Gaming community brews discontent with Sony ahead of PS5 launch amid Microsoft action – Forbes

Freelance business writer Forbes Paul Tassie analyzed the situation in the gaming market before the launch of the new generation consoles Playstation 5 and Xbox series x and published material that silence Sony is playing against it now – dissatisfaction with the company’s strategy is brewing. Below is the full version of the article.

It is quite obvious that Sony steps into a new generation with his head held high. Playstation 4 managed to sell twice as well as consoles Xbox one, and already now various analytical companies are predicting a similar scenario for Playstation 5… Audiences around the world are eagerly awaiting a powerful lineup of releases from in-house studios, but at the same time, the general discussion begins to take a somewhat unexpected turn.

Actions Microsoft, a direct competitor to Sony, is finally starting to show some kind of result. In a short time, the American corporation has built a reputation for a brand that truly cares about users.… Meanwhile, Sony continues to bend its line and adheres to a completely opposite course, which is why some gamers, in contrast, accuse it of anti-consumer politics.

What is happening can be visually assessed through a number of examples.

The first and most obvious is the action adventure situation Marvel’s spider man… The stumbling block here is the fact that millions of users who previously bought “Spider-Man” on the PlayStation 4, having switched to the PlayStation 5, will not be able to evaluate the updated and improved version of the project for free – they will have to pay for it. In contrast, Microsoft offers a Smart Delivery system, thanks to which, having bought a game once, the user gets access to all its versions without having to spend money again.

Taking advantage of the fact that ordinary gamers did not really like this state of affairs, the Xbox team wasted no time in making a number of PR attacks towards Sony. For example, this Twitter post received a lot of discussion:

The picture is quite curious, especially considering that at the dawn of the last generation the situation was completely mirrored. Then it was Sony who joked about Microsoft’s dubious practices, showing how easy it is to share games on the PlayStation 4

Next comes the question of the so-called generations. Back in the summer, PlayStation fans celebrated the fact that the platform holder is focusing on the new PS5 hardware. Now the discussions are about accessibility Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon: Forbidden West on PS4 and that the arrival of “new generation games” has been postponed indefinitely.

Against the background, the debate about the price increase for new items continues, where the PlayStation 5 starter library will offer releases for $ 70 and 80 euros, while Microsoft advertises a cheap Game Pass service with a huge number of games, which is actively developing. It was recently announced that new blockbusters will be included in its catalog from day one. Bethesda level The Elder Scrolls VI

A tempting offer in the form of a Game Pass is rapidly gaining momentum, while Sony is outright opposing the implementation of a similar concept – the Japanese company considers it unprofitable, preferring to sell its games at full price, rather than give it away for a song.

Yes, we have prepared a system for PlayStation users PlayStation Plus Collection, allowing PlayStation 5 buyers to experience a number of outstanding PlayStation 4 projects. But where did hits like The Last of Us: Part II and Ghost of tsushima? So far, there have been no announcements about updated versions of these games, but taking into account what happened with Marvel’s Spider Man, it can be assumed that many will have to buy them again or pay for an upgrade in a similar way.

This is the reason why Sony’s position today does not look very attractive. The PlayStation 5 remains a highly entertaining console, an impressive system for a low budget. At the same time, it is clear that her library of games will ultimately be very powerful.… Only at some point will Microsoft’s current plan, together with its lucrative programs and offers, form a single set that can be safely described as a “new generation.” Sony is clearly not interested in such dynamics yet.

It is critical for the Xbox team to offer players the absolute best by inviting them to become part of their ecosystem. For its part, Sony seems to be betting on dedicated fans who are willing to pay twice for old games and are not too embarrassed by the $ 70 price tag. It is possible that this approach can justify itself. But already now in the community of players there are more and more critical comments about the Japanese company, fueled by efforts from Microsoft, which Jim Ryan and his team are trying to confidently ignore.

Read also: What happened to the prices in the PS Store? Why have PS4 games become more expensive? Sony explained the situation

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