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[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

MLB the Show is not published by Sony on Xbox. MLB is the publisher of the Xbox version. And im pretty sure it was MLB forcing Sony to make it multiplat in order for Sony to retain the MLB licence.

I still wonder if Sony could've pushed for more leverage in that scenario. EA did with FIFA and the non-FIFA soccer games seem like they're selling better than with the FIFA license. Maybe things work a lot differently with MLB though.

These games would have more players if they were released on other platforms.

You're missing the point: they don't need more players! Why? Well I think it's partly because Valve isn't a public company pushed by shareholders to chase "infinite growth" (which is impossible) at all costs just to satisfy shareholder and corporate board greed. Those games have enough players and enough of a paying fanbase to satisfy Valve's needs, and Valve also understand their importance in keeping them exclusive to act as draws towards the Steam storefront.

It's similar with Nintendo's games like Splatoon. Nintendo's a publicly-traded company and they do have investors/shareholders; however the critical shares are family-owned and some IIRC are owned by Japanese banks. Nintendo can easily balance cries for "infinite growth" with the fact they don't necessarily target high-cost silicon and also that they have a large dedicated fanbase willing to pay for their games for extremely long periods. The fact they were able to stay afloat with the Wii U revenue/profit-wise of all things says it all (the 3DS helped offset some things there though).

If more platforms meant more players, why has Game Pass stagnated in subscriber growth? I think the idea more platforms automatically means more players, is only true when the current platforms the game's on are a handicap to the game's market success. So if Helldivers 2 were an Xbox exclusive for example, bringing it to PS5 would've made a lot more sense because Xbox as a console is a major liability for any console exclusive; MS going multiplat themselves now is even more proof of it.

They try to simplify it to "just port it to Xbox = easy money". That's like saying "It would make sense for Netflix to put their shows on Peacock and make some easy money".

Only way an Xbox version would be easy money is likely if Microsoft paid for the costs of the port and server management for Xbox users themselves.

 

[Generic]

That's why the game is on PC. Sony isn't in a position where they have to publish games on their direct competition's platform.

Now Imagine Splatoon on PC, it would double its playerbase.

 

[adamsapple]

You're missing the point: they don't need more players!

Not a single developer making a live service game would ever say that.

 

[Ogbert]

You can say it about any exclusive game including Nintendo. We all know why some of you started to push this narrative for Sony to start porting games on Xbox.

But it's not really a flagpole Sony title.

Nintendo will never let Mario or Zelda appear on another console. Sony will never let Last of Us or Spiderman appear on MS or Nintendo.

But, in Helldivers, they are thinking 'hmmm, we have a title here that might run for the next five to ten years and make us billions. We need to grow the userbase'.

 

[Dorfdad]

 

[Killjoy-NL]

As a live service game thats successful sony would be dumb as shit not to allow it to happen, its clear as day a majority of there live services games are going multi, why else buy bungie

Why?

Because it might force Xbox owners to jump over to Playstation?

 

[Topher]

Now Imagine Splatoon on PC, it would double its playerbase.

Perhaps, but Nintendo cares about gamers buying their console far more than Sony or Microsoft. There's always a trade-off.

 

[The Pleasure]

A necessary sacrifice to get Redfall on PS5.

Reported for extreme hilarity.

 

[bender]

Keep it, we got Halo

 

[Aenima]

I still wonder if Sony could've pushed for more leverage in that scenario. EA did with FIFA and the non-FIFA soccer games seem like they're selling better than with the FIFA license. Maybe things work a lot differently with MLB though.

The thing is Fifa only owns the World Cup and maybe some other events, but they dont own the clubs, the countries leagues, or the players. So its easy for EA to drop the Fifa licence and remain with the same game as they still have the licence for each country leagues, they have the licence to use the real player names, etc. But MLB is the Basebal league in N. America. Losing that licence would mean losing all the clubs that play in the MLB and probably the players. Im not really sure how MLB is structure in terms of licences, but in European football, thers a entity that owns the licence of player names, then thers each country Leagues, then thers the big events like champions league, etc.

 

[Shut0wen]

We have Sony saving Xbox studios by allowing them to port games to PS5. Now we have Sony saving Xbox console by allowing them to port their hit games to Xbox.





Am I doing this right?

Sony cant refuse xbox games though unless

Tell that to Valve when it comes to Counterstrike 2 and DOTA 2, or Nintendo when it comes to Splatoon.

More platforms = more players is yet another fallacy in gaming.



That's probably another reason there's a non-zero chance Helldivers 2 does get an Xbox port: if MS are using PS players to siphon for Sea of Thieves (potentially at the expense of other GAAS titles on PS5), Sony would probably want to do the same on Xbox. Sony's problem is, there isn't much to siphon from on the Xbox side for a live-service game that still cost money as a B2P.

Yeah there are Xbox gamers into shooters who still buy them but the number has been dropping off every year. When Sony could've probably been more strict about what things Microsoft could do when bringing games to PlayStation (for example, not allowing MS to force PS5 owners to make a Microsoft email account to play online), they weren't, for whatever reason.

It's not coincidence that all these pushes for "open platforms" just conveniently benefit smaller players regardless if it was their own hubris and bad business decisions that got them there, and punishes dominant players regardless if they became so out of fair competition and just having better business sense. It's some of the worst kind of equity.

Thing is sony cant dicate what ms does to there platform anymore, people dont realise but the EU has opened digital stores for everyone anyone locking anyone out faces fines or bans, its the reason why apple has, everyones crying that ms has is exiting the console market but they are literally taken advantage, probably goes in the favour if they ever want to aquire more publishers

 

[StereoVsn]

I am honestly deeply disappointed that we are 3 pages deep and not a single Trojan Horse was displayed.

 

[Topher]

Sony cant refuse xbox games though unless

Thing is sony cant dicate what ms does to there platform anymore, people dont realise but the EU has opened digital stores for everyone anyone locking anyone out faces fines or bans, its the reason why apple has, everyones crying that ms has is exiting the console market but they are literally taken advantage, probably goes in the favour if they ever want to aquire more publishers

None of that has anything to do with consoles.

 

[Shut0wen]

Why?

Because it might force Xbox owners to jump over to Playstation?

Because you can make 70% profit on your competitors marketplace, ms was dumb af for making halo and sea of thieves exclusive GAAS games, why would you want half the pie when you have the potional to have the full lot

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

shut up

 

[Badlucktroll]

 

[Draugoth]

Not happening.

The game is the only extremely successeful live service game on Sony catalog right now.

Unless they somehow get a good contract on the sale of microtransactions i dont see this happening

 

[LostDonkey]

Keep it lol

 

[Mr Moose]

Now Imagine Splatoon on PC, it would double its playerbase.

Damn, you might be on to something. You should inform Nintendo.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Because you can make 70% profit on your competitors marketplace, ms was dumb af for making halo and sea of thieves exclusive GAAS games, why would you want half the pie when you have the potional to have the full lot

Moot point.

There is no reason for Sony to put HD2 on Xbox.

MS, on the other hand, has no choice but to go 3rd party.

 

[Generic]

Damn, you might be on to something. You should inform Nintendo.

In a fair world Gaben would convince Nintendo to release Splatoon on Steam.

 

[King Dazzar]

Would have been great to put XboxEra in the title. Would have known what I was walking into...

 

[SSfox]

Lmao

 

[Roberts]

Me and the other seven remaining xbox gamers in the world just had a quick emergency zoom call and we came to a conclusion that four of us will buy if it comes on the console. Good enough for you, Sony?

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Not a single developer making a live service game would ever say that.

Valve have said it. Twice. Riot Games have said it. Nintendo's said it.

The thing is Fifa only owns the World Cup and maybe some other events, but they dont own the clubs, the countries leagues, or the players. So its easy for EA to drop the Fifa licence and remain with the same game as they still have the licence for each country leagues, they have the licence to use the real player names, etc. But MLB is the Basebal league in N. America. Losing that licence would mean losing all the clubs that play in the MLB and probably the players. Im not really sure how MLB is structure in terms of licences, but in European football, thers a entity that owns the licence of player names, then thers each country Leagues, then thers the big events like champions league, etc.

OK, so that's why. Guess MLB had the leverage in that situation after all.

While it probably would be more lucrative for SSD to do a football (soccer) game with the FIFA license, they may not want to/could be more used to baseball. And Sony probably don't want to create waves with EA in a rival soccer series.

Thing is sony cant dicate what ms does to there platform anymore, people dont realise but the EU has opened digital stores for everyone anyone locking anyone out faces fines or bans, its the reason why apple has, everyones crying that ms has is exiting the console market but they are literally taken advantage, probably goes in the favour if they ever want to aquire more publishers

But that's all just for the mobile market. Nothing's been enforced on the console market AFAIK and even if it were, it'd only pertain to EU nations and the games in those territories, not globally.

 

[TropicanaTwista]

I can't see PlayStation ever doing this. Maybe in the distant future (even doubtful then) but I see no reason why they would port anything over to Xbox on their own merit. Mainly it would devalue their own system, but also I wonder how much money in would even make them. They would port games to a much smaller install base who is conditioned to not buy games? No point in doing so.

 

[Katatonic]

Bring back Jim Ryan pls.

 

[balls of snow]

How can you believe this and not the rumor that Starfield is coming to ps5.

 

[Topher]

Not a single developer making a live service game would ever say that.

No, but they if they are on PS and PC then they probably are not desperately looking for another platform either.

 

[BennyBlanco]

If Xbox were more popular I could see it. It’s a GaaS game after all. If they went through with it now it would be less about the sales and more about throwing MS a bone because they are one of the biggest publishers out there now.

 

[Revolutionary]

The preliminary talks:

"Hey can you bring Helldivers to Xbox?
"No"

 

[JaksGhost]

He believes that the current PlayStation boss is a little more open to “certain things”

So this is pure speculation. It’s also only been 2 months since the release.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

If Xbox were more popular I could see it. It’s a GaaS game after all. If they went through with it now it would be less about the sales and more about throwing MS a bone because they are one of the biggest publishers out there now.

MS won't pull games from Playstation though.

Too much revenue is being made there.

 

[BennyBlanco]

MS won't pull games from Playstation though.

Too much revenue is being made there.

Yeah no shit. It would be a PR nightmare if they started pulling games off any store.

 

[SlimySnake]

i wouldnt be surprised. sony only cares about profits now and their ceos are short term thinking morons.

they are already shipping marathon on the xbox despite spending $3.6 billion on bungie. they are complete idiots.

 

[solidus12]

 

[Dr. Claus]

i wouldnt be surprised. sony only cares about profits now and their ceos are short term thinking morons.

they are already shipping marathon on the xbox despite spending $3.6 billion on bungie. they are complete idiots.

Difference is Marathon is a sure fire failure and they will probably at least want to barely recoop their losses on its production. Helldivers makes little sense as to why they need to port it to Xbox as the playerbase on that platform is pitiful, it is already more than successful than nearly every other current GAAS game, even those released by MS themselves, and continues to grow.

 

[Sacred]

Does anyone actually believe this lol.

Xbox is on its last legs and Sony has a legitimate honest to goodness 'Halo Killer' now, and they would use it to give Xbox a tiny bit more of a lifeline?

This is actually hilarious..

 

[MikeM]

Sony: Trade you Helldivers 2 for Gears and Halo.

MS: Sounds like a good deal.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

If it makes financial sense for Arrowhead/Sony, I'm all for it.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

I can't see PlayStation ever doing this. Maybe in the distant future (even doubtful then) but I see no reason why they would port anything over to Xbox on their own merit. Mainly it would devalue their own system, but also I wonder how much money in would even make them. They would port games to a much smaller install base who is conditioned to not buy games? No point in doing so.

Well to play devils' advocate, Sony are already kind of doing that to PlayStation with the PC ports. I think they've been very overzealous in those ports the past few years, and it could make the PS5 Pro a harder sell than it needed to be. Plus is there fundamentally any difference between a GAAS game Day 1 on PC & six months later on Xbox, especially for an IP that isn't heavily associated with PlayStation the way GOW, Killzone, TLOU etc. are (historically speaking)?

Obviously I'm not making that argument to suggest Sony do bring HD2 to Xbox; there are plenty of reason why they shouldn't. But do I have confidence Sony would value those reasons the same way? Not necessarily, especially as time goes on. The idea though that it'd devalue their own console doesn't necessarily work IMO when them doing Day 1 for GAAS on PC already somewhat does the same thing.

Basically: you're right. But the reason you're right also shows what effects their PC strategy has that are somewhat similar anyway.

If Xbox were more popular I could see it. It’s a GaaS game after all. If they went through with it now it would be less about the sales and more about throwing MS a bone because they are one of the biggest publishers out there now.

But why would this be the kind of bone Sony throws them? MS being allowed to publish on PlayStation is as much a bone they're entitled to. What are MS gonna do if Sony doesn't port games to Xbox? Not publish on PlayStation anymore?

MS are the dependent ones here, not Sony. Doesn't really matter how "big" a publisher MS are, either: they still need platforms to sell their games on so it's probably in their best interest that PlayStation prospers.

Which IMO means it's probably in Sony's best interest to stop risking devaluing of their own console with so many PC ports, but will they actually change some plans there? Who knows :/

 

[RedC]

 

[solidus12]

This is how it will end

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

I haven’t booted this up on PC or PS5 in months… is it still a big thing?

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Don’t know why, but your reply reminded me of this absolute masterpiece:

It’s hard to even watch this in 2024 knowing that all that’s released in 3+ years is that jank Halo and jank Forza.

 

[Topher]

I haven’t booted this up on PC or PS5 in months… is it still a big thing?

 

[VolticArchangel]

I don't believe it, because of the obvious shit tier source.

But, man I sooooo want this to happen. Would pay money to watch the meltdowns even. Lmfao.

 

[Mr Moose]

I haven’t booted this up on PC or PS5 in months… is it still a big thing?

https://steamdb.info/app/553850/charts/#3m

 

[MasterCornholio]

I haven’t booted this up on PC or PS5 in months… is it still a big thing?

Well luckily you don't make a difference.

 

[VAVA Mk2]

Just buy a PlayStation 5 FFS

PC