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[MUnited83]

Turn that around: Where's the evidence that are going to sell more units by releasing it day and date with the PS4 version?

The plain fact is that this is an entirely untried franchise on PC, whereas it does have a significant history on console, Sony platforms in particular. Does it not make sense to leverage that existing fanbase ans relationship with a platform holder in order to get additional promotional consideration as a quasi-"exclusive"?

After all, this game is only getting a physical release on console, which by its very nature has specific marketing needs and is generally more timing-critical than just putting it up on a digital storefront like Steam.

Most of all though, they can far more easily afford to take a hit on the RRP on PC, as without the license-fee they are looking at deeper margins per-unit anyway. Which is ideal as PC is based on precedent, not the primary platform here, Japanese Playstation users are.

Every single other Japanese publisher switched from delayed releases as their introduction to the PC, and quickly switched to day and date as they seen success, and those day and date releases have seen bigger successes than most delayed releases are.
This is just logic.

Also lol @"significant history" when talking about a series with only one single title released, one that didn't really sold very well.

 

[Parsnip]

Normally I would say that it's just SE being SE, but because the Day 1 PS4 version exists I'm going to say there's probably some kind of deal in place with Sony. The extent of that deal is obviously a mystery, but it's easy to draw some conclusions.

I still wouldn't be completely shocked if the PC version was day and date after all and just showed up on the store at launch day or few days before that.
Buying mindshare is cheaper than buying actual exclusivity.

 

[Ascheroth]

I still wouldn't be completely shocked if the PC version was day and date after all and just showed up on the store at launch day or few days before that.
Buying mindshare is cheaper than buying actual exclusivity.

That would be such a Square Enix thing to do that I wouldn't even be surprised.

 

[GhostTrick]

Turn that around: Where's the evidence that are going to sell more units by releasing it day and date with the PS4 version?

The plain fact is that this is an entirely untried franchise on PC, whereas it does have a significant history on console, Sony platforms in particular. Does it not make sense to leverage that existing fanbase ans relationship with a platform holder in order to get additional promotional consideration as a quasi-"exclusive"?

After all, this game is only getting a physical release on console, which by its very nature has specific marketing needs and is generally more timing-critical than just putting it up on a digital storefront like Steam.

Most of all though, they can far more easily afford to take a hit on the RRP on PC, as without the license-fee they are looking at deeper margins per-unit anyway. Which is ideal as PC is based on precedent, not the primary platform here, Japanese Playstation users are.

You mean like Tales of Zestiria ? An historically PS game which sold nearly as much on PC as on consoles in West ?

 

[duckroll]

The thing is, that I have some infos about other S-E projects and the outsourcing argument would (sadly) actually make perfect sense.

So are you saying that Platinum Games is lying to their fans? That's a pretty serious charge. What sort of "info" do you have?

 

[NeoRaider]

From their press release released today:

NieR: Automata, developed by SQUARE ENIX and PlatinumGames Inc., will release in North America on March 7 for the PlayStation® computer entertainment system and Steam® in 2017.

From their press release when demo was released on PS4 (22 December 2016) :

This title will be available for the PlayStation®4 system on March 7, 2017 in North America for $59.99 and Steam® in early 2017.

It's not "early 2017" anymore.

 

[Grief.exe]

Is this like a temp ban or a permanent ban?

The latter seems a bit too harsh.

 

[GhostTrick]

Is this like a temp ban or a permanent ban?

The latter seems a bit too harsh.

Depends on how long the game is delayed. Temp if more than a month (basically, the countdown starts after a month of delay). Permanent if cancelled I guess ?? :")

 

[Primethius]

Is this like a temp ban or a permanent ban?

The latter seems a bit too harsh.

Ban until the game comes out.

It's only fair. :>

 

[duckroll]

Depends on how long the game is delayed. Temp if more than a month (basically, the countdown starts after a month of delay). Permanent if cancelled I guess ?? :")

Truly living life on the edge. Good thing for all of us waiting on PC, we can just Switch™ to something else in March.

 

[Begaria]

I really hope it's not too long after the PS4 release. I was banking on Nier being my PC game to play for March/April alongside Horizon for my console game. I like to have one game on the go for PC and one on the go for console so I can flip back and forth if I need a break from the other. I really want to support Nier when it releases, but it might have to wait until whenever SE releases it on PC :\

 

[MaLDo]

From their press release released today:

will release in North America on March 7 for the PlayStation® computer entertainment system and Steam® in 2017.

It's not "early 2017" anymore.

Link?

 

[Grief.exe]

Depends on how long the game is delayed. Temp if more than a month (basically, the countdown starts after a month of delay). Permanent if cancelled I guess ?? :")

Ban until the game comes out.

It's only fair. :>

That makes sense.

The silence doesn't surprise me, Sony is clearly involved monetarily to some degree, likely marketing, and expect some form of exclusivity.

I wonder if Nioh will end the same way. It was in a similar situation to Nier at one point, but Sony seems to have increased their involvement.

Truly living life on the edge. Good thing for all of us waiting on PC, we can just Switch™ to something else in March.

Release dates have become irrelevant to me. I have the Switch on pre-order, an infinite backlog on PC alone, let alone my classic collection dating back to the SNES, and there are always compelling indie games being releasing at a constant pace on PC.

I'll pick up Nier whenever it comes out, or whenever is convenient to me as Square is not allowing me to plan ahead.

 

[prudislav]

thx ninjas at SE

 

[jett]

From their press release released today:



From their press release when demo was released on PS4 (22 December 2016) :



It's not "early 2017" anymore.

Welp.

 

[NeoRaider]

Link?

http://press.na.square-enix.com/releases/911/latest-nier-automata-trailer-looks-at-the-dystopian-future-in-year-119

 

[Kenzodielocke]

That makes sense.

The silence doesn't surprise me, Sony is clearly involved monetarily to some degree, likely marketing, and expect some form of exclusivity.

I wonder if Nioh will end the same way. It was in a similar situation to Nier at one point, but Sony seems to have increased their involvement.

I really want to know what's so clear about Sony paying SE to keep it NieR: Automata, a niche title, that will not light the world on fire, a game that has also been announced for PC, from the PC, by paying SE, who is known for shitting on the PC player base?

 

[Hektor]

From their press release released today:



From their press release when demo was released on PS4 (22 December 2016) :



It's not "early 2017" anymore.

I guess that's as much of an official statement as we're gonna get. Fuck

 

[Kurt Russell]

From their press release released today:



From their press release when demo was released on PS4 (22 December 2016) :



It's not "early 2017" anymore.

Their release date press release already had the "2017" Steam date.

http://press.na.square-enix.com/rel...-postapocalyptic-world-to-the-west-on-march-7

(Dec. 5, 2016)

 

[MaLDo]

I really want to know what's so clear about Sony paying SE to keep it NieR: Automata, a niche title, that will not light the world on fire, a game that has also been announced for PC, from the PC, by paying SE, who is known for shitting on the PC player base?

People continue to say that they are niche games, but it is precisely these types of games that give weight to a brand.

Don't you find pretty familiar that robot? The collaboration is pretty obvious.

 

[NeoRaider]

Their release date press release already had the "2017" Steam date.

http://press.na.square-enix.com/rel...-postapocalyptic-world-to-the-west-on-march-7

(Dec. 5, 2016)

But from December 22 was "early 2017": http://press.na.square-enix.com/releases/880/a-new-nier-automata-demo-offers-a-glimpse-into-its-postapocalyptic-wor

 

[Kenzodielocke]

People continue to say that they are niche games, but it is precisely these types of games that give weight to a brand.

Don't you find pretty familiar that robot? The collaboration is pretty obvious.

So Sony has paid SE and told them to not talk about the game for PC anymore ? The game has been announced. A special PS4 special version doesn't prove that, imo.

 

[Grief.exe]

I really want to know what's so clear about Sony paying SE to keep it NieR: Automata, a niche title, that will not light the world on fire, a game that has also been announced for PC, from the PC, by paying SE, who is known for shitting on the PC player base?

When you're heavily involved in the community you start to see the signs from a mile away, after all we've been doing this song and dance with Sony since the PS4 released.

I've actually started watching the Sony conferences as glorified PC conferences for a while, you just need to be aware of the lingo and publishers involved. "Console exclusive, first on PS4, PS4 console exclusive..."

Now as to why Sony is doing this, we can't say definitively since this is all behind closed doors. Most likely, Sony sees this as a method to secure 'exclusives' relatively cheaply. Possibly as a way to double down on the Japanese market in an attempt to increase their penetration.

 

[GhostTrick]

So Sony has paid SE and told them to not talk about the game for PC anymore ? The game has been announced. A special PS4 special version doesn't prove that, imo.

It wouldn't be the first time. Possible case in point: Final Fantasy X HD port on Steam. The game was finished 9 months before its release... which happened 1 year day for day exactly after the release of the PS4 version.

Then again, it's not a first, as we saw with Ni no Kuni II or Ace Combat 7 platforms being kept under secret for more than a year.

 

[jmga]

So Sony has paid SE and told them to not talk about the game for PC anymore ? The game has been announced. A special PS4 special version doesn't prove that, imo.

What would prove it?

Obviously neither of the parties is going to talk about that explicitly.

 

[GhostTrick]

What would prove it?

Obviously neither of the parties is going to talk about that explicitly.

I guess we may get an hint with SteamDB.

 

[Grief.exe]

What would prove it?

Obviously neither of the parties is going to talk about that explicitly.

So Sony has paid SE and told them to not talk about the game for PC anymore ? The game has been announced. A special PS4 special version doesn't prove that, imo.

This happens frequently in these threads. We need to provide proof of behavior that has become industry standard for years.

This is mainly proven by past precedent and the behavior of the companies involved. No, we cannot explicitly prove that these scenarios arise from Sony involvement.

 

[Primethius]

This happens frequently in these threads. We need to provide proof of behavior that has become industry standard for years.

This is mainly proven by past precedent and the behavior of the companies involved. No, we cannot explicitly prove that these scenarios arise from Sony involvement.

Right, it keeps happening because a couple of instances of proof would give the speculation some basis as opposed to what is happening here.

But speculation on top of speculation does not build the case any stronger. It just takes the facts as they exist and build a story around them.

 

[Corpekata]

So Sony has paid SE and told them to not talk about the game for PC anymore ? The game has been announced. A special PS4 special version doesn't prove that, imo.

They literally do this for every timed exclusive indie game like Salt and Sanctuary and Axiom Verge. They are allowed to say it exists and is coming, but that's it. It is an incredibly common practice.

 

[GhostTrick]

Right, it keeps happening because a couple of instances of proof would give the speculation some basis as opposed to what is happening here.

But speculation on top of speculation does not build the case any stronger. It just takes the facts as they exist and build a story around them.

Well the speculation happened because Sony never acknowledged the game at events before, while the game was here at said events. When the game gets acknowledged, PC version isn't mentionned anymore.

 

[Ganado]

Oh well, hopefully it launches at a lower price on PC then, ain't gonna pay more that what it is on PS4. Their loss.

 

[fvng]

So Sony has paid SE and told them to not talk about the game for PC anymore ? The game has been announced. A special PS4 special version doesn't prove that, imo.

.

 

[killatopak]

6 months should be enough time for you to get it in pc. Probably when all dlcs have come out.

 

[Primethius]

Well the speculation happened because Sony never acknowledged the game at events before, while the game was here at said events. When the game gets acknowledged, PC version isn't mentionned anymore.

Right, and I want to be clear. I'm not saying that Sony isn't involved or that they are one way or the other. But consider this: it's all speculation. That's why it gets brought up every time the speculation is mentioned, because people aren't really able to point to a specific scenario to prove the point.

And largely, with exclusive marketing deals, what you get is: "hey, don't mention the other version for a while or market it exclusively with our version." That's very different than: "hey, why don't you delay the game on one platform so we can get exclusivity on the game for a bit."

The former happens all the time. The latter, not so much. So, when I say speculation is speculation, it means that one proposal isn't any more verified than the other. So if I was to say, maybe Nier is in the exclusive marketing camp but that Sony had nothing to do with a delay of the PC version, that speculation isn't any more or less proven by the facts available. It's all speculation to conform to what we know.

 

[jmga]

Sony have also blurred their stance on console exclusive games.

With Street Fighter V we knew it was coming to PC from the first day.

With Nier and Ni no Kuni 2 we had to wait more than a year to know they were coming to PC.

With Yakuza 0 and Ni-Oh we still don't know, but both have been advertised with the "console exclusive" label. Yakuza 0 is even being sold with it on the box despite a Sega PR telling it was not coming to PC.

I think there is a clear strategy ongoing in order to make people think that PS4 has a catalog of exclusives much larger than it indeed is.

 

[Durante]

I think that it's fair to say that Valve is in an unique position where they don't need to invest money into exclusivity from third-parties due to their marketshare.

This is a good argument for general PC games. However, in PC VR gaming Valve doesn't really have anything like a dominant market position, but they still refuse to do exclusivity contracts.

 

[duckroll]

6 months should be enough time for you to get it in pc. Probably when all dlcs have come out.

There's DLC coming out for the game?

 

[GhostTrick]

Right, and I want to be clear. I'm not saying that Sony isn't involved or that they are one way or the other. But consider this: it's all speculation. That's why it gets brought up every time the speculation is mentioned, because people aren't really able to point to a specific scenario to prove the point.

And largely, with exclusive marketing deals, what you get is: "hey, don't mention the other version for a while or market it exclusively with our version." That's very different than: "hey, why don't you delay the game on one platform so we can get exclusivity on the game for a bit."

The former happens all the time. The latter, not so much. So, when I say speculation is speculation, it means that one proposal isn't any more verified than the other. So if I was to say, maybe Nier is in the exclusive marketing camp but that Sony had nothing to do with a delay of the PC version, that speculation isn't any more or less proven by the facts available. It's all speculation to conform to what we know.

The later happened with UMvsC3, which Sony paid for a 3 months exclusivity.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

It is a fact, unless you think they will magically sell more by delaying it, which is backed up by no facts or logic whatsoever.

You need to learn what a fact is.

 

[GhostTrick]

You need to learn what a fact is.

If it isn't true, you should be able to counter it, right ?
We have datas about games performing in the same range when released alongside.

 

[Hektor]

There's DLC coming out for the game?

OG Nier and Drakengard 3 both had DLC's, Nier: Automata lready got a bunch of preorder DLC's afterall

 

[The Artisan]

It's probably cancelled.

why would they cancel it?

 

[Primethius]

The later happened with UMvsC3, which Sony paid for a 3 months exclusivity.

Right, a clear example. But one that I don't think is applicable in the situation of Nier. Regardless, I think I'm not getting my point across very well.

Let me attempt to clarify. I was responding to Gief who said: "This happens frequently in these threads. We need to provide proof of behavior that has become industry standard for years."

In the situation of Nier, with the lack of information that we do have, you cannot cite speculation as a basis for the default position that others must then rebut. It's speculation vs. speculation, not speculation vs. established position.

The speculation is brought up precisely because the occurrence is rare. You have UMVC3, but then you have Ni No Kuni 2 this year as well, which was just a marketing sort of contract. And there are so many different variations of those contracts that boxing them into due to limited info. and making it the default position comes off as a bit ridiculous to me.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

If it isn't true, you should be able to counter it, right ?
We have datas about games performing in the same range when released alongside.

Thats called a trend.

 

[Saucycarpdog]

Wouldn't be surprised if PS4 + XB1 sales WW for 2 million+. Even with the lower revenue (though consoles now have serious digital percentages), those PC sales are bad.

I love how you pulled a number from your ass and then used it to prove the PC numbers are bad.

 

[Vamphuntr]

I have no problems waiting but I have problem paying full price for it if it launches 6 months later. By that time the other version will be found for cheap too. Steam Sale it is then. I support Day 1 releases like RE REV 2, RE7 and Tales of on Day 1 but I don't support the let's wait 6 months for double dippers or dumb exclusivity arguments.

 

[duckroll]

OG Nier and Drakengard 3 both had DLC's, Nier: Automata lready got a bunch of preorder DLC's afterall

I see. Does this game have a season pass?

 

[GhostTrick]

Thats called a trend.

So now we're playing on words. BernardoOne said "Day and date releases produce more sales while delayed produce less sales."
You said that's wrong. Then explain why it is.

 

[Hektor]

I see. Does this game have a season pass?

Nope

 

[MUnited83]

You need to learn what a fact is.

I know what a fact is. And I relayed a fact to you. It's quite simple.