I've been having a convo with
@Yurinka over a few days in the Savage Studios thread and the big thing I've tried focusing on is what have Sony or 3P partners revealed this year, WRT PS5, that are new exclusive games (full or timed, and at least console exclusive) that wasn't already revealed in 2020 or 2021.
He did point out FF VII Rebirth and Valkyrie Elysium, two games I forgot about (not in them being announced, but in being new reveals this year that weren't announced previously), but outside of that and I suppose TLOU Factions (though not even a CG trailer, just a concept screenshot and some text at best), which is a live-service game, I can't think of anything.
OTOH they've definitely announced quite a few peripherals (In Zone headphones and monitors, Dual Sense controller, PSVR2), even a few new games for a peripheral (PSVR2), made some announcements on their live-service strategy, made acquisitions targeting PC, live-service and mobile, announced and released quite a few PC ports (Miles Morales due in November), new camo PS5 plates, new PS+ services (ultimately a good thing to do), and other things of that nature.
None of these things are bad, BTW, IMO. Not in isolation. But it hasn't been balanced out with new 1P/3P exclusive announcements for PS consoles, not to the same degree. And that's maybe part of the problem. I understand why there was a lack of it earlier in the year, because supply shortages were very severe for PS5. But it seems that has gotten a good bit better since early June, the increase in sales globally is a clear sign of that. And with their FY targets, we can only expect the supply to improve even further.
I mean we still don't have an announcement for a new Showcase but we might end up with an announcement for Returnal's PC port before that happens (IF it happens!). I don't think that's a good way of serving your core constituency, who are the hardcore/core PS faithful, the fans who've been with the brand for multiple years if not multiple generations. I think Sony've been doing right by that group in a lot of ways this year: again, releases like HFW, GT7, Sifu, Stray, etc. Marketing rights on various big games released and forthcoming. Revamping PS+. PSVR2 reveal and new games for it. Readying GOW Ragnarok for November. That 14% investment into From Software probably made a lot of people wet themselves a bit in excitement for what could come of it.
But in terms of new 1P/3P exclusive reveals/announcements of games not already shown off or revealed previously, I think they could be doing a better job. I understand why things may've been quiet on that front earlier this year, I just hope they're gearing up for more of those types of announcements in a Showcase soon. And yeah, we know there might be a PC port or two announced, maybe some live-service and mobile stuff too. Variety's good. But there definitely needs to be some stuff there that's just solely focused on the PlayStation consoles. Just the consoles. Reward that core constituency!
Kutaragi was kind of a trash talker back in those days, even way earlier. The way he told off Nakayama (ex-Sega CEO) about the Saturn design vs. PlayStation's was some mafia movie energy. But, he always did have designs that (in some cases with time) backed up his talk. A bite to match his bark.
Sounds like an ideal spot somewhere in the Florida Keys or the Great Lakes area. Either'd be great for that type of thing, lots of space and serenity to boot.