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@MrPeanutbutterz "Sony ties (or at least tied) their acquisitions to their platform because that's how the industry operated since the beginning up until the last few years."

This was a point I clearly made in my original post. Sony are suddenly realising that the industry has changed and they can't get away with locking software solely to their own hardware.

Sony bought a studio that had the rights to the Spider-Man IP. The Spider-Man IP was always multiplatform until beforehand. I'm not suggesting that Microsoft passing on Spider-Man was a good move at all. I'm suggesting that as a multi-platform IP, it should have stayed that way.

Sony ARE a hardware focussed company. PlayStation is a software focussed division but its parent (Sony) IS A HARDWARE COMPANY. I'm genuinely tired of trying to explain the difference to you.

Regarding the contracts, (AGAIN) buy a textbook, speak to a corporate lawyer or use Google to prove me wrong. I guarantee you won't be able to.

I own every PlayStation since they launched and every Xbox since they launched. I don't understand why you're SO obsessed with sticking up for one particular console.

Surely we play games for fun? Surely you would love a future where you could play any game you wanted without having to pick sides and cry about things?

@MrPeanutbutterz You are talking about the beginning of an acquisition, I am talking about the output. Sony ties games to PlayStation or (only recently) PC and Switch.

Spider-Man is the IP. Spider-Man was multi-platform. The developer isn't the point when discussing the IP. If Insomniac closed tomorrow, Spider-Man games would still be developed in the future and would still be tied to PlayStation as a console exclusive.

When did I say that PlayStation don't have the software to back it up? I've owned every PlayStation since the beginning. Again, my point is that hardware will be irrelevant at some point and Microsoft will have the larger portfolio of games to offer. What don't you get?

Regarding the contracts, I'm not going to do all of your research for you. It's quite commonly known that new owners don't have to agree to anything if they don't want to. It can be requested they honour existing contracts but not enforced.

Resistance, Killzone and Motorstorm are a trio of trilogies I would adore to see get remade for PS5.

I was literally playing the first Killzone and Motorstorm games today.

@MrPeanutbutterz I've made it clear that the size of the acquisitions were completely different so stop repeating yourself. We all know that Sony could never afford an acquisition of that size.

My point (which is fact) is that all of Sony's acquisitions have locked content away, whereas Microsoft's have allowed content to remain where it was. What part of that don't you understand?

Look at Wikipedia for proof regarding Spider-Man.

Starfield was originally developed with PS5 in mind but was cancelled by Microsoft. The fact remains that it was a new franchise so there was no previous engagement with PlayStation players. No prequels that had built an audience on PlayStation. Therefore it's very different to something like Doom which has had an audience on PlayStation.

Microsoft absolutely had a choice in honouring those contracts. No new owner legally has to honour previously agreed contracts if the legal entity owning those contracts changes.

Sony ARE a hardware focussed company and are hardware focussed. Microsoft ARE a software focussed company. What part of those two sentences are untrue?

My point (which again you've missed) spoke towards the future games industry when bespoke hardware will be irrelevant. Sony want to sell boxes to tie you to their ecosystem. Microsoft want to tie you to their ecosystem irrespective of hardware. Something that their new marketing campaign (revealed today) confirms.

@MrPeanutbutterz From The Spider-Man games Wikipedia page.

"Marvel Games entered negotiations with SIE regarding developing third party games based on their characters, leading to frequent collaborative studio Insomniac Games being selected to acquire the license for the Spider-Man character from Activision in 2014."

@TeiGekiLord If you can't be bothered to Google it to prove that I'm right then fine.

Insomniac bought the IP from Marvel in 2014.
Sony bought Insomniac in 2019.

What history have I rewritten?

@MrPeanutbutterz @TeiGekiLord There's no hole in my logic and I'm not talking garbage. If you actually read my original post again you'll see that it all makes sense.

The Spider -Man IP went to Insomniac NOT Sony. Sony then acquired Insomniac 5 years later and made a previously multiplatform IP a console exclusive.

Microsoft could have cancelled the existing agreements in place with Bethesda quite easily but chose to honour them.

Starfield never existed as an IP on PlayStation so nothing was taken away.

Hellblade 2 will be on PlayStation very soon.

Sony as a company are only just starting to look at the end game. They are so hardware focussed as a business that that's the only thing they're looking at. Microsoft are playing the long game by realising that no-one will be making bespoke hardware in 20 years time. The more players they have playing their games now means that they're likely to retain that customer base when hardware is irrelevant.

@TeiGekiLord How many multiplatform IPs have Microsoft withheld from Sony?

@TeiGekiLord Spider-Man.

@TeiGekiLord Just had a quick look online and Bend, Bluepoint, Firesprite, Guerrilla, Haven, Housemarque, Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Nixxes, Sucker Punch, Zipper Interactive and Bungie were all multi-platform studios before Sony bought them.

@TeiGekiLord Those that were multiplatform could easily have been taken away and deals that were already agreed were honoured when they could have been cancelled. Deathloop/Ghost Wire Tokyo.

How many games have Sony allowed on Xbox?

@MrPeanutbutterz Microsoft have made games available on PlayStation and other platforms well before the ABK acquisition so your argument doesn't hold water. Minecraft and Bethesda titles spring to mind.

If you read my entire comment, I clearly mention that Sony have shifted recently to release games on other platforms. They too now realise that the cost and time of development isn't sustainable by tying something to one place.

@MrPeanutbutterz I get that the scale of acquisitions is hugely different. However if you compare the number of games that have been shared since acquisition then Microsoft is massively ahead.

Sony buy companies and lock their games to their hardware.

Microsoft buy companies and have (and will continue) to allow those games on multiple platforms.

That's why the comparison is relevant.

I'll try to take a balanced approach here to avoid being shot down.

Regarding closures and layoffs, these have happened across the industry and aren't specific to Microsoft. (Remember Firewall?)

Regarding acquisitions, these aren't specific to Microsoft. Sony have acquired many, many studios over the years and completely locked their games to PlayStation hardware (and only recently PC & Switch)

Regarding a multiplatform approach, this isn't specific to Microsoft. Sony have realised that the way the industry is heading, they need to generate more income by being on more platforms. I think Microsoft's tactic right now is to get more people invested in their IP so that those customers keep playing in a hardware agnostic future world.

Regarding the future, software will be king and bespoke hardware will be completely unnecessary. All games will be sold digitally and streamed or downloaded to a disguised PC/set top box. It will be user friendly like a console and be made by traditional PC hardware manufacturers. PlayStation, Steam and Xbox storefronts will be there and you'll be able to "buy" whatever you want.

If a future like this pans out then Microsoft's rush to acquire software but total lack of focus towards hardware makes complete sense. They'll have tons of IP you won't be able to play unless you "buy" it via their store or subscribe to something like Game Pass.

Whilst I understand the attachment that people have towards a particular machine or brand, I think it would be better if everyone could access any game they wanted without having to buy multiple systems.

@Lofty1985 Phew, thanks for the 100% confirmation!

As I've said before, next gen will be the last hardware from Sony and Microsoft. I really don't think there'll be a PS7.

I would like to see an article on the Pro that lists and numbers every single reflection which has been upgraded and improved. Otherwise how will I be able to know which games are worth playing???

So many people forget about the regular money spinner that is King in the ABK deal.

@HonestHick It's amazing the huge u-turns some people are able to make! 🤣

I'm so glad Machine Games went with first person for this. A third person perspective would have just made it seem like an Uncharted/Tomb Raider rip off (even though the Indy films directly inspired those games).

@DennisReynolds What a ridiculous comment.

This is exactly what should happen. I don't personally believe that scalpers are doing anything wrong but, if a product is stocked well enough or people refuse to buy from them, then scalpers don't exist.

Scalpees and Sony are the only ones who can get rid of scalping.

I love my PSVR1. It genuinely blew me away when I first got it and despite the dated tech and Move controllers, I'm still impressed with it.

I'm less happy with my PSVR2. I was suckered in because of my love of the first headset but am definitely regretting the £530 spent. No real first party games aside from Horizon shows how quickly Sony gave up on it.

I adore VR but the Quest 3 is now my main platform aside from PS exclusives. Arkham Shadow is my GOTY (VR and non VR games included).

I earn £17billion a year and even I can't afford a PS5 Pro.

He was such a great talent and will be missed. 😥

I'll wait for the PS5 Pro Plus.

@CrispyMango92 The article WAS misleading but has since been amended. It gave lifetime sales for each game that were below Astro Bot.

@Smash41 My own experience is very different to what you describe. I use Game Pass to try before I buy and if I like something on Game Pass there's a 99% chance I'll buy it. It's also been great for me to find obscure indie games that I would never have even thought of playing or buying.

I currently own over 800 games for my Series X and a huge amount of those purchases are because I got to play them first.

Just waiting for the article that tells us all how good the PS5 Pro smells.

Seriously guys, find something else to write about.

@LowDefAl @ChrisDeku Thanks both for clarifying. Those numbers did seem absolutely ridiculous to me.

Very misleading article.

Those Demon Souls, Returnal and Ratchet and Clank lifetime sales numbers seem shockingly low to me. Have they even made their budgets back?

I'm sticking with my original PS5 and I hope this doesn't mean developers get lazy when making games for it.

I do find it hilarious how many people are replaying games they've already beaten just because they're now a bit shinier. Sony really have become the new Apple when it comes to pulling the wool over people's eyes.

@PuppetMaster I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I can see things like this happening more and more. The cost of development is skyrocketing and it will be the only way big budget games will have a chance of turning a profit.

It still sounds weird hearing the sentence 'the early years of the PS5 generation'. Time flies.

Also, this is such a dull game.

Scalpers aren't the problem. Sony created the scalper market and the people buying are feeding it.

If they were readily available, no scalping.

If people didn't buy them, no scalping.

If it was food or water I could understand the moral indignation. But someone buying a non-essential, luxury item and then selling it for a huge profit shouldn't cause anyone sleepless nights.

I'm so glad this has turned out well. I'll probably get it on Quest though.

I've reached the point now where my Quest 3 is my main VR platform and I'll only buy games for PSVR2 if they're exclusives. The user experience for Quest 3 is just so much better.

Barkley Shut Up and Jam! is one of the greatest games ever made.

It's a great game. So much money going to Xbox though!

@StopBeingTribal What a very funny comment.

@StopBeingTribal You don't have to defend everything Sony do. 😂

There isn't a defense for what they've done and have actually made life more difficult for themselves by having extra SKUs to design, manufacture and ship.

It's either incredibly sneaky or absolutely incompetent.

For the record, I think the cover plate concept was an ingenious idea from the off as lots of people like to be able to customise their systems in some way. This move just makes no sense.

@StopBeingTribal The plates are exactly the same size. Sony has deliberately decided to make them incompatible by putting the clips in different places.

@Drago201 The plates are exactly the same size. Sony has deliberately decided to make them incompatible by putting the clips in different places.

@nicc83 The Pro is longer. The plates are exactly the same size. As confirmed in the original post.

@get2sammyb The article is wrong. The plates are exactly the same size.

Terrible decision from Sony and something they could have easily fixed. I'm sure that the original post says the top plates are exactly the same size and that it's just the clips that are in different places.

Edit: The original post confirms that the plates are exactly the same size in every way. It's just the placement of the clips that are different.

This means that Sony deliberately decided to make them incompatible. Thanks once again Sony!!!

Have they been able to use the power of the PS5 to enhance the dull story and bland gameplay?

@Bez87 It's a bit like the South Park episode with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. When will remastering ever be enough?

@CielloArc Thanks for telling me something. I genuinely appreciate your knowledge.

Do you think there ever be PS7? I don't think there will. I think that we'll have a PC in a box made by numerous companies including Asus. The same way we have laptops and handhelds made now.

Sony is multi-platform right now. Stop crying about it.

But going back to your original point, Microsoft have the best business model. They sell software and make billions from it. Including from Sony and PlayStation gamers. Hardware is going to be as obsolete as the mini disc, UMD etc.