[WashingtonPost] Lego approached PlayStation with the idea to create a "Lego Horizon" game

[Dr. E99]

Sony is simply chasing profits at this point, fuck the brand they've built on "Only On PlayStation". They saw that Lego Games sell well on the Switch and so they made a switch version.

I can't believe people think Lego can tell Sony what to do with their IP

I hate to break it to you man, but every business on the planet chases profits.

 

[arvfab]

1) Xbox has been dying since the Xbox One reveal debacle 10+ years ago. They lost every ounce of goodwill they had with consumers in 2013 and have never recovered.

Yet they still managed to sell around 50+ mio. XOne.

What that has anything with what I explained to you?
Who LEGO Star Wars or Xbox dying have to do with Xbox being the direct competitor to PlayStation and Sony doesn't wanting to support it?

Look who and to what I was replying to.

It is business... that has nothing to do with easy.

So where is the easy-money PS4 version? Or did mighty LEGO say no to that?

Not sure if serious here...
Xbox is dying as platform yes... is it really dead?

Why not port then? Even if it's not dead, surely a LEGO game won't suddenly resuscitate them?

 

[Danja]

I hate to break it to you man, but every business on the planet chases profits.

Thank you for this educational post, dunno how I else I would have figured this out.

 

[Dr. E99]

Yeap people here overreact to the Xbox is dying.
It is dying in the sense of to be a weak competitor but it is far from dying at all... it just didn't grow.

No console brand ever died with 20m+ sold.
Dreamcast died with like 9 million units sold.
Gamecube continued with 20 million.
Xbox continued with 20 million.
Wii U continued with 13 million.

These are considered failures? Yes... but I'm still to see a company that sold over 25 million units of a hardware dies like people says here.
Xbox is in the decline... that is 100% fact.
But die.. die in the literal sense? Nope.

I still get a laugh every time somebody says here that PlayStation is dying too
I mean you need to really be out of reality to even think about PlayStation today as a dying business.

Eh, 20m Xbox Series sold through is a significant decline from the XBO generation, which was already a significant decline from the Xbox 360 generation. Xbox is mortally wounded and they are just bleeding out at this point. They might do one more generation of hardware to salvage what little goodwill they have left and then that'll be it.

 

[Dr. E99]

Thank you for this educational post, dunno how I else I would have figured this out.

You're welcome, bruv.

 

[Dr. E99]

So where is the easy-money PS4 version? Or did mighty LEGO say no to that?

It is odd that there's no PS4 version, but that was probably a Sony decision. Are other Lego games still getting cross-platform releases?

 

[Danja]

So where is the easy-money PS4 version? Or did mighty LEGO say no to that?

Sony wants to force the younger Horizon fans still clinging to PS4 to upgrade, same way they tried to force PS4 Forbidden West buyers with the Burning Shores DLC.

I dunno why that poster is in here acting like Sony was at the mercy of Lego lol.

They want that Switch Money and they wanna force PS4 upgrades. Lego don't care where this games goes as either way they are getting their license fees.

 

[ethomaz]

Yet they still managed to sell around 50+ mio. XOne.



Look who and to what I was replying to.



So where is the easy-money PS4 version? Or did mighty LEGO say no to that?



Why not port then? Even if it's not dead, surely a LEGO game won't suddenly resuscitate them?

Not sure if you read...

But for the 3rd-time... Xbox is a competitor to Playstation.
Sony opposed to the game launching there

In fact except for the games that are already in Xbox before acquisition and the trick done on MLB contract (something that only happens once) Sony doesn't release games on competitor platform called Xbox.

About PS4 Sony doesn't want to support the platform anymore.
Took longer enough to them left PS4 to focus only on PS5... if it was not the COVID then you should not see Sony releasing games on PS4 years ago.

 

[ethomaz]

It is odd that there's no PS4 version, but that was probably a Sony decision. Are other Lego games still getting cross-platform releases?

If look at the past...

It is odd how Sony supported PS4 releases all these years in the new generation.
I know the reason was COVID but even so they used to move direct to new gen in the past while multiplatform publishers keeps more time releasing cross-gen.

The moment Sony entered the new gen, except for some launch window titles being cross-gen, everything else were only exclusive to the new gen.
This gen was odd with PS4 releases along PS5 from Sony.

We never had so big transaction period on PlayStation (maybe BC helped that decision?).
I'm glad we moved on.

 

[Hatefield]

Really? I still don't believe it...

The tallneck set sold really well. And people wanted other sets that they made fan made sets. I can see them going to sony to make the game and then lego makes an entire collection from the game. I mean I would buy the ferris wheel from the game

 

[On Demand]

You don't think there was some segment of the population that paid $10 for Mario Run and decided that was good enough vs investing potentially hundreds into a Switch? I do. Now, it might be a small segment of the market...but it definitely exists.

No, I don’t believe those super duper casuals who have mobile phones and bought Mario Run ended up buying a Switch. Those people aren’t gamers. They just play games on their phones cause it’s there and convenient.

After they’re done with Mario Run they’ve went on to the next mobile game.

The truth is, we live in a different world now. There is INFINITELY more competition for eyeballs and attention spans than there were in the past. Why do you think Nintendo is doing a big push into mobile and films and television? Why do you think Xbox is trying to be on every single screen? Why do you think Sony is branching out to PC and beyond? Because the days of keeping all your IP locked to your box are long gone. Investors and shareholders are demanding as much growth as possible.

And with that increased competition and for attention companies are trying to attract people to their platform with exclusive content. Not share everything. That defeats the purpose.

Nintendo making mobile games and bringing their IP to movies and television is not the same thing as putting those games on a competing device. You people keep saying this and it will never make sense. Nobody ever talks about Nintendo putting their games on PC to “grow the brand and increase sales.” You know why that’s not a topic.


Xbox is trying anything they can by putting their games everywhere because they had no choice. Nothing to do with any market changes. People assume this was a conscience decision by choice when in reality Xbox hardware and software sales went to shit so they had to change up their strategy. It all started with putting their games on PC. Sony is in no such position to have to do any of that and yet they’re on their way to acting like the 4th place company.

As for Sony….It’s like you said, the bean counters are making these decisions about PC support. It’s all based on trying to maximize profits at the expense of hardware sales and brand devaluation.

Investors is another usual excuse. All Investors are not the same and are careless about the company they’re putting money into without realizing when something is wrong. It’s why at the last shareholder meeting Goldman Sachs specifically asked about PC cannibalizing console sales. That the goal should be to make PC players buy a PS5. Not put your games on PC. Herman Hulst and the platform guy couldn’t even properly answer the question. They sounded like these dumb forum reasonings on why PC is a good thing.

Investors/shareholders are not idiots. They know the value of a brand like PlayStation. With PS5 missing sales targets Sony giving up their goldmine of IP’s to other platforms is starting to cause concerns. Not just from fans.

In this new media landscape, for some IPs, it makes sense to make them available to as wide an audience as possible. For others, it makes sense to keep them exclusive. It does not devalue the PlayStation brand to have Lego Horizon Adventures on Switch any more than it devalues Apple's brand to have Apple TV+ app available on a Roku TV.

Of course Lego HORIZON being on Switch devalues PlayStation. It’s a Sony IP you don’t need a PS console to play. It’s simple logic. All it does is train Nintendo owners not buy a PS5 since they will expect more Sony games on Switch. Which there will be.

AppleTV app playing on different devices is a not a good analogy. These mobile and streaming comparisons never are. It’s an app. Of course it’s going to played on something that supports all kinds of apps and can stream their catalogue.

What you won’t see is Apple putting their app or their original content on their direct competitors streaming service like Netflix and Hulu.

 

[CrackmanNL]

If you agree with its or not they are looking at it from IP perspective. For me personally it's no different than it being on Steam(deck), that ship has sailed for me.

Appeal to kids and get them in touch with Horizon, Nintendo is the gateway to gaming. This will result in them being familiar with Aloy & Horizon and will boost merch like more LEGO sets and potential movies. All sounds logical works out for Sony and LEGO has access to more IPs, if you think about it LEGO only adapts big name IP/brands. It's all in the entertainment focus and cross-media strategy they are touting in their plans.

Will those kids grow up and try the mainline games/ online ones by then on the PS, maybe. Would only work if they keep it at LEGO's but pretty sure they going to self sabotage chasing revenue.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

So where is the easy-money PS4 version? Or did mighty LEGO say no to that?

FACTS! These people keep saying "well they want profits", yet there's no PS4 version of LEGO Horizon? When there's a Switch version, and that system is less capable than a PS4? When at least half of SIE's PlayStation users are still on PS4?

They don't want those users' money, yet they're about profits? Make it make sense.

 

[Bryank75]

The tallneck set sold really well. And people wanted other sets that they made fan made sets. I can see them going to sony to make the game and then lego makes an entire collection from the game. I mean I would buy the ferris wheel from the game

Yeah, I got the tallneck.

I want the thunderjaw though

 

[Neversummer]

So it essentially cuts any idea that Lego wanted the game on Nintendo & it was actually PS/Guerilla Games that pushed for a Nintendo release.

Instead of cultivating both new consumers & existing that not everything on PS lineup has to be a AAA to be enjoyable & further show indies/3rd party that these games could be successful on PS only it further cements Nintendo Switch as the platform if you want these AA/indies type game succeed because even the likes of PS don’t even have trust on its own platform.

Also PS/Guerilla skipping PS4 gamers that have supported horizon & where horizon was born is just a spit in the face for PS4 gamers & supporters that still haven’t migrated to PS5 because there’s no exclusive on PS5. By the time PS5 gets exclusive PS5 games from prior year are on PC/Steamdeck diminishing the migrating from previous PS console or new consumer that’s on Xbox, Nintendo, PC or haven’t own a console but was looking for a platform to invest in

 

[Neversummer]

What type of question is this?

You make things exclusive to draw people to your product. Business 101. Why people act like they don’t know how the industry works makes no sense to me.

Sony should be trying to expand their console and reach kids with games like Lego. You don’t just give up and say “well the Switch has a big kiddy audience so let’s put it there.” You bring that audience to you.

Nintendo would not put a Lego Mario game on other platforms. They would lock that game down tightly. If Lego said no to exclusivity then Nintendo would be more than fine not making any Mario game. They wouldn’t devalue their own console like that by putting their valuable IP everywhere.

It’s not just about making fast money. You have look at long term brand degradation by doing that. Short term money is never a good idea.

Exact by the logic some people use Paper Mario should be on PC, Mobile & PS since it’s a spin off of Mario & the concept of a paper version of Mario is universal/broad. In the opposite Nintendo make theses type of games & lock them down to the Nintendo platform/storefront solidifying Nintendo Switch as the family/universal indie platform where games like those thrives & can be successful w out any other platform

 

[Neversummer]

And Steam and Nintendo aren't? Why aren't they porting their games to PlayStation? It's easy money, right?

Xbox is dead right? They are even porting their games to PlayStation, why leave out a bit of extra money on the table?

Oh and it's funny talking about easy money and LEGO dictating terms and conditions, yet PS4 is being skipped....

It’s funny how people still use Xbox as PS direct competitor when Xbox brand is dead & incompetent that’s such a low bar.

When in reality Valve/Steam & Nintendo are PS direct competitors rn & I’d argue much more dangerous then Xbox considered how Vlave/Steam platform/storefront is tied to PC & now Steamdeck + Steam having 10x as many exclusive then PS have.

& in the case of Nintendo, Nintendo has a better first party output then PS themselves. Just look at the final years of Switch & it shows Nintendo releasing more Nintendo exclusive games then PS on the PS5 gen mid generation where they should be hitting strides. Nintendo releases a minimum of 5+ Nintendo games each year at its peak & there only gonna double down. Nintendo sells more console hardware, more software & has cheaper online/subscription & w switch 2 they will get more if not all major key 3rd party while Sony continues to loose exclusive & exclusivity deal becoming harder because now publisher/studios can release on Switch 2 day w PS4/PS5

 

[Neversummer]

No, I don’t believe those super duper casuals who have mobile phones and bought Mario Run ended up buying a Switch. Those people aren’t gamers. They just play games on their phones cause it’s there and convenient.

After they’re done with Mario Run they’ve went on to the next mobile game.



And with that increased competition and for attention companies are trying to attract people to their platform with exclusive content. Not share everything. That defeats the purpose.

Nintendo making mobile games and bringing their IP to movies and television is not the same thing as putting those games on a competing device. You people keep saying this and it will never make sense. Nobody ever talks about Nintendo putting their games on PC to “grow the brand and increase sales.” You know why that’s not a topic.


Xbox is trying anything they can by putting their games everywhere because they had no choice. Nothing to do with any market changes. People assume this was a conscience decision by choice when in reality Xbox hardware and software sales went to shit so they had to change up their strategy. It all started with putting their games on PC. Sony is in no such position to have to do any of that and yet they’re on their way to acting like the 4th place company.

As for Sony….It’s like you said, the bean counters are making these decisions about PC support. It’s all based on trying to maximize profits at the expense of hardware sales and brand devaluation.

Investors is another usual excuse. All Investors are not the same and are careless about the company they’re putting money into without realizing when something is wrong. It’s why at the last shareholder meeting Goldman Sachs specifically asked about PC cannibalizing console sales. That the goal should be to make PC players buy a PS5. Not put your games on PC. Herman Hulst and the platform guy couldn’t even properly answer the question. They sounded like these dumb forum reasonings on why PC is a good thing.

Investors/shareholders are not idiots. They know the value of a brand like PlayStation. With PS5 missing sales targets Sony giving up their goldmine of IP’s to other platforms is starting to cause concerns. Not just from fans.





Of course Lego HORIZON being on Switch devalues PlayStation. It’s a Sony IP you don’t need a PS console to play. It’s simple logic. All it does is train Nintendo owners not buy a PS5 since they will expect more Sony games on Switch. Which there will be.

AppleTV app playing on different devices is a not a good analogy. These mobile and streaming comparisons never are. It’s an app. Of course it’s going to played on something that supports all kinds of apps and can stream their catalogue.

What you won’t see is Apple putting their app or their original content on their direct competitors streaming service like Netflix and Hulu.

Even the likes of Netflix that has the “only on Netflix” they capped out on subscription but your not seeing them out there first party content on Disney+ instead your seeing a increase output, new tiers that could support the increase content & increase prices. In the likes of Netflix instead of devaluing the Netflix storefron/platform there diversifying it’s business & now getting into gaming. Apple does similar thing while not diminishing its platform Apple introduced Apple Arcade to bring value & diversify its platform/business & it will only continue to expand/grow.

I would rather see PS introduce 3 day early edition for there first party games for $120 & 5 day early edition for $150 essentially increasing price of the base game by using fomo to bring in more profits then put tenpole games on direct competitors platform that would devalue, harm & diminish the PS brand, storefront & hardware. Hell I wouldn’t mind micro transactions in PS singleplayer games as long as they where strictly cosmetic collabs like GOW Ragnarok having a GOW x Demon Soul Kratos armor & sold it for $10 or Ghost of Yotie having a inFAMOUS/Killzone collab & having armor sets themed around PS ip. PS barely capitalizes & monetize there existing games & existing ip that been doormant.

PS massively lacks in toys/merch & overall PS customization. Like where has been the disc plates using PS ip PS should be cranking Demon Soul, Bloodborne, Sly cooper themed PS5 disc plate that are likely low cost to make & high profits. When you see Nintendo do films, movies, animation, theme park, merch, toys & compare to PS, PS is massively behind. Where are the Horizon theme parks or Demon Souls theme park. It also don’t help PS focus on AAA games that take 5+ years while ignoring there small franchise, franchises like Ratchet & Clank should be annualized like Sega is doing w Sonic & Nontnedo does w many of there games. How do you expand PS into new consumers create more games that release more frequently maybe explore new genres/types of games in those franchises ie a ratchet & clank game that’s a top down rogue like or a Jak & Daxter game that’s in the style of Mega Men (side scroller platformer or w.e you call it)

Even a world where there’s no hardware you still need exclusive content to differentiate your storefront & platform like Netflix & Disney+ & PS games that are going to PC aren’t even exclusive to the PS PC launcher so even from a expansion standpoint the PS storefront & platform w no hardware is still diminish, devalue & harm hell you can argue the worse & most expensive place to play PS games & that’s not good as it makes the PS storefront less desirable to 3rd party like in the case of Xbox or Epic many games skip those platform because there devalued or have no exclusive games that drive consumers to it.

 

[peter42O]

At the end of the day, Sony agreed to the Lego game and it releasing day one on Switch and PC. That's literally all there is to it.

 

[Entropi]

Based on the platforms it's releasing on, I wouldn’t have thought Lego approached Sony.