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Worst exclusivity deal ever

xrnzaaas

Member
Alan Wake 2 is an easy pick. Epic funded Remedy's game at the end of the day, but still offering it only in EGS (on PC) and refusing to have a physical version was like shooting yourself in the foot twice.

Oxenfree 2 also started on Netflix, but thankfully it's on all normal platforms now.
 

ChoosableOne

ChoosableAll
Dang, that sucks man.

(Anyway, thanks for letting me know, downloading it now!)
I'm happy for you
Sad Am Fine GIF by MOODMAN
 
I hated Bayonetta 2 moving over to WiiU for a long time if that counts. WiiU was already flopping hard by the time it released so you had to buy into a dying system if you were a fan of the series or Platinum. Apparently wouldn't have happened at all without Nintendo helping fund it but still was annoying.
 

hemo memo

You can't die before your death
The worst from a consumer perspective was Xenoblade Chronicles for the New 3DS.

From a financial/business perspective, it would be Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebeirth on PlayStation.
 

Mayar

Member
From a financial/business perspective, it would be Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebeirth on PlayStation.
Oddly enough, Rise Of The Tomb Raider is worse, the game's budget was somewhere between 70-100 million + 35-40 million for advertising, Microsoft paid another 100 mill on top for this exclusive, while during the first year in 2015 they could hardly sell 1 million copies, the funny thing is that as soon as they released it on other platforms including PlayStation - the game had sold nearly seven million units by November 2017, sales of the game in 2021 jumped to almost 12 million. No other Square Enix game has seen such a boost in sales after losing exclusivity.
 
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xrnzaaas

Member
Rise the of the Tomb Raider with its year os exclusivity really pissed me off.
Yep that was annoying. I didn't have an XONE back then so instead I played it on PC (and then on PS4).

I kinda understand MS wanted to have a big third party exclusive, but there's no deying that Square Enix lost more than gained from that deal.
 

Parazels

Member
Yes, Crystal Dynamics is excited to be partnering with Microsoft to make the best game possible. As Darrell mentioned in his message, we have a long history with Microsoft and they have been a very strong supporter of the franchise. They will help us grow and nurture the Tomb Raider franchise more than ever before.
We did not make this decision lightly. Our goal is to build the best game that we possibly can, and our relationship with Microsoft will help us realize our vision for the game.
 

deriks

4-Time GIF/Meme God
I guess that Tomb Raider as Xbox exclusive. Didn't help console sales nor didn't sold well as a game - wasn't that great either, so there's also that
 

TheAssist

Member
Alan Wake 2 is an easy pick. Epic funded Remedy's game at the end of the day, but still offering it only in EGS (on PC) and refusing to have a physical version was like shooting yourself in the foot twice.

Oxenfree 2 also started on Netflix, but thankfully it's on all normal platforms now.
whaaaaat there is a Oxenfree 2??? Did not know that (and I even have a Netflix account). I loved the first one.

Making a sequel to a game exclusive to a video streaming service so that you can only play it on a mobile device is indeed very ... questionable.
 

Jaybe

Member
Starfield. Phil spend $7 billion to acquire what he thought would be a game of the generation level RPG joining Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls and Falllout franchises, only for it to be received as mediocre and barely move systems and sell poorly. In all likelihood, it will get ported to PS5 where it will sell badly. $7billion for a mediocre timed-exclusive.
 
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Cakeboxer

Gold Member
Starfield. Phil spend $7 billion to acquire what he thought would be a game of the generation level RPG joining Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls and Falllout franchises, only for it to be received as mediocre and barely move systems and sell poorly. In all likelihood, it will get ported to PS5 where it will sell badly. $7billion for a mediocre timed-exclusive.
Do you honestly think they bought Bethesda just for that one game? Also in what world is a 85/100 just mediocre? Sometimes i don't understand gamers.
 

Papa_Wisdom

Member
As an Xbox owner I’m saying stellar blade. I was really looking forwards to it.

At least it’s coming to pc, I hope my ancient system can run it.

Also the ff7 remakes.
 

Elios83

Member
The Capcom 5 on Gamecube. I doubt there will ever be an exclusivity deal fuckup like that.
Mikami promising to cut off his head, Capcom forced to announce the PS2 version of RE4 before they released the game on GC.

Distant second Rise of the Tomb Raider.
They pissed off the fanbase so much they were forced to admit it was just a timed exclusive, the game was mediocre as well.
 
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baphomet

Member
Indiana Jones

Microsoft paid Disney a huge amount of money to make it exclusive only to be forced to still release on PS5 thanks to them killing Xbox games sales.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
The Capcom 5 on Gamecube. I doubt there will ever be an exclusivity deal fuckup like that.
Mikami promising to cut off his head, Capcom forced to announce the PS2 version of RE4 before they released the game on GC.

Probably the one that comes to my mind first as well.
 

wipeout364

Member
Starfield. Phil spend $7 billion to acquire what he thought would be a game of the generation level RPG joining Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls and Falllout franchises, only for it to be received as mediocre and barely move systems and sell poorly. In all likelihood, it will get ported to PS5 where it will sell badly. $7billion for a mediocre timed-exclusive.
7 billion did not just include Starfield and I would argue that deal looks like an absolute steal in comparison to several other recent acquisitions like Bungie.
 

Jaybe

Member
Do you honestly think they bought Bethesda just for that one game? Also in what world is a 85/100 just mediocre? Sometimes i don't understand gamers.

I think Starfield was the impetus of the deal. In fairness, rumors were Sony was trying to make it a timed exclusive following Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo deals. And citing Metacritic is hilarious when if you’ve paid any attention to Starfield’s reception from players, “mediocre” is completely apt, if not kind.

ccvcPY5.jpeg
 

Jaybe

Member
7 billion did not just include Starfield and I would argue that deal looks like an absolute steal in comparison to several other recent acquisitions like Bungie.

Sure but some large part of the $7billion was valuing Starfield being exclusive to Xbox. Bungie & ABK were also overpayments but I haven’t yet seen exclusivity (this thread’s topic) used on their properties, like what was done with Bethesda’s.
 

Cakeboxer

Gold Member
I think Starfield was the impetus of the deal. In fairness, rumors were Sony was trying to make it a timed exclusive following Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo deals. And citing Metacritic is hilarious when if you’ve paid any attention to Starfield’s reception from players, “mediocre” is completely apt, if not kind.

ccvcPY5.jpeg
Microsoft could have simply outbid Sony in their moneyhatting attempts. I think the game was too complex, too ambitious and too complicated for casuals and i get those Steam ratings. The game needs some time and google research to fully show it's potential and the loading screens are annoying. But no way in hell this game is <80.
 
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