Sony Not Fazed by Xbox One's Timed Exclusives

[Cognimancer]

Sony Not Fazed by Xbox One's Timed Exclusives

Sony's PS4 won't be getting DLC for Call of Duty: Ghosts until Xbox One users have tried it first - but in the grand scheme of things, that's no big deal.

With the hardware behind the PS4 and Xbox One so similar, this console war is being fought with services and exclusives. Even then, many of the exclusives are only exclusive for a certain amount of time. Because of this, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO Jim Ryan isn't upset that Microsoft has deals like timed-exclusive DLC for Call of Duty: Ghosts. In his eyes, those details aren't what makes or breaks a console.

"They're all going to be [on the PS4], Call of Duty's going to be there. Platform holders tie up with publishers for what is perceived to be mutual benefit. We're doing it with Ubisoft and we're doing it with Activision with Destiny. But at the end of the day these big games, they're all multiformat and you're talking about windows of 60 or 30 days for one piece of DLC - it's not the end of the world."

Sony has a handful of exclusive deals for triple-A add-on content, but the company's focus has largely been spent making sure indie games are coming to the PS4. "I'd point to the stuff that Thatgamecompany has brought," Ryan says. "Flower, Flow, and Journey - I would argue with anybody that that stuff has been platform-enhancing. And I would argue that that stuff has been platform-enhancing to the extent that a 30-day window on some DLC that's quickly caught up by the competitor platform can't be."

Source: Edge [http://www.edge-online.com/features/ps4-next-gen-rivalry-and-the-vita-rescue-plan-in-conversation-with-playstations-jim-ryan/]

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[BrotherRool]

It's only timed-exclusive DLC? That's a relief, I thought they had a timed exclusive for the whole game. With that and Titanfall I could see the Xbox One severely beating the PS4 no matter what else happened CoD and that sort of game are system sellers for so many people. I can't see Octodad or The Witness having the same pull even though they're an infinitely more important thing to go after

 

[klaynexas3]

I'd have to agree slightly. It won't make or break a console, but it can sway the more carefree crowd whose money just burns a hole in their pockets. They don't care if they can wait 30 days for what they could have right now even if it costs them a little extra. That's not a majority of gamers, but a fair few are impatient, and a decent sized crowd will probably buy the Xbone simply for that timed DLC alone.

 

[Evil Smurf]

The clear winners of this gen are not worried? Why not? Good on Sony not for hating their user base.

 

[Megacherv]

Maybe, just maybe, Ryan thinks that Call of Duty is shit as well?

 

[RicoADF]

If someone picks a far inferior console (due to the company as well as specs) that cost more just to get a game or in this case DLC alittle faster then their probably not people I want to play with anyway....

 

[ohnoitsabear]

I really don't get why there are so many timed exclusives for DLC. They don't benefit the people playing on your platform at all, because if it wasn't a timed exclusive, they would be playing on the same day anyway. And yes, it may be annoying to have to wait for DLC if you're on the other platform, but I think very few people would actually buy a console because of it.

The only real thing I can see is that if somebody owned both consoles, timed exclusive DLC might affect their decision as to which one to buy a game on. The thing with that is, at the beginning of a console generation, very few people are going to own more than one of the consoles, so, at least right now, it doesn't help them much.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I was never a big fan of exclusives. It always seemed like the most desperate way to get someone to use your console. Our console is so bad that no one will use it unless we hold game franchises hostage on it. I'll pass.

 

[KaZuYa]

I've bought and played Modern Warfare 1,2 & 3 as well as both Black Op's and I've yet to buy a single DLC since they are normally utterly pointless and awfully conceived maps which never get played.

 

[anthony87]

Well shit, didn't even know Destiny was going to be on PS4. Guess I'll pay attention to news on that game from now on.

 

[Zeckt]

At least Sony has REAL exclusives, unlike microsoft that has to pay for timed ones that end up on ps anyways. They need far, FAR more then gears and Halo this time.

 

[Blazing Steel]

Good job Sony. They've decided that real games are better than cheap timed DLCs. Nice to hear it coming from the big boys in the gaming industry.

 

[Something Amyss]

Maybe, just maybe, Ryan thinks that Call of Duty is shit as well?

Whether he did or didn't, he'd have to be pretty oblivious to deny its sales power.

 

[Dominic Crossman]

I've bought and played Modern Warfare 1,2 & 3 as well as both Black Op's and I've yet to buy a single DLC since they are normally utterly pointless and awfully conceived maps which never get played.

Same here, apart from also having black ops 2. The maps are overpriced and limit the amount of people with whom you can play, to the point were it splits the fan base. At the end of the day timed exclusives hardly make me bat an eyelid. It is exclusives such as dead rising 3 that disappoint me, but it won't change my mind from getting a ps4 (if I do get a new console).

Side note: I solemnly swear I am not getting cod:ghosts, I made myself a promise that I wouldn't get sucked into that crap again.

 

[wrightguy0]

good things come to those who wait, But i do think mr ryan has a point. DLC should not sell consoles. Games sell consoles, and instead of holding DLC hostage Sony has decided to focus on games, especially building a strong indie scene. This is a better practice and a more grown up way of doing business because of how much faith and trust sony are putting on the consumer, whereas Microsoft seem to be afraid of us, so they have to block us from little things because their terrified that people will choose a different console. there's no respect for the customer in Microsoft's current strategy and it's always struck me as extremely childish.

 

[tdylan]

It's only timed-exclusive DLC? That's a relief, I thought they had a timed exclusive for the whole game. With that and Titanfall I could see the Xbox One severely beating the PS4 no matter what else happened

I honestly think Titanfall is going to be a "timed exclusive" to the xbone. It's not made by a 1st, or even 2nd, party company on behalf of MS. It's being published by EA. When was the last time EA limited themselves to providing a game for a single console? I've been doing my best to pay attention, and have not read/heard anything saying:

Titanfall will be released on the XBONE and not on the PS4.

The info that I've seen regarding the game has been ambiguous:

Titanfall will be releasing on the XBONE on (insert date)

With all the buzzwords that these teams are eager to throw around, I think it stands to reason that microsoft would be all over it if you would only be able to get Titanfall on XBONE. Ever. When you have games like Halo, Gears, Infamous, Uncharted, the interviewee is also certain to say:

You can pick you [game] this fall, only/exclusively on [console]

Has anyone read/heard those words for titanlfall? That you would only be able to get it on XBONE (not counting this gen's consoles, of course), as opposed to "you can get it on xbone, but we will neither confirm nor deny a PS4 release."

The EA games that turned Dead Space 3 into and action game, and threw in microtransactions, is not going to sell the first showing of Respawn studios (after all the expense they went through to acquire those guys from Infinity Ward), a possibly "killer app" like titanfall, to be exclusive to the console launching in only 21 countries. I know titanfall is not a launch title, but could you imagine EA saying:

We're going to focus on making the Madden NFL games for one console only

I'd bet money that MS paid to have titanfall as a timed exclusive in hopes of moving units.

 

[deadish]

This old trick again ...

Looks like we will be see more stories like this,

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/japanese-gamer-breaks-disc-and-burns-magazine-article-over-vespe/

MS pays the developer for a time exclusive, developers being greedy take it. Sony then threatens to not allow their game on the PS unless extra content is added, developers being greedy comply - and extra content that can range from real extra content or extra content as in a more complete game where they use the xbox version as a beta test >.>.

LOL what a weird situation.