they see it's cheap...they buy it to "check it out".
Re: Fallout 4 Sales Up 7,500% in Europe as Bethesda Series Dominates
@Ajfennell77 If you have a modern PC of some kind, you could probably run both of those games just fine even with an integrated video card - they are available for purchase on just about any digital storefront as well as available through Game Pass PC.
Or maybe Sony should just do a better job with supporting older games on modern hardware.
Or you could...I don't know...buy an Xbox to play it since it IS natively playable there. Heck, even a cheap Xbox One can handle it.