Comments 1,318

Re: Sony Takes Control of UK as PS5 Climbs to 51% Market Share

Grumblevolcano

@IOI I think Sony's problem is the closure of studios like Japan Studio as well the as the removal of smaller scale games and remasters/remakes of pre-PS4 games. Given games take around 5 years to make nowadays, we can look back at 2017-2019's PS4 lineup and compare:

  • Gravity Rush 2 - Japan Studio is no more
  • Horizon Zero Dawn - Already got a sequel in 2022 but got DLC and a VR game in 2023
  • MLB The Show 17-19 - MLB The Show is annual so got a game in 2023
  • Several remasters/remakes of old games (PaRappa the Rapper, LocoRoco, Wipeout, Patapon, LocoRoco 2, Shadow of the Colossus, MediEvil) - After 2020's Demon's Souls remake, the only pre-PS4 remaster/remake was TLoU Part 1 of which TLoU was already remastered for PS4
  • Matterfall - Returnal released in 2021
  • Uncharted The Lost Legacy - Naughty Dog are all focused on TLoU
  • Everybody's Golf - Japan Studio is no more and since that happened, Clap Hanz released an Apple Arcade exclusive and a Switch exclusive
  • Knack II - Japan Studio is no more
  • Gran Turismo Sport - GT7 released in 2022
  • SingStar Celebration - SingStar franchise seems to be finished
  • God of War - Already got a sequel in 2022
  • Spider-Man - Already got a standalone expansion in 2020 and got a sequel in 2023
  • PSVR games like Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Blood & Truth, Everybody's Golf VR - It looks like Sony has pretty much abandoned PSVR2 already
  • Days Gone - Bend are currently working on a new IP
  • Concrete Genie - Pixelopus are no more

I don't think complacency is the right word. I think it's just that they reacted in a certain way to Microsoft trying to buy up everything (going all in on live service to be able to be self-sufficient) and it backfired.

Re: Sony Takes Control of UK as PS5 Climbs to 51% Market Share

Grumblevolcano

@Bionic-Spencer @rockodoodle The leak also said they're leaving gaming if Game Pass growth doesn't quadruple by 2027. Which makes it seem like someone at Microsoft who is above Phil Spencer has issued an ultimatum for the gaming division, "Become as profitable as our other divisions like Windows or we will shut it down."

Re: PS5's Install Base Closes on 50 Million As Sony Gets Increasingly Aggressive

Grumblevolcano

Anyone think it's odd how Sony haven't announced the PS+ Extra/Premium games for November yet? In the past it was always announce on the 2nd Wednesday of the month for release on the following Tuesday like for August:

  • Announce August 9th
  • Release August 15th

(I used August as an example as like November it had 5 Wednesdays)

But now it's already passed that day (November 8th is the 2nd Wednesday of this month) and nothing announced.

Re: Physical Games Represented Just 4% of Sales for PlayStation Last Quarter

Grumblevolcano

@DennisReynolds I figure that the digital only Series X replacing the current disc Series X would result in publishers stop making physical games for Xbox. So while disc Series X owners could still buy older physical games, there wouldn't be new ones.

@K1LLEGAL Yes, the new setup being a 2 model setup of digital only Series X + Series S. It's possible Phil Spencer saw the backlash in response to the leaks and decides to change strategies but given what we've seen recently I think the Activision acquisition went to his head and we get full on arrogant Microsoft like Don Mattrick in 2013.

Re: Sony Delays Six Live Service PS5 Games, But Company Remains Committed to Model

Grumblevolcano

@get2sammyb Don't forget that MLB The Show is live service so we already know that 3/6 games is that (MLB The Show 24, 25, 26) given the franchise releases almost every year in March. So from that it seems the 6 are:

  • MLB The Show 24
  • MLB The Show 25
  • MLB The Show 26
  • Concord
  • Fairgame$
  • Marathon

If they're counting PS Studios games where they don't own the studio like Helldivers 2 then replace one of Concord/Fairgame$/Marathon with that game.

Looks to me like Sony's change in direction is leave live service to the live service studios (Bungie, San Diego, Firewalk, Haven) meanwhile studios that traditionally work on single player epics, work on single player epics.

Re: Suicide Squad Backlash Doesn't Stop Warner Bros from Doubling Down on Live-Service Games

Grumblevolcano

I thought the obvious thing to do would be pivot from live service to normal games and use ports/remasters to fill in the gaps between new games. Like how in December, Switch is getting a port of the Rocksteady Arkham Trilogy.

But I guess they fell for the same traps as before by looking at Fortnite breaking records and not the gigantic live service graveyard that has formed over time.

Re: Poll: Do You Think GTA 6 Will Release on PS4?

Grumblevolcano

I think Switch 2 will get GTA6 and a reasonable expectation for that console is base PS4 power. So Rockstar releases it on both.

If it doesn't release on last gen or Switch 2, I think it'll be another Baldur's Gate 3 situation where the Series S massively hurts the Xbox experience.

Re: Game Director of The Last of Us' PS5 Multiplayer Project Says He's Still Working on It

Grumblevolcano

@MFTWrecks I agree that what Bungie did was wrong and Jim Ryan shouldn't have given them control over Sony's other studios (shouldn't have acquired Bungie in the first place either).

I would say that the original Factions had an advantage in the sense that it was bundled with the TLoU single player campaign. Like many games of that era, you'd get it for the single player and check out the multiplayer while you're there.

I think the best chance for Factions 2 taking off in the traditional sense (playerbase sticking because the game is fun) would've been a GoT Legends type release approach. You can buy it standalone or as part of a bigger bundle that includes a single player release (in Factions 2's case, standalone or as part of TLoU 2 Remastered).

Re: Expect a 'Major' Unannounced Title from Capcom Before March 2024

Grumblevolcano

@Tchunga Because Capcom is more financially stable nowadays. When Capcom were less financially stable, they made more exclusivity and exclusion deals with 1st parties. For example SFV PS console exclusive, MH World blocked from releasing on Switch, Dead Rising 4 Xbox console exclusive, etc.

But now everything's multiplatform (of course if the teased game is a Zelda remake it would be Switch exclusive given 1st party IP), naturally some games are skipping Switch because it's not powerful enough but that would likely change when Switch 2 is announced.

Re: Expect a 'Major' Unannounced Title from Capcom Before March 2024

Grumblevolcano

I don't see Capcom announcing a new Monster Hunter (let alone releasing it) before Switch 2 is announced so I think that leaves Resident Evil (e.g. RE5 remake, Code Veronica remake, Revelations 3) or Zelda (Oracle remakes, Minish Cap remake).

While the original versions of the Zelda games listed already got added to NSO this year, Nintendo may be wanting to preserve those games in proper physical form in case Capcom gets acquired.

Re: It Sounds Like PS5 Is Handily Outselling Its New-Gen Rival in France

Grumblevolcano

Not surprising given trust and marketing are things that Xbox lack. With the former you have Phil Spencer constantly saying "next year will be better" and it turns out even worse. Meanwhile it's been a long time since Xbox has had some fantastic marketing, pre-Game Pass era I'd say was the last time.

Though sadly Microsoft are being rewarded for this as they were allowed to acquire several studios including 2 gigantic publishers.

Re: PS5, PS4's Most Played Games Probably Won't Surprise You

Grumblevolcano

@Oz_Momotaro Xbox's top 10 are:
1. Fortnite
2. Starfield (Game Pass)
3. MW2 (2022)
4. GTAV Remastered (Game Pass)
5. Minecraft (Game Pass)
6. Roblox
7. Payday 3 (Game Pass)
8. Rainbow Six Siege (Game Pass)
9. Apex Legends
10. Party Animals (Game Pass)

Roblox will no doubt be in October's list for PS.

Re: Sony Does a Lot Behind the Scenes to Ensure High Quality PS5 Exclusives

Grumblevolcano

@ChrisDeku The upcoming platform holder published lineups for all 3 confirmed at the moment:

Playstation

  • Stellar Blade - 2023
  • Helldivers 2 - February 8th 2024
  • Destiny 2 The Final Shape DLC - February 27th 2024
  • Rise of the Ronin - 2024
  • Lost Soul Aside - 2024
  • Concord - 2024
  • Fairgame$ - TBA
  • Marathon - TBA
  • Wolverine - TBA
  • Death Stranding 2 - TBA
  • TLoU Factions 2 - TBA (though maybe cancelled)

Nintendo

  • WarioWare Move It - November 3rd 2023
  • Super Mario RPG - November 17th 2023
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 6 DLC - Holiday 2023
  • Pokemon Scarlet/Violet The Indigo Disk DLC - Winter 2023
  • Another Code Recollection - January 19th 2024
  • Mario vs. Donkey Kong - February 16th 2024
  • Princess Peach Showtime - March 22nd 2024
  • Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC - Spring 2024
  • Luigi's Mansion 2 HD - Summer 2024
  • Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door - 2024
  • Metroid Prime 4 - TBA

Xbox

  • Modern Warfare III - November 10th 2023
  • Hellblade II - 2024
  • Avowed - 2024
  • Flight Simulator 2024 - 2024
  • Towerborne - 2024
  • Clockwork Revolution - TBA
  • Everwild - TBA
  • Fable - TBA
  • The Outer Worlds 2 - TBA
  • Perfect Dark - TBA
  • State of Decay 3 - TBA
  • South of Midnight - TBA
  • Kojima Cloud project - TBA
  • Project Mara - TBA
  • Project Maverick - TBA
  • Contraband - TBA
  • Indiana Jones - TBA
  • Elder Scrolls VI - TBA
  • Fallout 5 - TBA

My take on this situation:

  • Sony over the PS5 era have chosen to have smaller gaps between announcement and release. Also early 2024 is packed between PS Studios and 3rd party exclusives not published by Sony (e.g. FFVII Rebirth, Granblue Fantasy Relink) so big brand new announcements would distract from those. Small State of Play and/or Game Awards presence would work. My guess would be by the end of the year we see TLoU2 Remastered as well as a release window for Death Stranding 2 and Wolverine meanwhile showcase happens in Spring 2024.
  • Nintendo are getting ready to announce a new console (the upcoming Switch schedule is packed though the only new games are WarioWare Move It, Princess Peach Showtime and Metroid Prime 4). Also TTYD already got rated in South Korea and Brazil which suggests that game releases in the 1st half of 2024.
  • Xbox Game Studios have some massive internal problems but are being rewarded for it by being allowed to acquire gigantic publishers.

Re: Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Says It's 'Criminal' Industry Isn't Properly Preserving Games

Grumblevolcano

@Xbox_Dashboard Wolverine seems likely to be 2024 judging by the way Sony have announced things in the PS5 era. September 2024 would be 3 years since the initial reveal meanwhile the gaps between initial reveal and release have been on the shorter side (e.g. 1.5 - 2 years for Spider-Man 2, GoW Ragnarok, HFW and GT7).

So my guess would be gameplay reveal either at Game Awards 2023 or Playstation Showcase 2024 and release in Fall/Holiday 2024.

Re: Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Says It's 'Criminal' Industry Isn't Properly Preserving Games

Grumblevolcano

@Member_the_game I think it's questionable who is actually doing the best with regards to this. Microsoft and Nintendo have brought a higher proportion of their older games to current systems though Microsoft gave up proceeding further in 2021 and Nintendo did a few limited time releases in 2020.

While Sony's no doubt doing the worst in that regard, they're the only one that's keeping their older stores alive. It did take backlash in 2021 for that to happen but the PS3 and Vita stores are still around for the foreseeable future meanwhile 3DS and Wii U shutdown in March 2023 and 360 is shutting down in July 2024.

So I'd say all 3 have gigantic room for improvement in regards to game preservation.

Re: Sony Expects 'Full Supply' PS5 Sales to Push One of PlayStation's Strongest Holiday Seasons Ever

Grumblevolcano

@OldGamer999 There's a difference between being concerned as a result of no known big 1st party release for 2024 so far and being under the impression we know nothing about 2024 when we do know stuff.

My guess is it's going to be Wolverine and naturally you wouldn't want to have Wolverine interfere with the Spider-Man 2 marketing (they're both big single player Marvel games).

Re: Sony Expects 'Full Supply' PS5 Sales to Push One of PlayStation's Strongest Holiday Seasons Ever

Grumblevolcano

@ROTTIEMAN16 We know early 2024 is packed particularly on the 3rd party multiplatform side but there's also 3 Playstation Studios releases (Helldivers 2 and Destiny 2 The Final Shape DLC in February and MLB The Show is annual so will be around March) and major 3rd party exclusives like FFVII Rebirth in February.

Beyond that is more vague (some 2024 releases and some TBA releases) but then again it was like that after GoW Ragnarok last year. We didn't know about the Burning Shores DLC until the Game Awards, Spider-Man 2 wasn't given a Fall 2023 release window until mid December 2022.

I do think we'll get a State of Play in November though which'll give a release date for Stellar Blade (currently scheduled for 2023).

Re: Sony's Allegedly Testing a Super-Secret Soulsborne for PS5

Grumblevolcano

Between Stellar Blade still having a vague 2023 release window and everything that's happened since the September State of Play only having already announced games suggests we're getting a State of Play before the end of the month. It fits also that we got a State of Play in late October 2021 (the last time we saw Little Devil Inside).

Re: The Last of Us 2 PS5 Remaster Seems to Be Real

Grumblevolcano

I think it's real because of Sony's PC strategy (given the games they've ported over already, TLoU 2 seems extremely likely). But I also think they'd be releasing a PS5 version to get rid of the "Only on Playstation" branding that was on the PS4 boxes hence avoiding false marketing lawsuits.

Re: PlayStation's Push for Live Service Games Hasn't Been Going Smoothly

Grumblevolcano

Microsoft are truly the ones to blame here with the whole "Spend Sony out of business" strategy that was found out at the FTC trial (the Xbox leak also revealed Microsoft's malicious strategy at getting a monopoly). Meanwhile the FTC trial revealed that AAA is unsustainable without a separate source and Sony's separate source was 3rd party live service games like CoD so the looming threat of Microsoft resulted in Sony themselves entering the live service arena.

I wish Sony instead went the Nintendo route of having games of various sizes and better use of legacy content than going for live service (Nintendo's only live service games are mobile and those games are gradually being shutdown). But who knows if that would've worked either for Sony as a big advantage Nintendo has with their strategy is using much weaker hardware. Switch 2 may very well be Nintendo's PS4 moment.