State of Play | February 23, 2023

[Yurinka]

I doubt they would ever do a MS type of show, people do not like it and yes I agree they do not need it. I am not saying they will show everything, what I am saying is, Sony has a track record of doing big shows with surprises, that is why most people got confused when they left E3 and didn't do PS experience. Sony focusing on State of Play is not the norm, it is the exception and it is a consequence of the pandemic, I still think they will resume to their previous timeframe / modus operandi, specially because of the Activision deal. In terms of Marketing is the only way to counter the PR moves Microsoft has been using.

Focusing on State of Play is a reaction to Nintendo focusing on Nintendo Directs, which are previous to the pandemic.

It's themselves realizing that some videos across the year reach to several millions of players across the globe, and for a way cheaper cost than to have super expensive presential events like the live E3 conferences, the E3 booth or PlayStation Experience. Which are way more expensive, have a smaller reach and has the filter of the press, meaning that game companies can't fully control the PR message.

The pandemic temporally killed the presential events, but many companies understood that the E3 booths costs are nonsensical and that due to internet they don't need it. First because for marketing and PR it's more optimal, effective and profitable to use their own digital marketing channels.

And second because mettings to agree or sign publisher+retailer or publisher+dev deals (these meetings were the original goal of E3) can be done online or at other, way cheaper, events.

Yes, presential events are returning. But companies like Sony or Nintendo will continue focusing their marketing and PR in their online channels. And as long as they continue having a decent amount of interesting short term releases they'll focus on marketing them instead of focusing on long term releases.

PS is dominating Xbox more than 2:1 worldwide in both userbase/consoles sold, marketshare, 1st party and total game sales and game subs. If completed, the ABK acquisition -as happened with the Zenimax, Minecraft and the other ones- won't negatively affect Sony or their market share.

To focus on day one GP and make all future Bethesda and Activision games would be a financial suicide for Xbox, so they'll keep most if not all of them multi, some of them after a timed console exclusivity.

But even if making all of them full console exclusive the few millions of players that Sony could lose would be compensated with the PS userbase growth and with the games that Sony is developing internallly at Bungie, Naughty Dog, Arrowhead, Firewalk, Deviation, Haven and who knows if more.

All these games started to be developed before the ABK and Zenimax acquisitions were announced, as happened with the first talks to acquire Bungie. Sony still didn't react to the Bethesda and Activision acquisitions because wasn't needed.

And in fact, the Activision deal may even end being blocked by some regulator and/or with a legally binding document that keeps CoD multiplatform for -minimum- 10 years. Not even in consoles, but also in game subs (see recent PS+ announcements of Minecraft Legends, Ghostwire Tokyo and other MS games).

Sony's marketing move instead of announcing acquisitions or games to be released in 5 or 7 years is to keep releasing many GOTY winner or candidate super selling exclusives for their console, plus also releasing very successful movies, tv shows and PC ports. And getting record numbers with their game console and services. They deliver instead of only promising.

At least for now, Sony doesn't need to react to the Bethesda and Activision acquisitions. And if they do it, they'll do it once the Acquisition deal gets completed or once it shows some negative effects for Sony, which as of now don't exist and I bet won't happen.

 

[Zeroing]

Focusing on State of Play is a reaction to Nintendo focusing on Nintendo Directs, which are previous to the pandemic.

It's themselves realizing that some videos across the year reach to several millions of players across the globe, and for a way cheaper cost than to have super expensive presential events like the live E3 conferences, the E3 booth or PlayStation Experience. Which are way more expensive, have a smaller reach and has the filter of the press, meaning that game companies can't fully control the PR message.

The pandemic temporally killed the presential events, but many companies understood that the E3 booths costs are nonsensical and that due to internet they don't need it. First because for marketing and PR it's more optimal, effective and profitable to use their own digital marketing channels.

And second because mettings to agree or sign publisher+retailer or publisher+dev deals (these meetings were the original goal of E3) can be done online or at other, way cheaper, events.

Yes, presential events are returning. But companies like Sony or Nintendo will continue focusing their marketing and PR in their online channels. And as long as they continue having a decent amount of interesting short term releases they'll focus on marketing them instead of focusing on long term releases.

PS is dominating Xbox more than 2:1 worldwide in both userbase/consoles sold, marketshare, 1st party and total game sales and game subs. If completed, the ABK acquisition -as happened with the Zenimax, Minecraft and the other ones- won't negatively affect Sony or their market share.

To focus on day one GP and make all future Bethesda and Activision games would be a financial suicide for Xbox, so they'll keep most if not all of them multi, some of them after a timed console exclusivity.

But even if making all of them full console exclusive the few millions of players that Sony could lose would be compensated with the PS userbase growth and with the games that Sony is developing internallly at Bungie, Naughty Dog, Arrowhead, Firewalk, Deviation, Haven and who knows if more.

All these games started to be developed before the ABK and Zenimax acquisitions were announced, as happened with the first talks to acquire Bungie. Sony still didn't react to the Bethesda and Activision acquisitions because wasn't needed.

And in fact, the Activision deal may even end being blocked by some regulator and/or with a legally binding document that keeps CoD multiplatform for -minimum- 10 years. Not even in consoles, but also in game subs (see recent PS+ announcements of Minecraft Legends, Ghostwire Tokyo and other MS games).

Sony's marketing move instead of announcing acquisitions or games to be released in 5 or 7 years is to keep releasing many GOTY winner or candidate super selling exclusives for their console, plus also releasing very successful movies, tv shows and PC ports. And getting record numbers with their game console and services. They deliver instead of only promising.

At least for now, Sony doesn't need to react to the Bethesda and Activision acquisitions. And if they do it, they'll do it once the Acquisition deal gets completed or once it shows some negative effects for Sony, which as of now don't exist and I bet won't happen.

I still do not think State of Play was created as a reaction to Nintendo direct. While Nintendo was doing it, Sony was doing artsy conferences in USA, Europe and Asia. Yes it is cheaper doing online trailers but do not underestimate the power of people gathering and being surprised/hyped on cinema or in a venue.

Yeah Sony and Nintendo could survive the ABK acquisition, but we all know how we gamers are, it is all about perception. We already are easy influenced by gaming journalism and the media being biased...I think a conference would be a good way to tone down the craziness that this deal is doing in social media, you know, make people focus on what is the reality, we gamers play games not acquisitions. Trust me, even if the deal does not go though, people and the media will still be talking about this all year.

I have heard tons of people online saying MS would not be stupid to loose money by taking Activision titles out of Playstation ... well MS has tons of money, they have nothing to loose. It is a Bethesda deja vu all over again.
All I see is MS not being clear on their true intentions and doing what they accused Apple of doing - wanting to control everything.

I still think a conference later this year sends a clear message to everyone - Sony is "dominant" because they make good games.

 

[Bodycount611]

No, I skip their games because I played more than enough Mario and Zelda in the fucking 1980s and they’ve only dumbed down and lobotomized their games since.

Nintendo makes games for children. Simplistic, dull and easy. Pure pablum. I wouldn’t buy their flagship stuff if it was on PS5 and outshone everything else graphically.

Sorry you’re too insecure and mentally stunted to see that!

Fire Emblem, Zelda and Xenoblade really have no equivalent on the PS unfortunately. I primarily use my PS for 3rd party games Switch can't run nowadays, so I guess there is something to be said about the poor visuals holding the system back.

but If you want to see lobotomized, check out Ghost Of Tsushima or God of War's combat after playing something like Bayonetta 2/3.

I also like how Nintendo would never give a game like this screen time:



Naughty Dog and the other They/Them studios I don't really even consider to be real games, just western lifestlyle propaganda. It's really a bad look on Sony's part. Ethics wise I like how Nintendo has abstained from being any part of this. Could be their family friendly image, could be their firm roots as a japanese company. Who knows.

 

[KiryuRealty]

Fire Emblem, Zelda and Xenoblade really have no equivalent on the PS unfortunately. I primarily use my PS for 3rd party games Switch can't run nowadays, so I guess there is something to be said about the poor visuals holding the system back.

but If you want to see lobotomized, check out Ghost Of Tsushima or God of War's combat after playing something like Bayonetta 2/3.

I also like how Nintendo would never give a game like this screen time:



Naughty Dog and the other They/Them studios I don't really even consider to be real games, just western lifestlyle propaganda. It's really a bad look on Sony's part. Ethics wise I like how Nintendo has abstained from being any part of this. Could be their family friendly image, could be their firm roots as a japanese company. Who knows.

Comparing something like Ghost of Tsushima to fucking Bayonetta is the epitome of idiocy.

Different styles of games, with entirely different approaches to combat, levels of realism, and intents.

Just making that comparison disqualifies your opinions, as it is so far beyond apples and oranges that it’s more like apples and zucchini.

The level of insight I’d expect from a Mario worshipper, to be honest. Almost as asinine as the “Dark Souls combat sucks compared to Ninja Gaiden” crowd.

Might as well tell me that a Lamborghini Aventador is worse than a Ford F-150 because it has a lower cargo capacity.

Also, Bayonetta is a SEGA/Platinum Games property, Nintendo has nothing to do with developing the games, they just pay for it so all the Nintenyearolds can have a big boy game now and then, since the first game sold like shit on the other platforms.

 

[Yurinka]

I still do not think State of Play was created as a reaction to Nintendo direct. While Nintendo was doing it, Sony was doing artsy conferences in USA, Europe and Asia. Yes it is cheaper doing online trailers but do not underestimate the power of people gathering and being surprised/hyped on cinema or in a venue.

Well, I think they saw that for Nintendo was more effective to spread their announcements across the year and using a cheaper video only format. Which also gives them many benefits, like not having the pressure and crunch of needing to have a demo or trailer for E3, etc. This format has many benefits.

Yeah Sony and Nintendo could survive the ABK acquisition, but we all know how we gamers are, it is all about perception. We already are easy influenced by gaming journalism and the media being biased...I think a conference would be a good way to tone down the craziness that this deal is doing in social media, you know, make people focus on what is the reality, we gamers play games not acquisitions. Trust me, even if the deal does not go though, people and the media will still be talking about this all year.

Yes, people like to argue about stuff and use for console wars any ammunition available. Fanboys from the gaming media or social media will mention all sorts of things. But at the end what it will matter will be the available games, not acquisitions or promises.

I have heard tons of people online saying MS would not be stupid to loose money by taking Activision titles out of Playstation ... well MS has tons of money, they have nothing to loose. It is a Bethesda deja vu all over again.

Well, even MS themselves said it. PS is the main market for AAA games, so if they want to turn the investment into a profitable business they'll need to continue releasing Minecraft, Zenimax and Activision Blizzard stuff in PS, even if some may keep for them some titles as (at least temporal) console exclusives, specially new IPs.

All I see is MS not being clear on their true intentions and doing what they accused Apple of doing - wanting to control everything.

I still think a conference later this year sends a clear message to everyone - Sony is "dominant" because they make good games.

I think Sony's success comes from several things: one is having a big and diverse lineup of good (1st, 2nd and 3rd party even indie) exclusives being released constantly that appeal a wide amount of player tastes, other one is having the biggest 3rd party support, which plays the major role of having in the console games of any type you may like. And then having a good balance of high end horsepower but a reasonable pricing.

And on top of that, since many people already have it, some people buy it to play online with their friends who also have it. And since devs see a huge userbase there so support it. And the wheel keeps spinning. Regarding exclusives, I think they have maybe the best balance of sequels combined with a good percent of very successful new IPs, which keeps their lineup fresh.

To create games is so hard. To make big games even more. To make great ones even more. And them being new IPs even more. And to do all this while getting consistently top critical and sales success as Sony does is something only very few people can do. It must be ultra hard to fight against that.