Hermen said they plan to release at least one tentpole during the holiday season of each year.
So.. which Sony tentpole titles do you think will be released during the holiday seasons of 2024, 2025, and 2026?
This is what I think:
Regarding 2024:
As reference, in the Business Segment Meeting 2024 Hermen said exactly (00:12:29 of the video):
"We have consistently delivered the highest quality, most beloved narrative experiences available. These tentpole single player releases are our core strength, the foundation of our portfolio. Tentpole are games that will be top sellers in the biggest and most lucrative genres. Either existing hit franchises or new IP for which we have the highest confidence and ambitions. From studios with proved track record in quality and success.
Each calendar year we plan to have at least one tentpole single player launch during the holidays season, showcasing our PlayStation 5 business and brand as well at the peak season of games.
Mantaining this foundation to our porfolio creates the ability to invest in new growth opportunities, predominantly live service games with predictable, persistent revenue streams in proven, succesful genres.
We'll also reserve part our portfolio for experimental opportunities: talented new teams and innovative technology, unlocking new audiences or interesting genres we don't currently serve. Because of the experimental nature of these products we'll limit their number, scope and budget. To unlock further investment these projects must prove that they can scale and that they have a meaningful commercial opportunity and audience."
So "Tentpoles" are:
"Regarding first-party software, we aim to continue to focus on producing high-quality works and developing live service games. But while major projects are currently under development, we do not plan to release any new major existing franchise titles next fiscal year like God of War Ragnarok and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.”
So.. which Sony tentpole titles do you think will be released during the holiday seasons of 2024, 2025, and 2026?
This is what I think:
Regarding 2024:
- TLOU2R, Helldivers 2, Stellar Blade, MLB, Ronin, Astro, Destiny 2 Final Shape, Concord aren't released in the holiday season, so wouldn't count.
- I'd say Convallaria, Lost Soul Aside, Until Dawn remake don't count as proven studios and I'd bet they don't aim to be top sellers
- I think they consider Lego Horizon an experimental title due to many reasons, or maybe even transformational, but not tentpole
- Several of the announced or released ones are GaaS so would count as transformational instead, not as tentpole. By Totoki's word we shouldn't expect a new entry of existing blockbuster top seller IPs like Horizon for this FY, so should be a new IP instead
- So I have no idea which is. Maybe it's Cory's new IP (Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet?), announced in September for November/PS5 Pro release?
- Pretty likely Death Stranding 2, Venom and/or maybe Cory's new IP (Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet?)
- Wolverine, GoT 2, Bend's new IP, Until Dawn 2 (if it is Firesprite's horrow adventure and they codevelop it with Ballistic Moon)
- ND's next game (new Uncharted?), Housemarque's next game, GoW in a new mythology
- Horizon 3, Spider-Man 3, GT8 (if it has a meaty enough SP content), Destiny 3 (if has a meaty enough SP content)
- TLOU3 (6 years of production), new Ratchet & Clank, Bloodborne 2
- X-Men, Physint, Days Gone 2, ND's new IP (7 years of production)
As reference, in the Business Segment Meeting 2024 Hermen said exactly (00:12:29 of the video):
"We have consistently delivered the highest quality, most beloved narrative experiences available. These tentpole single player releases are our core strength, the foundation of our portfolio. Tentpole are games that will be top sellers in the biggest and most lucrative genres. Either existing hit franchises or new IP for which we have the highest confidence and ambitions. From studios with proved track record in quality and success.
Each calendar year we plan to have at least one tentpole single player launch during the holidays season, showcasing our PlayStation 5 business and brand as well at the peak season of games.
Mantaining this foundation to our porfolio creates the ability to invest in new growth opportunities, predominantly live service games with predictable, persistent revenue streams in proven, succesful genres.
We'll also reserve part our portfolio for experimental opportunities: talented new teams and innovative technology, unlocking new audiences or interesting genres we don't currently serve. Because of the experimental nature of these products we'll limit their number, scope and budget. To unlock further investment these projects must prove that they can scale and that they have a meaningful commercial opportunity and audience."
So "Tentpoles" are:
- Single player narrative experiences
- Top sellers in the biggest and most lucrative genres
- Either sequels or new IPs
- From proven studios regarding quality and success
- Growth opportunities
- Predominantly live services
- From proven, succesful genres
- Differentiated via IP, theme or gameplay
- Growth opportunity unlocking new audiences
- Smaller titles in scope and budget
- Sometimes from new teams
- Sometimes targeting genres not currently served by PS Studios + Bungie
- Sometimes showcases innovation
- Will be less common than "tentpole" and "transformational
"Regarding first-party software, we aim to continue to focus on producing high-quality works and developing live service games. But while major projects are currently under development, we do not plan to release any new major existing franchise titles next fiscal year like God of War Ragnarok and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.”
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