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Sony CFO insists AAA game quality ‘will deteriorate’ if it adopts Game Pass-style strategy

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Now you just gotta explain how this leads to quality deterioration.
They have a certain profit in mind. If they wanted to keep that same profit and release day to date, they would have a smaller production budget.

Instead, they keep the high quality budget, and don't release day to date to keep that profit target in tact or potentially exceed.
 
Does Microsoft gives those numbers?
If they were good, would they not sing them from the roof tops??
You are missing the point of my post. Nobody knows those numbers outside of Microsoft so your "obvious" comment is incorrect. Microsoft are happy with how GP is performing, customers are happy, I've seen no perceptual decrease in quality from Microsoft games. So I ask what is so obvious about this statement from Sony?
 
They have a certain profit in mind. If they wanted to keep that same profit and release day to date, they would have a smaller production budget.

Instead, they keep the high quality budget, and don't release day to date to keep that profit target in tact or potentially exceed.
Or actors want to earn a commission (see Scarjo) and are not willing to sign for them if they're reducing the cinema revenue with their day one Disney+ thingy. It's pure speculation.
 
You are missing the point of my post. Nobody knows those numbers outside of Microsoft so your "obvious" comment is incorrect. Microsoft are happy with how GP is performing, customers are happy, I've seen no perceptual decrease in quality from Microsoft games. So I ask what is so obvious about this statement from Sony?
MS doesn't show the numbers, so we better just take their PR as gospel and assume everything is going their way and that Sony has to copy their Gamepass business model or else they are just out of their minds.

What is obvious is that Sony rather sell you a games at $70 on release (that sell better than ever in the last few years) and then charge you $10 for paid online than to put all their games on a service day one and charge you an extra $5 on topo of basic PS+ that you were already paying anyway. They better also hope that you pay every month and don't just sub when you want to play an specific game on the cheap.

Why aren't people surprised Nintendo isn't adding their games day on on their service? No sane person expect Nintendo to do that but Sony has to do it for some reason.
 
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SLB1904

Banned
Do you have a point to make or are you just asking questions?
Are you trying to act dumb now?
You try to ridiculise shawn when he said you need at least 500mil subscribers to start recouping the cost of subscription service of 9.99 a month because with 5 bil you can make 30 AAA games (lmfao)
I brake down the numbers for you. Sony without subscription service makes more revenue than that per quarter with decent profit. Seriously mate are you going to make me write an essay on why is calculations makes sense?
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Or actors want to earn a commission (see Scarjo) and are not willing to sign for them if they're reducing the cinema revenue with their day one Disney+ thingy. It's pure speculation.
Again, it call comes down to production costs, either up front or on the back end return with profit sharing. It would still eat into Disney's bottom line, one way or another. Either pre-production cost suffers (balloons), or you hold back for profit sharing contracts. The end game (see what I did there) is and would be the same.
 
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Gamepass always gets compared to Netflix, that's why I singled it out. I personally think Prime, Disney+ etc. are much better business models than Netflix, at least long term.

Ultimately, it comes down to growth.

At the end of the day Disney+ isn't all that similar to Prime and is probably more similar to Netflix than Prime Video.

I'd love to hear how Prime Video is a better business model than Netflix.

Most of these streaming services are in very different situations than each other let alone the situation Microsoft is in with Game Pass.

Microsoft just took a huge gamble on GamePass by buying Activision for 70 billion dollars. If the gamble fails, you'll see Microsoft end up selling Activision at a significant discount. If GamePass and Activision fail, likely so does Xbox. And I think they're painting themselves into a dangerous corner that you can already see not working well for Netflix.

So much of the value here is based on a handful of IP.

The reality is that Microsoft bought at a really absurd covid inflated number (so did Sony btw, but obviously smaller scale). It looks like things are starting to really come down to earth on the market, but Activision's stock is probably staying afloat based on the microsoft purchase.

TakeTwo is down 41% in the last 6 months.

Square Enix is down 25% during the same time period.

EA is down 13%

Ubisoft is down 19%

When a CoD killer comes out (and you don't need to take CoD to 0% market share to kill it, even a 25% drop in market share is a killer) what is the value of activision?
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
FH5 had 1.5m players on the leaderboard before it even released on Gamepass. Idk about Halo, but it charted at #2 in December, a rather busy month, so it likely sold a copy or two.


Forza and Halo were the 6th and 7th best selling games on the Xbox in US, despite both of them being available on Game Pass day 1. They're only behind the CoDs and the Battlefields, games which are on top of sales charts on all platforms routinely.



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And Forza specifically at 1 million plus players even before the games release date, i-e all the people who paid either $100 for the early special edition or $45 for the game pass upgrade.

So it had already earned between $45 and $100 million in revenue before it even came out on Game Pass or it's wider release.


 
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Are you trying to act dumb now?
You try to ridiculise shawn when he said you need at least 500mil subscribers to start recouping the cost of subscription service of 9.99 a month because with 5 bil you can make 30 AAA games (lmfao)
I brake down the numbers for you. Sony without subscription service makes more revenue than that per quarter with decent profit. Seriously mate are you going to make me write an essay on why is calculations makes sense?
Yes, I'd like to see why his calculations allegedly makes sense. So far, nobody here on the forum has attempted to do the actual math. Likely for good reason.
 

kingfey

Banned
Was my post inaccurate?
Gamepass isn't even on my post. I don't know how my post hurt you, but I didn't mention gamepass at all there.

This is Sony subscription service which is PS+PsNow.
That is what my post, and this thread is about.
Gamepass has nothing to do with this.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Gamepass isn't even on my post. I don't know how my post hurt you, but I didn't mention gamepass at all there.

This is Sony subscription service which is PS+PsNow.
That is what my post, and this thread is about.
Gamepass has nothing to do with this.
Ok, I'll bite.

Why is Sony "digging its own grave" then, kinghyperbole?
 
FH5 had 1.5m players on the leaderboard before it even released on Gamepass. Idk about Halo, but it charted at #2 in December, a rather busy month, so it likely sold a copy or two.
Is that it? Does that include PC gamers too? I was expecting something a lot more impressive that that to back up your claims. It took them more than one year after the next consoles released to be able to claim a game sold almost 2m on release?

What is going on here...

Halo charted #2 on it's release month and that is somehow a good thing? That's Halo we are talking about pretty much Xbox biggest IP.
 
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Again, it call comes down to production costs, either up front or on the back end return with profit sharing. It would still eat into Disney's bottom line, one way or another. Either pre-production cost suffers (balloons), or you hold back for profit sharing contracts. The end game (see what I did there) is and would be the same.
What I meant is that certain actors wouldn't participate in the movie without full comissions. You want to make a sequel to a movie (like Doctor Strange 2), you need certain actors. If these actors start bitching about commissions, you gotta give them what they want or you can't make the movie, no matter the budget.
 
Is that it? Does that include PC gamers too? I was expecting something a lot more impressive that that to back up your claims.

Halo charted #2 on it's release month and that is somehow a good thing? That's Halo we are talking about pretty much Xbox biggest IP.
moving-goalpost.gif
 

kingfey

Banned
Ok, I'll bite.

Why is Sony "digging its own grave" then, kinghyperbole?
If they put their games day1 on their service, these quote will bite them.
Its better for them, to not talk about how their doing day1 on their service would devalue their games.

Samsung mocked Apple for their charger, before doing the same thing after that.
 

SLB1904

Banned
Yes, I'd like to see why his calculations allegedly makes sense. So far, nobody here on the forum has attempted to do the actual math. Likely for good reason.
Lmfao. Just take L bruh

There is a reason these guys get paid millions a year. Do you think a head of playstation would make a dumb statement like that. Where all the rich shareholders are listen? Do you? And for some reason you and ManaByte ManaByte know better? Are you guys for real

What I meant is that certain actors wouldn't participate in the movie without full comissions. You want to make a sequel to a movie (like Doctor Strange 2), you need certain actors. If these actors start bitching about commissions, you gotta give them what they want or you can't make the movie, no matter the budget.
Another dumb statement. Actors get replaced all the time.
The hulk, spiderman, ironman. Just stop man please
 
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If they put their games day1 on their service, these quote will bite them.
Its better for them, to not talk about how their doing day1 on their service would devalue their games.

Samsung mocked Apple for their charger, before doing the same thing after that.
The Apple of gaming ain't Xbox, it's Nintendo if anything.

Sony is going to fill PS+ with GaaS games before they ever attempt to release their AAA single player games on it. If it ever comes to that Sony will have moved on for making AAA single player games in the first place. If they aren't going to sell 10m+ or 20m+ why even make them?

You expecting GoW: Ragnarok day one and Jimbo is going to show up with Destruction All Stars 2.
 
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MS doesn't show the numbers, so we better just take their PR as gospel and assume everything is going their way and that Sony has to copy their Gamepass business model or else they are just out of their minds.

What is obvious is that Sony rather sell you a games at $70 on release (that sell better than ever in the last few years), then charge you $10 for paid online than to put all their games on a service day one and charge you an extra $5 on topo of basic PS+ that you were already paying anyway. They better also hope that you pay every month and don't just sub when you want to play an specific game on the cheap.

Why aren't people surprised Nintendo isn't adding their games day on on their service? No sane person expect Nintendo to do that but Sony has to do it for some reason.
They don't have to do it, but why say anything when they have no idea how it would impact AAA game budgets? Microsoft know as they have been running GP for years now, do you feel the likes of Flightsim, Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite (admittedly it lacks content) see lower budget than previous years?
 
They don't have to do it, but why say anything when they have no idea how it would impact AAA game budgets? Microsoft know as they have been running GP for years now, do you feel the likes of Flightsim, Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite (admittedly it lacks content) see lower budget than previous years?
Sony has no idea what would impact AAA game budget? Looks at the past few years (or even decade) Sony puts out more AAA games than any other publisher. If there is something Sony knows about is how much it cost to make games like God of War, Uncharted, TLoU, Spider-Man, etc, it took them decades to get to that place.

High production value, single player games are Sony's biggest strength when it comes to this stuff. They don't even need to say that it won't work for them, every sane person already knew. They would be stupid to get into a race to the bottom with MS where they devalue their core business.
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
If they put their games day1 on their service, these quote will bite them.
Its better for them, to not talk about how their doing day1 on their service would devalue their games.

Samsung mocked Apple for their charger, before doing the same thing after that.
Well who cares about that shit. That is the nature of business that all companies are guilty of.
There's no universe in the multiverse of madness where $5 billion a month makes any sort of sense. Even Netflix doesn't have 500M subscribers.
Which is why they cancel content more than any other service.
Tea Time Drink GIF by VH1
 
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I just don't think their statement should be taken that seriously. They said no one wanted to play old games and then now are basing their whole premium tier on that. They said believe in generations, then focused on cross-gen. They say subs aren't great for first party, but they could change their tune on that as well. Doesn't help that Layden's math was always bizarre. The real answer is that they aren't always 100% truthful, and just kind of say what they need to say to justify their current strategy.

I don't care if they ever change their strategy. I don't need two subs. They can stick to what they're doing and it's fine with me.
 
Sony has no idea what would impact AAA game budget? Looks at the past few years (or even decade) Sony put's out more AAA games than any other publisher. If there is something Sony knows about is how much it cost to make games like God of War, Uncharted, TLoU, Spider-man, etc.
This is how a GP service would affect game budgets, correct? Sony say it would impact them negatively, correct? Since they don't have a GP service (Day 1 first party releases and third party) they wouldn't have the data to make such a comment, correct? So far his comment does not hold true given the games Microsoft have and are continuing to produce going forward.
 

kingfey

Banned
The Apple of gaming ain't Xbox, it's Nintendo if anything.

Sony is going to fill PS+ with GaaS games before they ever attempt to release their AAA single player games on it. If it ever comes to that Sony will have moved on for making AAA single player games in the first place. If they aren't going to sell 10m+ or 20m+ why even make them?

You expecting GoW: Ragnarok day one and Jim is going to show up with Destruction All Starts 2.
Corporation chase money. Plus business world is unexpected.

No one expected Sony to put their games on PC. Especially God of war.

It will all depend on if gamepass is what MS is claiming. If it's, then Sony would have no choice but to follow the suite.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
They said no one wanted to play old games and then now are basing their whole premium tier on that.
Dude, come on, you're better than this. Context and nuance matters.

Jim Ryan was just pointing at GT1 and GT6 and asked, who would want to play GT1 when you have GT6 right here (with how dated it looked). Most will agree, come on.

There was never a blanket statement that fans on message boards warp into BS. Just like the "generations" statement. All one upping back patting and message board moxie points.
 
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This is how a GP service would affect game budgets, correct? Sony say it would impact them negatively, correct? Since they don't have a GP service (Day 1 first party releases and third party) they wouldn't have the data to make such a comment, correct? So far his comment does not hold true given the games Microsoft have and are continuing to produce going forward.
You think Sony doesn't get the data of how much MS games are selling? Of course they do, why do you think the NPD etc exist? To be posted on forums?

You can't even admit that maybe Sony knows what would be viable for their own games if they don't end up concluding day one releases are the way to go?

This thread is getting way to crazy even for me.
 
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Dude, come on, you're better than this. Context and nuance matters.

Jim Ryan was just pointing at GT1 and GT6 and asked, who would want to play GT1 when you have GT6 right here (with how dated it looked). Most will agree, come on.

There was never a blanket statement that fans on message boards warp into BS. Just like the "generations" statement. All one upping back patting and message board moxie points.
Sure, that's fine. I just literally don't think it's that big a deal. I don't really trust what they say. They also said they'd never put games on PC and now they are. The reality is they're a secretive company and just say whatever justifies what they're currently doing. That's fine. Just don't be too shocked if they change position some day and change their statements.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Sure, that's fine. I just literally don't think it's that big a deal. I don't really trust what they say. They also said they'd never put games on PC and now they are. The reality is they're a secretive company and just say whatever justifies what they're currently doing. That's fine. Just don't be too shocked if they change position some day and change their statements.
I won't be shocked, I understand the nature of the business... all corporations are guilty of this. As it stands right now, it will not work with their current infrastructure model.

MS =/= Sony like everyone seems to think they do. And that is a good thing for gamers.
 
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SLB1904

Banned
Sure, that's fine. I just literally don't think it's that big a deal. I don't really trust what they say. They also said they'd never put games on PC and now they are. The reality is they're a secretive company and just say whatever justifies what they're currently doing. That's fine. Just don't be too shocked if they change position some day and change their statements.
Shit changes. The market is not the same. Hell Nintendo is making mobile games, 15 year ago you would get slapped by saying that. What lever happens in the future has no correlation to what's going on right.

What blows mind is some people seem to think these corporate gives a shit about any of us, they all pretend to care so they can get their boats and lamborghinis.
If I was in their position I would do the same. Tell you how much I love you but still pay me £70. And occasionally give you a £10 so you can spend 100 on my store.
 
You think Sony doesn't get the data of how much MS games are selling? Of course they do, why do you think the NPD etc exist? To be posted on forums?

You can't even admit that maybe Sony knows what would be viable for their own games if they don't end up concluding day one releases are the way to go?

This thread is getting way to crazy even for me.
This is GP data we are talking about, are you following this OK? They certainly don't have any data on that.
Lmfao. These companies know what the others are doing. Sony knows how many xbox Microsoft sold and vice versa.
They know that Microsoft has decreased game budgets since GP's inception? This is what this thread is all about pal, not how many Xbox or PS have been sold 🤣 more nonsense from the usual ones 🙄
 
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