What really is first party nowadays? Definition of first/second/third party games.

[Etifilio]

good to remember you can no longer count Death Stranding 2 (predicted to be one of the tentpole releases for 2025) as a first party exclusive release, it'll be on Xbox, PC in a matter of time, and even Nintendo Switch 2 if Kojima manages to get it to run there.

 

[Ezekiel]

good to remember you can no longer count Death Stranding 2 (predicted to be one of the tentpole releases for 2025) as a first party exclusive release, it'll be on Xbox, PC in a matter of time, and even Nintendo Switch 2 if Kojima manages to get it to run there.

If it's published by Sony, it's a first party game.

 

[Boswollox]

If it's published by Sony, it's a first party game.

Who published Helldivers 2 - the game that was multiplatform?

 

[Ezekiel]

Who published Helldivers 2 - the game that was multiplatform?

The massive seller and GOTY contender, the first party game Helldivers 2, was published by Sony, and it was on two platforms, and still is.

 

[Boswollox]

The massive seller and GOTY contender, the first party game Helldivers 2, was published by Sony, and it was on two platforms, and still is.

That was my point. Sony published it, it can still be multiplatform.

Not the gotcha you thought it was.

 

[Ezekiel]

That was my point. Sony published it, it can still be multiplatform.

Not the gotcha you thought it was.

You made no point at all.

Death Stranding 2 is published by SIE, so it's a first party game when it releases exclusively on PS5 next year.

 

[arvfab]

Death Stranding 2 is published by SIE, so it's a first party game when it releases exclusively on PS5 next year.

Very wrong implication.

A publisher can publish a game without owning the IP, and if that publisher is a platform holder, it means the game is still 3rd party. IP ownership determines if a game is 1st party or not.

Example: PlayStation was the publisher for Call of Duty in Japan for many entries. It was still a 3rd party game.

Another example: Microsoft published Mass Effect in the past. It was still a (timed exclusive) 3rd party game.

Another Example: Sumo developed Sackboy Adventures, an IP which belongs to Sony. It was a 1st party game.

 

[Ezekiel]

Very wrong implication.

A publisher can publish a game without owning the IP, and if that publisher is a platform holder, it means the game is still 3rd party. IP ownership determines if a game is 1st party or not.

Example: PlayStation was the publisher for Call of Duty in Japan for many entries. It was still a 3rd party game.

Another example: Microsoft published Mass Effect in the past. It was still a (timed exclusive) 3rd party game.

Another Example: Sumo developed Sackboy Adventures, an IP which belongs to Sony. It was a 1st party game.

God damn you'd think people finally understood what first party means.

If a platform holder publishes a game on its platform, that's a first party game.

IP ownership has nothing to do with.

Studio ownership has nothing to do with it.

It's all about a platform holder publishing a game on its platform.

It's that simple.

 

[arvfab]

It's that simple.

Yet you get it wrong.

If a platform holder publishes a game on its platform, that's a first party game.

So Call of Duty in Japan has been a 1st party title on PS5. You see how dumb it sounds?

What about LEGO Horizon on Switch? Is it a Sony 1st party title?

 

[Johnic]

If a platform holder publishes a game on its platform, that's a first party game.

Not true. A first party title is one owned by a company, developed by an in-house studio. Death Stranding 2 is a 2nd party game. Rise of Ronin is 2nd party. Stellar blade as well.

 

[mibu no ookami]

We've been debating what is 1st or 2nd party for decades.

There is no official terminology and the landscape has gotten more complex.

Is Bloodborne a first party game or a second party game? Sony owns the IP but it was developed by a 3rd party company. Is this a different situation to Death Stranding that is now owned by Kojima, but published by Sony?

Is Hot Shots Golf first party or second party?

What if you have a 3rd party support studio assist in development?

What if the game is ported to PC by a 3rd party company? Does that make it a 2nd party game?

My advice, let it rest. It's not that important.

 

[arvfab]

Not true. A first party title is one owned by a company, developed by an in-house studio.

You are confusing titles and studios.

Sackboy Adventures is clearly a 1st party game, but it was developed by a 3rd party studio.

Same as the many games developed by HAL for Nintendo.

Death Stranding 2 is a 2nd party game.

2nd party doesn't really exist, but it is usually described for games developed by a 3rd party for a platform holder. It was the case for the games developed by Insomniac before being bought and Death Stranding before Kojima buying the IP rights back.

Rise of Ronin is 2nd party. Stellar blade as well.

They are both fully 3rd party, as Sony doesn't own the IPs. Both games can come to other consoles the moment the exclusiveness agreements run out, without Sony having to approve anything.

 

[Boswollox]

You made no point at all.

Death Stranding 2 is published by SIE, so it's a first party game when it releases exclusively on PS5 next year.

 

[Boswollox]

God damn you'd think people finally understood what first party means.

If a platform holder publishes a game on its platform, that's a first party game.

Like Helldivers 2, which was multiplatform, which is what DS2 will be...

 

[Vertigo]

Second party was kinda meant to define Rare’s position when Nintendo owned a good chunk while also being a hardware maker. There aren’t too many modern examples of this. Nintendo I think had a few relationships like this but eventually they would flat out wholly own studios like retro etc or exclusive game contracts before buying. Times have changed I guess.

Bloodborne is third party developed but Sony owned. So I wouldn’t call it second party.

Edit: doesn’t Sony own some of from’s parent company? So like in theory right… if Sony bought up to like 49% of shares you could then call them second party (whether they release exclusives or not).

 

[arvfab]

Second party was kinda meant to define Rare’s position when Nintendo owned a good chunk while also being a hardware maker. There aren’t too many modern examples of this. Nintendo I think had a few relationships like this but eventually they would flat out wholly own studios like retro etc.

Nintendo still has HAL Laboratory as a "second party" studio.

Bloodborne is third party developed but Sony owned. So I wouldn’t call it second party.

Bloodborne and Demon's Souls are perfect examples for 3rd party developed 1st party games and how IP ownership is the only things which matters. Without IP ownership, PlayStation couldn't have had BluePoint remake Demon's Souls.

 

[mibu no ookami]

Nintendo still has HAL Laboratory as a "second party" studio.



Bloodborne and Demon's Souls are perfect examples for 3rd party developed 1st party games and how IP ownership is the only things which matters. Without IP ownership, PlayStation couldn't have had BluePoint remake Demon's Souls.

Is Spider-Man a 1st party game? Is Spider-Man 2?

They didn't own Insomniac when they made the first game, but does it apply retroactively?

They own Insomniac now, but they don't own the IP.

Again... it's semantics at the end of the day.

 

[Vertigo]

Bloodborne and Demon's Souls are perfect examples for 3rd party developed 1st party games and how IP ownership is the only things which matters. Without IP ownership, PlayStation couldn't have had BluePoint remake Demon's Souls.

The only issue with this is no guarantee in having the same director or studios making sequels to it. These risk being sequels in name only. Not the best scenario but not all working partnerships are the same. I mean… not everyone wants to sell or not yet.

 

[Ezekiel]

Like Helldivers 2, which was multiplatform, which is what DS2 will be...

Yes, Helldivers 2 and Death Stranding 2 are first party games on PS5.

Do you want me to speak slower for you?

 

[Ezekiel]

You don't know what first party is. That's okay, I quite enjoy your display of ignorance.