Opinion: Sony’s Reasoning For Ignoring Xbox Game Pass Models Is Due To Poor Execution

As we are all familiar now just less than two months away from the next wave of console hardware shipping this November, it should be reflected on the strengths of both Microsoft and Sony for this current platform generation. It is that what both firms managed to achieve successfully will be implemented coming the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5’s arrival. In terms of Sony, the Japanese firm has provided a stunning library of blockbuster, first-party developed properties which illustrates to be the major selling point for the PlayStation 4. Entries such as Days Gone, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and The Last of Us Part II are all instances of Sony’s ambitions to provide its users and potential customers with content uniquely provided on its platform. But in regards to Microsoft, while there are certainly users that appreciate the projects that arrived to the Xbox Store since late 2013, many did not meet the same anticipation as those available on PlayStation 4. However, the firm has turned that around with consumer-friendly initiatives like backwards compatibility, the Xbox Adaptive Controller, and Xbox Play Anywhere. But its major investment is Xbox Game Pass. Although its first-party network of studios are still working to bring AAA experiences worth purchasing an Xbox for, the real seller is its monthly subscription program. The service offers a plethora of titles ranging from developers and publishers across the globe structured similarly to Netflix. And since the launch of the new initiative back in 2017, Xbox Game Pass has accumulated an outstanding 15 million subscribers. When looking ahead, Microsoft is certainly planning to double-down on the service as illustrated by the permanent perk of adding EA Play for free to console and PC owners of the Xbox Game Pass set to go live this holiday. Alike this generation, Sony also looks to be furthering its first-party projects on newer hardware with by bringing Insomniac Games aboard its first-party network of studios. Already doing so with Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, there is more to be expected well into the lifespan of PlayStation 5. Granted, Microsoft is also determined to bring a stronger first-party lineup with the recent acquisition of Zenimax Media and subsidiary firm Bethesda, Sony is not covering all fronts on this new venture ahead. It isn’t that Sony hasn’t already pursued a service-based subscription offering a selection of games, i.e. PlayStation Now, but that the firm does not prioritize it like its competitor. And as the number continues to climb for Xbox Game Pass it further brings the question as to why Sony does not attempt to emphasize on the business model. Ultimately, the firm does not understand how to effectively market the program. Following the recent PlayStation 5 showcase this month, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO & President Jim Ryan when speaking to gamesindustry.biz told that the structure of Xbox Game Pass on the PlayStation platform is not “sustainable” in terms of offering first-party titles at arrival. But illustrated by the performance of PlayStation Now, it simply shows that Sony does not understand how to harbor its own service for more players. These games cost many millions of dollars, well over $100 million, to develop. We just don’t see that as sustainable. We want to make the games bigger and better, and hopefully at some stage more persistent. So putting those into a subscription model on day one, for us, just doesn’t make any sense. Coming to a close for this console generation, PlayStation 4 will sit at roughly 130 million units sold. In contrast to the Xbox One, Microsoft’s unit only breaks 48 million. However, despite the near 3:1 ratio of consoles sold between Sony and Microsoft, Xbox Game Pass outperforms virtually 700 percent to PlayStation Now. The most recent numbers of PlayStation Now subscribers were revealed to only be 2.2 million as of this past May. Noted, PlayStation Now was originally launched back in January 2014 right at the start of this console generation. And despite the three-year head start on Microsoft, its platform stayed fairly vacant. The most traffic it received was in early 2020 thanks to digital means becoming a commodity during the age of COVID-19 as tangible purchasing was withdrawn for the time being. In that, the PlayStation Now userbase grew just over 50 percent since October 2019 as it overtook one million subscribers then. But compared to Xbox Game Pass then, PlayStation Now still did not come close to Microsoft’s service. In May 2019, Video Game Chronicles reported that about 9.5 million users were already indulging in Xbox Game Pass at the time. But despite the standstill for Xbox Game Pass for a year, the platform still overtook its competitors by nearly ten-fold. Microsoft has not revealed exact subscriber numbers for Game Pass, but we have learned that there are currently some 9.5 million monthly users. Game Pass is an attractive proposition for publishers and developers because Microsoft pays out to developers each time a game is installed. As Microsoft plans to further its expedition with Xbox Game Pass with marketing rights, acquisitions, and other agreements for the approaching generation, Sony is looking the other way. Although the firm is offering a counterpart – PlayStation Plus Collection – it does not embody the potential it could reach if properly executed. Do you believe Sony could bring PlayStation Now around if effectively implemented?

New Details For Elden Ring Elaborates On Themes And How The Game’s World Is Structured

While many fans are sitting on the anticipation of new details to be spared on FromSoftware’s coming project Elden Ring, much has yet to prevail for the title’s followers. Since the game’s announcement, little information has been spilt on how exactly the game will operate in contrast to prior releases. More importantly, fans are interested in how the story and plot will be executed with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin involved with the project. Back in January of this year, it was suspected the release for Elden Ring could be landing that approaching June following an email passed by FromSoftware that sent New Year’s cards stating that would be releasing that month. But as we can all tell now sitting in September, that certainly was not the case as still little on the project has been spared. But thankfully, the firm did elaborate more on the title during a recent virtual showcase. This past Wednesday during the Japan Media Arts Festival, FromSoftware disclosed a sliver of details to further hold fans hostage in anticipation for Elden Ring. Reddit user u/cocaokoumori was courteous enough to translate what was shared. Derived in a statement from game director Hidetaka Miyazaki, he explains that the project introduces emphasis on conflicting themes that he views is a new obstacle for FromSoftware to take head on with this new collaboration with the American author. Basically, I decide the thematic elements of the game first to develop the motifs and world view of the title. Now we’re in development for a game called Elden Ring which is larger and deeper than anything we’ve done before […] history, or mythos, we feel we’re challenging ourselves to make a game that deals with these two opposing [elements]. Additionally, other attributes that are considered to be placed in Elden Ring as unexpected like politics and racism is also brought up. Takashi Tokita references this to be a larger endeavor atop of the expansive world that Mitazaki has in mind for the title. “ this is one that I personally like and I think it’s a very painful fantasy drama… “There’s pain there and from a human perspective there are themes of racism, politics, citizenship, and so on (…) So this is a work that is psychologically quote painful in a lot of ways and making a game with Miyazaki which such a huge world view.”  Game critic Sayawaka also comments on the scale of Elden Ring, sharing that it offers an “open-world-ness” that players can explore and ride a horse in when traversing. Howbeit, the direction of the game is still seen as a more linear approach as done previously by FromSoftware. What are you most interested to learn about Elden Ring? Elden Ring is listed for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Source: r/EldenRing

Capcom & Netflix Announce Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, An Episodic CG Series Coming Next Year

Many Netflix users can certainly acknowledge that Japanese publisher Capcom has been endlessly working to inject some of the firm’s most beloved series onto the streaming platform. Given that these are video game franchises, the company intends to migrate from traditional interactive entertainment to the expected film/television on Netflix. Most recent being the animated series based on 2012’s Dragon’s Dogma which shipped earlier in September, that is not the last you will hear from Capcom. In fact, the firm is preparing to air another, separate series the following year in 2021. That specifically being Resident Evil, again in collaboration with Netflix will be introducing a new spin on familiar characters from the two decade-old franchise. Announcing Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, this new CG-rendered, episodic series will bring a new story to the very recognized Leon S. Kennedy and Clair Redfield. You can watch the teaser trailer in the video below: “This will be a horror-action series based around the stories of the two popular characters, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. By adding suspense into dynamic action scenes, this series will reveal a Resident Evil world unlike anything seen before,” the synopsis for Infinite Darkness reads from the press release. Pinned as a successor to the 2017-released film, Resident Evil: Vendetta, Infinite Darkness will offer a grander visual improvement on the CG effects that were implemented previously. Resident Evil Producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi is told to be producing Infinite Darkness alongside TMS Entertainment. Studio Quebico responsible for Vendetta is also involved in the animation for the new project. The new show does appear to be the tip from last January referencing a new Resident Evil project landing on Netflix. However, this is a separate endeavor that is related to Capcom for Netflix. Last month, it was disclosed that Andrew Dabb (Supernatural) will be showrunning a live-action Resident Evil series for Netflix. You can read the full report by heading here. What are you most excited about Infinite Darkness? Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is coming to Netflix sometime in 2021. Source: Netflix

Rayman Creator, Beyond Good And Evil 2 Director Michel Ancel Departed From Ubisoft Due To Ongoing Investigations, Publisher Confirms

Just a little over a week ago, the video game industry was shaken to learn that a monumental individual would be departing for greener pastures after serving for more than three decades. In a blog post, Ubisoft verified the post on Instagram made by Michel Ancel – then current game director for Ubisoft Montpellier’s Beyond Good and Evil 2 would be leaving the studio to work on new projects elsewhere. In that, the Rayman creator spared that he would not be pursuing newer endeavors in the video game industry. But instead, he would be taking on an entirely different occupation: wildlife preservation. “My new project takes place in the real world and consists in a wild life open sanctuary dedicated to education , nature lovers and … wild animals,” Ancel pens in the post. But despite the virtuous new path that Ancel is taking on as he officially departs from Ubisoft, a new report has emerged disclosing more context to his leaving. According to Libération,a France-based publication, Ancel walking out on Ubisoft is sourced to an ongoing investigation on his toxic leadership practices at the firm. And while Ubisoft has been vocal on disbursing those involved with internal misconduct, Ancel’s behavior is no exception to it. In a separate Instagram post, Ancel denounces the report in regards to his leaving as he touts the claims to be “fake news.” Regardless, Ubisoft when speaking to Kotaku verified the investigations to be active in a statement: Yves Guillemot committed back in July that any allegation will be investigated and no one will be outside of that process–and this would include Michel Ancel. And as Michel confirmed to the journalist at “Liberation,” he is under investigation. The investigation is still ongoing and we have nothing further to share as we respect the confidentiality of this investigation. Among other details that was spared from the new report, many employees under Ancel offer their experiences in the workplace. “He is capable of explaining to you that you are a genius, that your idea is wonderful, then to dismantle you in a meeting, saying that you are nothing but shit, that your work is worth nothing, and not speak to you for a month,” one employee told Libération. Atop of that, those who also ran into similar instances with Ancel also discloses the difficulties of working at Ubisoft Montpellier as development felt halted on the upcoming Beyond Good and Evil 2. Noted, not much has been presented on the anticipated sequel for well over two years since the team shared to be passing on last year’s E3 press conference and its apparent absence during the past couple Ubisoft Forwards. In other news relevant to the Beyond Good and Evil series, Ubisoft alongside Netflix announced to be collaborating to bring a live-action film. It is told that Detective Pikachu Director Rob letterman will be at the helm of the new production. You can read the report by heading here. What are your thoughts on more investigations surfacing at Ubisoft’s internal studios? Source: Kotaku