It’s been a weird year for PlayStation, hasn’t it? Objectively, the organization is undoubtedly at the peak of its power right now: revenue is ridiculous, it wins more nominations for awards than the rest of the combined industry, and the PS5 has been so successful that it has forced retailers to implement lottery systems. and other innovative technologies just to meet demand. However, for the most involved fans – the kind of people who frequent the sites Push Square several times a day – honestly he was pretty tired for one long time.
In terms of daily traffic, we enjoyed record visits last year, but certainly not the news cycle kept us afloat. Sony, I noticed, is getting closer and closer to Nintendo-style public relations; it works in secret, in mysterious ways and gives us very little to work with. It feels like an ancient story now, but many of you will remember that the specifics of the PS5 – its basic features and user interface – have remained secretly shrouded in literalism. wEEKLY before launching the console. Tentpole titles, such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, remain sealed behind closed doors.
To be fair to the organization, it opened up a little earlier this year: Jim Ryan scheduled a rare interview with GQ and occasionally revealed half a dozen key announcements – including the existence of a new generation PSVR headset. The consequence, for hardcore fans, is that we probably won’t hear any more looks from the executive until late in the summer; a disappointing situation occurred in February, and the PlayStation blog has been somewhat reduced since then. This is the case with Sony in 2021.
It’s hard not to look over the fence and feel some jealous pain; While the PlayStation has a relatively loaded list of future programs, Microsoft is making big moves that threaten to disrupt the status quo. We’ve seen it complete the acquisition of Bethesda, effectively reducing Sony’s primary operations, while the Game Pass initiative – regardless of financial viability – makes games like Returnal look like a daytime robbery by comparison. PS More, for Sony’s credit, is a remarkable value right now – but as time goes on, the PlayStation will have to react.
Honestly, the Bethesda thing has changed the game, and while we don’t expect Sony to turn around and let go of its tick, it will have to invest. The power of the Japanese giant’s primary studios is unquestioned, and its conduct continues to be among the best in the industry, but with Japan Studio closed, Media Molecule seemingly tied to largely unpopular dreams and Sony San Diego making MLB The Show 21 for several platforms – the previously unstoppable PlayStation studios are starting to look a little light.
It is very difficult to criticize a platform owner who gave up the nominations for the Game of the Year on an annual basis, but with successful games that need more time to develop than ever, Insomniac Games, Guerrilla Games, Sony Santa Monica , Sony Bend Studio Sucker Punch and Naughty Dog carry the only burden of developing the first party? Ryan said that PlayStation is dedicated to organic growth and that we have seen all the staff of its studios significantly in recent years, but it will be an estimate in a few years, once the Microsoft teams are up to date.
Of course, Sony will continue to do what it always does, which is to make innovative games. But it seems that some things will have to change: the news cycle, at the moment, is dominated by a very disruptive competitor and we can’t help but feel that it has to make a little more noise of its own. Moreover, it will have to work harder than ever to justify the value of its internally developed games, as its competitor will reduce its production later in the generation for a nominal monthly fee. That’s the problem.
The consequence of acquiring Bethesda means that the PlayStation will probably spend more than ever on timed exclusives – we know it once tried to block Starfield – but will have to do more than that alone. Probably, at some point, it will need an answer to the Game Pass, and while the primary pipeline of the platform owner remains as impressive as ever, there is an argument that should be argued that a stable of studios that once has become world-class, now looks tiny in the competition.
Most important of all, the time Sony is on the sidelines is probably coming to an end. It will need the energy of the PS3 era if it exceeds the noise emitted by the team in Green; these long periods of silence from the platform support cannot continue much longer. As PlayStation fans, there are still so many things to be excited about, but it is the owner of the platform really to make the most of everything he has in his arsenal? The competition creates excellence, of course – and it is becoming increasingly clear that the PS5 will not have an easy journey.
The glove was, in many ways, thrown away; hopefully Sony faces the challenge.
What do you think about the state of play for the PS5 now that 2021 is about to begin? Do you feel that Sony’s messaging has been strong enough? Leave everything in the comments section below.