Look everyone. I think we can all rally together today and just point at SEGA and thank them for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Now that will be a game. None of this GaaS nonsense
If true, this is obscene for so many reasons because it shows how out of touch Sony has become with its customers. How on earth they championed this as the future of playstation I do not know.
I don't see how Hermen Hulst can come back from this. That is a massive error of judgement.
Sony has always been successful in its merger and aquisition strategy because it targeted companies it had worked closely with for years, and were aligned to the company ethos - take Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Housemarque etc.
The purchase of firewalk, and to an extent Bungie made no sense because those aquisitions represented a complete departure from their usual approach. It's no wonder that this ended up a disaster for all involved.
I get the point about Nintendo dropping alot of remasters on switch. However, there are a couple of key differences that help them get away with it in my opinion:
1) Some of the remasters released this year are extremely difficult to get hold of and play, e.g Mario The Thousand Year Door
2) the games are accessible in a new format that brings something new to the table (specifically the handheld factor) - appreciate its not Nintendo, but I picked up red dead redemption happily on switch because it meant I could play it on the go whereas I would be unlikely to play through it again on my PS5 given I'd already beaten it years ago when it first released.
3) Nintendo has realised the value of releasing remasters alongside new software. In the next month, they are releasing a new Zelda game, a new Mario Party, and a new Mario and Luigi title. This helps to shield them from the accusation that they have no new ideas.
I've said previously that Sony should be looking to develop a few smaller titles to flesh out their first party output. It will help them to move away from some of the accusations that the release schedule is barren. Astrobot is a great example of how a game doesn't need to last 40-60 hours or pursue gritty photorealism to be a joy to play.
More of that please Sony. It was was a real shame in my opinion that they closed down the likes of pixelopus. Concrete Genie was the perfect type of experimental game Sony needs - and should be releasing - between bigger titles and any remasters they are developing to flesh out the library.
I kind of agree with others on here. I really enjoyed Ragnorak, but I still consider 2018 the better game and hold it in my top 5 of all time. Loved it
Great game, completely unecessary remaster/remake. Much more interested in the Lego game as at least it's something new.
Back when this was first mentioned I was relatively relaxed about the idea as no one is obliging people to buy it. At that time it was with an assumption that it would launch around other new first party titles - but that currently is not the case and this will only fuel the perception that sony has nothing new to offer and is trying to wring money out of people for old rope.
Perception currently is that Sony is predominantly investing in remakes and live service. This generation we've seen Last of Us pt 1 and 2, the Uncharted collection, Until Dawn, Spiderman remastered, Ghost of Tsushima directors cut, Death Stranding Directors Cut, Demons Souls - I'm sure there are others I haven't mentioned.
This cannot be what they have to show at a State of Play. They need to be showcasing something new to show they still have ideas in the tank.
I recognise Sony is trying to branch out into multiple entertainment ventures like TV and movies, and so this is another venture to attract in new players (likely switch players who try the lego game and want to experience more), but it's hard to justify the need for this when the PS4 version runs great as it is
@UntilRespawn yes, I'm still convinced they are trolling. They used to come on here too. Maybe still do. I noticed them in the Astro articles over the weekend too
Sony was meant to be growing their development teams to be working on 2 titles at a time to ensure a decent hit rate of new titles. It's crazy how this generation has developed.
As I have said before though, don't expect to see ghost of tsushima until Assassins Creed Shadows releases. Sony appears to have the marketing agreement for that so I would be amazed if they said anything until after it launches.
The live service fixation and the race to the bottom for bigger, more graphically intensive titles has hurt Sony though. I'd have thought the success of the Switch would have shown that you don't need to have the flashiest graphics to make fun games that sell extremely well.
If the news of a SOP is real, I expect we will see Death Stranding and Lego Horizon, but doubt we hear of much else. Maybe Astrobot dlc or Spiderman dlc. Expect they will be pushing for a new GTA 6 trailer though
@Vaako007 That good grace has nearly all gone I'm afraid. It's been a terrible generation for them.
If the good will from the end of the PS3's life cycle (combined with Microsoft's disastrous Xbox One reveal) contributed to PS4's success, and then the fantastic run that console saw them through to the PS5 generation, if they continue on current form, any good will remaining will have been lost by the time PS6 releases.
Whilst there have been some good games, the communication has been awful, and there have been way too many missteps. General sentiment I am seeing seems to be moving from frustration to indifference at this point.
Worrying times. Hope they can turn things round sooner rather than later
To be fair to Astro Bot, sales look soft for all software based on those figures. Hardware sales are atrocious though. Who'd have thought raising the price would put people off...
No. Only way I get a pro is if my standard PS5 stops working. And only then if it has had a significant price cut. Would rather keep the money for PS6.
Pro is completely unecessary. PS5 surely hasn't come close to reaching its potential. If it has, that is concerning.
Will be amazed if this sells well. It's absolutely the definition of enthusiast device. Hope Sony isn't banking on selling large numbers - they won't at that price that's for sure. But of course if you wait 12 months the price might be 800 quid so...
If this is dropping for 700 quid, goodness knows what PS6 would launch at.
I still dont get why this is needed. Yes I get the 4k, 60 fps issue is an issue for some, but is it worth 700 pounds (plus extra for a disc drive)?
I don't believe we are anywhere close to tapping out the base PS5. Most titles are still running on PS4 Xbox series S after all.
Didn't they learn from the early Assassins Creed titles that people hate instant fail stealth missions. They made a big song and dance at the time that they had listened and learnt. Genuinely surprised to see the mechanic return in a Ubisoft title
@UltimateOtaku91 No, I completely agree! Sony can't be held to account for lower than expected sales (read NOT poor sales). They marketed the heck out of the Final Fantasy titles. FF16 even got its own State of Play. Even Foamstars was heavily represented
Yes. Given the buster sword was in Astro's Playroom no reference to anything square enix is very noticeable by its absence. I really do hope it isn't down to a falling out between Sony and Square Enix.
Square has made some odd comments recently and there seem to have been some grumblings holding Playstation accountable for FF16 and 7 rebirth not hitting sales targets.
Of course it's equally too easy to read too much into this until either party makes a statement 😅
My two kids are playing Astro Bot now and whooping and cheering over it. It's a hit with all generations. This is what gaming is all about and what Sony has missed for ages.
Well done Team Asobi
(Though if my 4 year old thinks he is trying the new dualsense with the white sticks he is sadly mistaken 🤣)
I put a big list in a previous article so I won't repeat it here. But I do think the gaming division has been unfairly lumped in with the movie and animation department. Sony has a wealth of untapped ip they are sitting on in the vaults
I think Sony should take a good look through the archives and see what could be updated for a modern audiences, taking the lessons it has learnt over the past 30 years of game development.
Nintendo has shown that there is no such thing as a dead ip if you can bring it back in an updated and different way. Heck, Mario has been slapped onto all sorts of different genres over the years and his popularity is only growing. So there is nothing stopping Sony looking to try something original with some of its IP.
I keep coming back to Killzone and Resistance and think there is easily fuel left in the tank of those franchises for a revival to provide the online shooter they crave.
The Getaway could have provided a useful stopgap between GTA releases, but no where to be seen.
Uncharted 4 is 8 years old. The franchise is long overdue a return, particularly with Tomb Raider seemingly in development hell as the ip gets thrown around different developers.
Syphon filter would provide something different in a market crying out for new stealth titles.
Siren could capitalise on the revival of survival horror resulting from the recent success of the resident evil franchise.
Tip of the iceberg, but my point is, there is a lot of money and potential being left on the table.
I will say if Sony want to invest in new ip, they won't find me complaining. I just wonder how much they will take the financial risk in today's environment. With that said, look at how that leap of faith has worked with titles like the last of us, Ghost of Tsushima, and Horizon.
Best of luck to them. An interesting few years ahead
@PuppetMaster it is concerning. They just need a brief look back at their lineage and history. Money sitting on the table.
Sony seem to misunderstand and think everything needs to be a 100 million, 60 hour epic in order to sell. They could easily fund 3 or 4 quality 20 hour titles (see uncharted lost legacy, Miles morales) for a fraction of the cost and at significantly reduced development times. This is what Shawn Layden called for all those years ago, but he seems to have been ignored. It's so daft.
They could immediately reduce the risk associated with many of these games, and they would no doubt be better off for it. Astro Bot getting the rave reviews it's getting today is the PERFECT example of that.
Sony themselves said not to expect any major titles this year, meaning that they don't consider this a tentpole release. Yet I bet Astro Bot does significantly better than many titles that have spent years in development and cost double the price to make.
@The_Wailing_Doom Haha, good spot! I completely agree. I don't see why it should be one or the other with Sony and superhero games. The InFamous series was excellent and arguably there is more freedom to really experiment and go wild with the formula if not tied into marvel licensing. For example they could make a much darker game to balance out the lighterheartedness of marvel content. Second son released 10 years ago, so something new is long overdue (and it doesn't even need to come from suckered punch necessarily as I appreciate they are deep into development of the successor to the wonderful ghost of tsushima)
Get Hiroki Totoki in front of this to see all the Sony IP that could do with dusting off given his recent comments that playstation has a lack of ip. There is loads of forgotten ip Sony should be looking to bring back in some capacity:
Resistance, ape escape, killzone, medieval, patapon, uncharted, syphon filter, motor storm, days gone, infamous, Gravity rush, wipeout, Sly cooper, infamous, puppeteer, Parappa, jak and daxter, siren, little big planet, Socom, Siren, warhawk being just a few examples that spring to mind.
Massive congratulations Team Asobi on knocking this out of the park.
@riceNpea Hogwarts had zero microtransactions. There were fears before launch that the room of requirement would add GAAS elements, but that wasn't the case at all.
I believe that there was a single dlc pack with an optional combat arena, but nothing that would interfere with the game.
Open up the world further (let us properly explore diagon alley, and the wider wizarding world (ministry of magic etc).
Develop a stronger story with more impactful side quests
Improve enemy variety
add quidditch
less padding (merlin trials, I'm looking at you)
The first game was very good and really created a wonderful sense of place. But there were definitely numerous areas where they could improve in future titles
This is really bad. Like catastrophically bad for Playstation. Seeing SIE on the box has always indicated a seal of quality, an unmissable experience - and it's what drove the momentum from the end of the PS3 generation, through PS4 (winning them the spectacular market share for that gen), and is what has driven the sales of PS5 to date.
But if you cannot rely on Sony first party any more (even in this one instance), then that starts to build doubt amongst consumers, and they might not rush out to buy the next AAA exclusive. And given how Sony has behaved this generation, it might impact the transition into a theoretical Playstation 6.
Through the poor communication, lack of a product roadmap, failure to hype up the core with proper showcases, Sony have shown themselves to be out of touch with their core customers. It's damaged my enjoyment of gaming this generation, that's for sure. The magic has gone to be replaced by soulless, corporate greed.
I feel like PS4 generation was a success due to the legacy of the likes of Shawn Layden. He warned about this happening. And everything now seems to be coming home to roost.
Jim on the otherhand was a business man without a clear passion for gaming. And we'll have to see with Hermen Hulst. A nice guy - but im not sure if he is a leader - he has a lot of work to do to prove he is the man for the job.
Ultimately the Sony magic we once knew, is gone. Whereas we used to see sprinklings of originality from the likes of Japan Studio (who - whilst their titles didn't sell big numbers - they eclipsed Concord, particularly when you take into consideration the reduced development time and production costs), now Sony seems to have lost sight of its roots and what made them who they were. They only see pounds, dollars, euros and money. Whereas before they had heart
Sony CANNOT blame anyone but themselves. They have been told by their customers time and time again what they want. But they have chosen to stop listening. They need a massive turn around - starting this month - to reassure customers and win back ailing support for the platform.
Because as it stands currently - it's not only fairgames and marathon that look set to fail - but also the likes of the until dawn remake, PS5 pro etc. Sony really need to get back to looking at the general mood in the gaming community because it doesn't look great right now
I really hope that when Sony reflect on this whole mess they recognise that the problem doesn't solely sit with Concord. It feels like the wrong game launching at the wrong time. When SIE has stubbornly refused to speak to it's customers in a meaningful way - for years at this point - this does feel like a backlash against wider issues at play. If the game had dropped in a small gap amongst some of Playstation's bigger single player IP, and there was clarity that Sony is still investing in the types of games that it has become known for, there is a chance this would have been received more positively. SIE need to sit down and really take the time to listen.
Concord was always facing an uphill battle - particularly as one of the first live service titles to release. If Sony wanted to test the waters of live service, there were so many existing ip crying out for a new lease of life that could have been considered (for examplSocom, MAG, Killzone, Resistance, Warsaw, Starhawk Twisted metal).
As I said elsewhere, the ramifications of these losses will be huge. It won't just be concord / firewalk affected, but Playstation's whole business for years to come. You can't just write off losses like this. And with Marathon and Fairgame$ to come, and the disaster that has been the bungie aquisition? It doesn't look good.
This whole live service experiment appears to have been jumped into two footed without feeling the pulse of the gaming community. It's possible that concord DID look unique when it was first shown to Sony - but an 8 year dev cycle is just far too long and new, fresh ideas will have overtaken it, and those games that got to market first have established strong player bases which are unlikely to jump into another online hero shooter.
I have said since PS5 launched something is not right at Sony. They are not listening to what the community is telling them. More losses to come I'm afraid.
If they think PS5 Pro will be a massive success - particularly in this financial climate - I'm afraid to say that i think they are sorely mistaken. When they are still increasing the price of PS5 around the world (and yet to max out its potential), i don't see many upgrading to a new machine right now.
I really hope Astrobot performs well this week, and Sony get some goodwill back with a strong State of Play in September - because it's looking a little concerning right now.
As for Concord / Firewalk, it is a shame that it has come to this - as others have said, the best thing to do right now might be to resurrect factions and let them work on curating / sustaining an audience for that if they are set to continue as a live service studio. I'm not sure Sony would be able to set them off on a new game right now with another protracted development timeline - but i certainly dont want to be reading an article in a few weeks telling us that the studio has been shuttered and more developers have lost their jobs. Because by all accounts, Concord appears to have been competently put together and launched in a decent state. There are clearly talented developers at the studio and I hope a solution can be found to keep everyone employed
I wonder if they were reliant / had hopes of being acquired by Playstation if Until Dawn landed well but Sony is not currently in a merger and aquisition phase.
Some downsizing is natural once contractors work is complete on a title, but this sounds more severe than that
I do worry about the knock on impact from an abysmal failure such as this. It's been well reported that companies can't afford to just write off game failures any more. Goodness knows how much it cost to make concord, but the impact will inevitably filter down to Sony's other studios (and this being a new ip doesn't bode well for Sony signing off on new titles in future). The same vibe is also being felt around Fairgames - so Sony have a job on their hands to turn things around before it releases.
I hope Astrobot does very well, because otherwise this could be a tough winter for Sony as until dawn is already sounding like it is going to struggle given the high cost of entry
Could they make it free to play for like a couple of characters until you rank them up to level 5 or 10. That would give more people an incentive to at least try the game and decide if it's for them (although I'm not sure if you rank / level up characters up like that in concord). Progress could then be carried over to the main game if you decide to purchase the full title.
I do think the article has probably hit the nail on the head. A lot of people will see this as one of the poster boys for Sony's push for live service. With a lack of a clear roadmap telling gamers what else is coming in the near future, then this is getting more of a reaction compared to if it had dropped between two major AAA releases. Because by all accounts, this isn't a bad game - it's just coming across as quite generic in a sea of live service games with established player bases from other studios
Machine games probably also delighted that the work already done to develop the game on PS5 before Microsoft bought Bethesda and renegotiated exclusivity with Disney won't be going to waste
Comments 5,694
Re: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Might Be the Series' Most Insane Game Yet, Sailing to PS5, PS4 in February
@AdamNovice no, but I'm totally here for it 😂 incredible
Re: Rumour: Concord Cost $400 Million, Sony Believed It Was the 'Future of PlayStation'
Look everyone. I think we can all rally together today and just point at SEGA and thank them for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Now that will be a game. None of this GaaS nonsense
Re: Rumour: Concord Cost $400 Million, Sony Believed It Was the 'Future of PlayStation'
If true, this is obscene for so many reasons because it shows how out of touch Sony has become with its customers. How on earth they championed this as the future of playstation I do not know.
I don't see how Hermen Hulst can come back from this. That is a massive error of judgement.
Sony has always been successful in its merger and aquisition strategy because it targeted companies it had worked closely with for years, and were aligned to the company ethos - take Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Housemarque etc.
The purchase of firewalk, and to an extent Bungie made no sense because those aquisitions represented a complete departure from their usual approach. It's no wonder that this ended up a disaster for all involved.
A dark period in Playstation history this.
Re: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Might Be the Series' Most Insane Game Yet, Sailing to PS5, PS4 in February
This has blown literally all my expectations out of the water (pun unintended) - cannot wait for this!
Also is it just me or does Queen Michele look like Lady Dimitrescu has taken a holiday to Hawaii?
Re: Reaction: Why There Are So Many Unnecessary PS5 Remasters for Games That Don't Need Them
I get the point about Nintendo dropping alot of remasters on switch. However, there are a couple of key differences that help them get away with it in my opinion:
1) Some of the remasters released this year are extremely difficult to get hold of and play, e.g Mario The Thousand Year Door
2) the games are accessible in a new format that brings something new to the table (specifically the handheld factor) - appreciate its not Nintendo, but I picked up red dead redemption happily on switch because it meant I could play it on the go whereas I would be unlikely to play through it again on my PS5 given I'd already beaten it years ago when it first released.
3) Nintendo has realised the value of releasing remasters alongside new software. In the next month, they are releasing a new Zelda game, a new Mario Party, and a new Mario and Luigi title. This helps to shield them from the accusation that they have no new ideas.
I've said previously that Sony should be looking to develop a few smaller titles to flesh out their first party output. It will help them to move away from some of the accusations that the release schedule is barren. Astrobot is a great example of how a game doesn't need to last 40-60 hours or pursue gritty photorealism to be a joy to play.
More of that please Sony. It was was a real shame in my opinion that they closed down the likes of pixelopus. Concrete Genie was the perfect type of experimental game Sony needs - and should be releasing - between bigger titles and any remasters they are developing to flesh out the library.
Re: Jaw-Dropping 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro Console and Accessories Will Bankrupt You
Yep, will be buying that controller. What time do preorders go live?
Re: Sony Priming 'Even Less Exciting' PS5 Remaster for State of Play
It's the Last of Us pt 2 remastered
Re: God of War Ragnarok's PC Launch Trailer Reminds You It's a Classic
I kind of agree with others on here. I really enjoyed Ragnorak, but I still consider 2018 the better game and hold it in my top 5 of all time. Loved it
Re: Horizon Zero Dawn's PS5, PC Remaster Is Very Much the Real Deal
Great game, completely unecessary remaster/remake. Much more interested in the Lego game as at least it's something new.
Back when this was first mentioned I was relatively relaxed about the idea as no one is obliging people to buy it. At that time it was with an assumption that it would launch around other new first party titles - but that currently is not the case and this will only fuel the perception that sony has nothing new to offer and is trying to wring money out of people for old rope.
Perception currently is that Sony is predominantly investing in remakes and live service. This generation we've seen Last of Us pt 1 and 2, the Uncharted collection, Until Dawn, Spiderman remastered, Ghost of Tsushima directors cut, Death Stranding Directors Cut, Demons Souls - I'm sure there are others I haven't mentioned.
This cannot be what they have to show at a State of Play. They need to be showcasing something new to show they still have ideas in the tank.
I recognise Sony is trying to branch out into multiple entertainment ventures like TV and movies, and so this is another venture to attract in new players (likely switch players who try the lego game and want to experience more), but it's hard to justify the need for this when the PS4 version runs great as it is
Re: Astro Bot Update 1.004 Is Available Now on PS5, and Nobody Knows What It Does
I had few examples of minor slowdown it might address. But they were few and far between. Got the plat last night. Brilliant game
Re: LEGO Horizon Adventures Bares Its 'A*s' in ESRB Rating for PS5, PC, Switch
@UntilRespawn yes, I'm still convinced they are trolling. They used to come on here too. Maybe still do. I noticed them in the Astro articles over the weekend too
Re: LEGO Horizon Adventures Bares Its 'A*s' in ESRB Rating for PS5, PC, Switch
@somnambulance I want this game. I am in my mid-thirties 😅
Re: PS5's Astro Bot the USA's Second Best-Selling Game in Its First Week
I just beat the final challenge so I'm over the moon 🥳🥳
Re: State of Play Rumoured for This Month As Sony Looks Set to Skip PS Showcase in 2024
Sony was meant to be growing their development teams to be working on 2 titles at a time to ensure a decent hit rate of new titles. It's crazy how this generation has developed.
As I have said before though, don't expect to see ghost of tsushima until Assassins Creed Shadows releases. Sony appears to have the marketing agreement for that so I would be amazed if they said anything until after it launches.
The live service fixation and the race to the bottom for bigger, more graphically intensive titles has hurt Sony though. I'd have thought the success of the Switch would have shown that you don't need to have the flashiest graphics to make fun games that sell extremely well.
If the news of a SOP is real, I expect we will see Death Stranding and Lego Horizon, but doubt we hear of much else. Maybe Astrobot dlc or Spiderman dlc. Expect they will be pushing for a new GTA 6 trailer though
Re: Japan Sales Charts: Astro Bot Barely Registers at Retail, PS5 Numbers Plummet After Price Hike
@Vaako007 That good grace has nearly all gone I'm afraid. It's been a terrible generation for them.
If the good will from the end of the PS3's life cycle (combined with Microsoft's disastrous Xbox One reveal) contributed to PS4's success, and then the fantastic run that console saw them through to the PS5 generation, if they continue on current form, any good will remaining will have been lost by the time PS6 releases.
Whilst there have been some good games, the communication has been awful, and there have been way too many missteps. General sentiment I am seeing seems to be moving from frustration to indifference at this point.
Worrying times. Hope they can turn things round sooner rather than later
Re: Japan Sales Charts: Astro Bot Barely Registers at Retail, PS5 Numbers Plummet After Price Hike
To be fair to Astro Bot, sales look soft for all software based on those figures. Hardware sales are atrocious though. Who'd have thought raising the price would put people off...
Maybe they are waiting for the Pro 😅
Re: Poll: Would You Buy PS5 Pro If It Was Cheaper?
No. Only way I get a pro is if my standard PS5 stops working. And only then if it has had a significant price cut. Would rather keep the money for PS6.
Pro is completely unecessary. PS5 surely hasn't come close to reaching its potential. If it has, that is concerning.
Re: MGS: Master Collection Vol. 2 Is in the Works, But Games Not Decided Yet
Vol 2: MGS4, Portable ops, Metal Gear Ac!d 1 & 2 , and one of the old titles like the gbc game
Vol 3: Revengeance, Peace Walker, Ground Zeroes, MGS 5
The bin: MG Survive
Re: PS5 Pro Will Improve PSVR2 Games
I'm sure Sony have a AAA VR first party title ready to launch with PS5 pro to really showcase this too....
Re: Astro Bot PS5 Sales 'Aren't Huge' in UK, But There's Still Hope
If Sony isn't selling a PS5, Astro and Lego Horizon pack in bundle for Christmas, they are missing a trick
Re: Poll: Are You Sold on PS5 Pro?
Will be amazed if this sells well. It's absolutely the definition of enthusiast device. Hope Sony isn't banking on selling large numbers - they won't at that price that's for sure. But of course if you wait 12 months the price might be 800 quid so...
If this is dropping for 700 quid, goodness knows what PS6 would launch at.
I still dont get why this is needed. Yes I get the 4k, 60 fps issue is an issue for some, but is it worth 700 pounds (plus extra for a disc drive)?
I don't believe we are anywhere close to tapping out the base PS5. Most titles are still running on PS4 Xbox series S after all.
Re: Did You Know PlayStation Almost Had a Different Name?
Made the right choice here. Powerstation would have opened them up to criticism when more powerful consoles get released
Re: Sony Increases PS5 Controller Prices in US, Europe, and More
Really would help soften the blow if they included a larger battery at this stage.
Re: PS5 Pro Showcase Set for Tomorrow, Hosted by Mark Cerny
@Ravix who made this 🤣🤣🤣
Re: PS5 Pro Showcase Set for Tomorrow, Hosted by Mark Cerny
Hopefully they announce a games showcase at the end
Re: Star Wars Outlaws' Instant Fail Stealth Sections Will Be Reworked in Upcoming PS5 Patch
Didn't they learn from the early Assassins Creed titles that people hate instant fail stealth missions. They made a big song and dance at the time that they had listened and learnt. Genuinely surprised to see the mechanic return in a Ubisoft title
Re: Astro Bot PS5 Fans Wonder Where All the Square Enix Characters Are
@UltimateOtaku91 No, I completely agree! Sony can't be held to account for lower than expected sales (read NOT poor sales). They marketed the heck out of the Final Fantasy titles. FF16 even got its own State of Play. Even Foamstars was heavily represented
Re: Astro Bot PS5 Fans Wonder Where All the Square Enix Characters Are
@AinsleyE Gimmie that Amaraterasu bot from Okami. Would love a physical model of that
Re: Astro Bot PS5 Fans Wonder Where All the Square Enix Characters Are
Yes. Given the buster sword was in Astro's Playroom no reference to anything square enix is very noticeable by its absence. I really do hope it isn't down to a falling out between Sony and Square Enix.
Square has made some odd comments recently and there seem to have been some grumblings holding Playstation accountable for FF16 and 7 rebirth not hitting sales targets.
Of course it's equally too easy to read too much into this until either party makes a statement 😅
Re: Astro Bot PS5 Credits Indicate DLC Cameo Bots Could Be Inbound
Still nothing from Square enix though - or so I'm led to believe - I only have 90 bots so far. Seems odd not to have anything
Re: Gallery: Astro Bot Has the Best PS5 Controller Design Yet
@MrPeanutbutterz Sorry 😅🙏
Re: Gallery: Astro Bot Has the Best PS5 Controller Design Yet
@MrPeanutbutterz Yeah that annoyed me too 😅 the shoulder buttons are black in game too. A patch is in order!
Re: PlayStation Studios Celebrate Astro Bot's PS5 Arrival with Awesome Artwork
My two kids are playing Astro Bot now and whooping and cheering over it. It's a hit with all generations. This is what gaming is all about and what Sony has missed for ages.
Well done Team Asobi
(Though if my 4 year old thinks he is trying the new dualsense with the white sticks he is sadly mistaken 🤣)
Re: PlayStation Studios Celebrate Astro Bot's PS5 Arrival with Awesome Artwork
Most concerningly where is Hermen Hulst's new twitter head picture. He hasn't updated it. Perhaps the concord issue means he is unable to have fun 😔
Re: Astro Bot PS5's Live Action Trailer Is a Whole Vibe
My copy and the dualsense arrived today. Got a chance to try it over lunch and it's brilliant so far 👌 astro fennec foxes are adorable
Re: Sony Execs Seem to Think the Company Doesn't Have Enough Original IP
I put a big list in a previous article so I won't repeat it here. But I do think the gaming division has been unfairly lumped in with the movie and animation department. Sony has a wealth of untapped ip they are sitting on in the vaults
I think Sony should take a good look through the archives and see what could be updated for a modern audiences, taking the lessons it has learnt over the past 30 years of game development.
Nintendo has shown that there is no such thing as a dead ip if you can bring it back in an updated and different way. Heck, Mario has been slapped onto all sorts of different genres over the years and his popularity is only growing. So there is nothing stopping Sony looking to try something original with some of its IP.
I keep coming back to Killzone and Resistance and think there is easily fuel left in the tank of those franchises for a revival to provide the online shooter they crave.
The Getaway could have provided a useful stopgap between GTA releases, but no where to be seen.
Uncharted 4 is 8 years old. The franchise is long overdue a return, particularly with Tomb Raider seemingly in development hell as the ip gets thrown around different developers.
Syphon filter would provide something different in a market crying out for new stealth titles.
Siren could capitalise on the revival of survival horror resulting from the recent success of the resident evil franchise.
Tip of the iceberg, but my point is, there is a lot of money and potential being left on the table.
I will say if Sony want to invest in new ip, they won't find me complaining. I just wonder how much they will take the financial risk in today's environment. With that said, look at how that leap of faith has worked with titles like the last of us, Ghost of Tsushima, and Horizon.
Best of luck to them. An interesting few years ahead
Re: Astro Bot (PS5) - One of the Greatest PlayStation Platformers of All Time
@PuppetMaster it is concerning. They just need a brief look back at their lineage and history. Money sitting on the table.
Sony seem to misunderstand and think everything needs to be a 100 million, 60 hour epic in order to sell. They could easily fund 3 or 4 quality 20 hour titles (see uncharted lost legacy, Miles morales) for a fraction of the cost and at significantly reduced development times. This is what Shawn Layden called for all those years ago, but he seems to have been ignored. It's so daft.
They could immediately reduce the risk associated with many of these games, and they would no doubt be better off for it. Astro Bot getting the rave reviews it's getting today is the PERFECT example of that.
Sony themselves said not to expect any major titles this year, meaning that they don't consider this a tentpole release. Yet I bet Astro Bot does significantly better than many titles that have spent years in development and cost double the price to make.
Re: Astro Bot (PS5) - One of the Greatest PlayStation Platformers of All Time
@The_Wailing_Doom Haha, good spot! I completely agree. I don't see why it should be one or the other with Sony and superhero games. The InFamous series was excellent and arguably there is more freedom to really experiment and go wild with the formula if not tied into marvel licensing. For example they could make a much darker game to balance out the lighterheartedness of marvel content. Second son released 10 years ago, so something new is long overdue (and it doesn't even need to come from suckered punch necessarily as I appreciate they are deep into development of the successor to the wonderful ghost of tsushima)
Re: Astro Bot (PS5) - One of the Greatest PlayStation Platformers of All Time
Get Hiroki Totoki in front of this to see all the Sony IP that could do with dusting off given his recent comments that playstation has a lack of ip. There is loads of forgotten ip Sony should be looking to bring back in some capacity:
Resistance, ape escape, killzone, medieval, patapon, uncharted, syphon filter, motor storm, days gone, infamous, Gravity rush, wipeout, Sly cooper, infamous, puppeteer, Parappa, jak and daxter, siren, little big planet, Socom, Siren, warhawk being just a few examples that spring to mind.
Massive congratulations Team Asobi on knocking this out of the park.
Re: Astro Bot (PS5) - One of the Greatest PlayStation Platformers of All Time
Mine has been dispatched this afternoon. Hopefully the controller and game both arrive tomorrow! Can't wait for this. The win Sony desperately needed
Re: Hogwarts Legacy 2 One of Publisher's 'Biggest Priorities' for the Future
@riceNpea Hogwarts had zero microtransactions. There were fears before launch that the room of requirement would add GAAS elements, but that wasn't the case at all.
I believe that there was a single dlc pack with an optional combat arena, but nothing that would interfere with the game.
Re: Hogwarts Legacy 2 One of Publisher's 'Biggest Priorities' for the Future
The first game was very good and really created a wonderful sense of place. But there were definitely numerous areas where they could improve in future titles
Re: Reaction: PlayStation Needs to Take a Long, Hard Look at Itself
This is really bad. Like catastrophically bad for Playstation. Seeing SIE on the box has always indicated a seal of quality, an unmissable experience - and it's what drove the momentum from the end of the PS3 generation, through PS4 (winning them the spectacular market share for that gen), and is what has driven the sales of PS5 to date.
But if you cannot rely on Sony first party any more (even in this one instance), then that starts to build doubt amongst consumers, and they might not rush out to buy the next AAA exclusive. And given how Sony has behaved this generation, it might impact the transition into a theoretical Playstation 6.
Through the poor communication, lack of a product roadmap, failure to hype up the core with proper showcases, Sony have shown themselves to be out of touch with their core customers. It's damaged my enjoyment of gaming this generation, that's for sure. The magic has gone to be replaced by soulless, corporate greed.
I feel like PS4 generation was a success due to the legacy of the likes of Shawn Layden. He warned about this happening. And everything now seems to be coming home to roost.
Jim on the otherhand was a business man without a clear passion for gaming. And we'll have to see with Hermen Hulst. A nice guy - but im not sure if he is a leader - he has a lot of work to do to prove he is the man for the job.
Ultimately the Sony magic we once knew, is gone. Whereas we used to see sprinklings of originality from the likes of Japan Studio (who - whilst their titles didn't sell big numbers - they eclipsed Concord, particularly when you take into consideration the reduced development time and production costs), now Sony seems to have lost sight of its roots and what made them who they were. They only see pounds, dollars, euros and money. Whereas before they had heart
Sony CANNOT blame anyone but themselves. They have been told by their customers time and time again what they want. But they have chosen to stop listening. They need a massive turn around - starting this month - to reassure customers and win back ailing support for the platform.
Because as it stands currently - it's not only fairgames and marathon that look set to fail - but also the likes of the until dawn remake, PS5 pro etc. Sony really need to get back to looking at the general mood in the gaming community because it doesn't look great right now
I really hope that when Sony reflect on this whole mess they recognise that the problem doesn't solely sit with Concord. It feels like the wrong game launching at the wrong time. When SIE has stubbornly refused to speak to it's customers in a meaningful way - for years at this point - this does feel like a backlash against wider issues at play. If the game had dropped in a small gap amongst some of Playstation's bigger single player IP, and there was clarity that Sony is still investing in the types of games that it has become known for, there is a chance this would have been received more positively. SIE need to sit down and really take the time to listen.
Concord was always facing an uphill battle - particularly as one of the first live service titles to release. If Sony wanted to test the waters of live service, there were so many existing ip crying out for a new lease of life that could have been considered (for examplSocom, MAG, Killzone, Resistance, Warsaw, Starhawk Twisted metal).
Re: PS5, PC Shooter Concord Dead on Arrival, Is Being Taken Offline This Week as Dev 'Explores Options'
As I said elsewhere, the ramifications of these losses will be huge. It won't just be concord / firewalk affected, but Playstation's whole business for years to come. You can't just write off losses like this. And with Marathon and Fairgame$ to come, and the disaster that has been the bungie aquisition? It doesn't look good.
This whole live service experiment appears to have been jumped into two footed without feeling the pulse of the gaming community. It's possible that concord DID look unique when it was first shown to Sony - but an 8 year dev cycle is just far too long and new, fresh ideas will have overtaken it, and those games that got to market first have established strong player bases which are unlikely to jump into another online hero shooter.
I have said since PS5 launched something is not right at Sony. They are not listening to what the community is telling them. More losses to come I'm afraid.
If they think PS5 Pro will be a massive success - particularly in this financial climate - I'm afraid to say that i think they are sorely mistaken. When they are still increasing the price of PS5 around the world (and yet to max out its potential), i don't see many upgrading to a new machine right now.
I really hope Astrobot performs well this week, and Sony get some goodwill back with a strong State of Play in September - because it's looking a little concerning right now.
As for Concord / Firewalk, it is a shame that it has come to this - as others have said, the best thing to do right now might be to resurrect factions and let them work on curating / sustaining an audience for that if they are set to continue as a live service studio. I'm not sure Sony would be able to set them off on a new game right now with another protracted development timeline - but i certainly dont want to be reading an article in a few weeks telling us that the studio has been shuttered and more developers have lost their jobs. Because by all accounts, Concord appears to have been competently put together and launched in a decent state. There are clearly talented developers at the studio and I hope a solution can be found to keep everyone employed
Re: Layoffs Hit Ballistic Moon Ahead of Until Dawn PS5's October Release
I wonder if they were reliant / had hopes of being acquired by Playstation if Until Dawn landed well but Sony is not currently in a merger and aquisition phase.
Some downsizing is natural once contractors work is complete on a title, but this sounds more severe than that
Re: Concord PS5, PC Sales Estimates Are Somehow Even Worse Than We Thought
I do worry about the knock on impact from an abysmal failure such as this. It's been well reported that companies can't afford to just write off game failures any more. Goodness knows how much it cost to make concord, but the impact will inevitably filter down to Sony's other studios (and this being a new ip doesn't bode well for Sony signing off on new titles in future). The same vibe is also being felt around Fairgames - so Sony have a job on their hands to turn things around before it releases.
I hope Astrobot does very well, because otherwise this could be a tough winter for Sony as until dawn is already sounding like it is going to struggle given the high cost of entry
Re: Poll: Are You Playing Star Wars Outlaws?
Will be half of by black friday based on Ubisoft's history, so will pick up down the line
Re: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beta: Start Times, How to Access, and Rewards
Would be interested in the open beta but 80gb is huge for a 3 day demo
Re: Talking Point: Can PS5, PC Shooter Concord Be Saved?
Could they make it free to play for like a couple of characters until you rank them up to level 5 or 10. That would give more people an incentive to at least try the game and decide if it's for them (although I'm not sure if you rank / level up characters up like that in concord). Progress could then be carried over to the main game if you decide to purchase the full title.
I do think the article has probably hit the nail on the head. A lot of people will see this as one of the poster boys for Sony's push for live service. With a lack of a clear roadmap telling gamers what else is coming in the near future, then this is getting more of a reaction compared to if it had dropped between two major AAA releases. Because by all accounts, this isn't a bad game - it's just coming across as quite generic in a sea of live service games with established player bases from other studios
Re: Indiana Jones Devs Are Hyped the Game's Coming to PS5
Machine games probably also delighted that the work already done to develop the game on PS5 before Microsoft bought Bethesda and renegotiated exclusivity with Disney won't be going to waste