Console war: How Sony lost exclusives
by Zack Stern 
{ Nov 18th 2006 at 10:55PM }
Newsweek's N'Gai Croal describes the battle of the HD consoles with an emphasis on Microsoft, detailing the company's expectation to sell 10 million Xbox 360s before the PS3 launch. Microsoft revised the goal to 10 million units sold by the end of this year, and Croal isn't sure that'll even happen. The second and third parts of this three-part series consider why 360 software sales haven't yet boosted demands for the hardware and how Microsoft courted many titles away from PS3-exclusive status.Croal says that Sony was too focused on Japanese developers and its national launch of the PS3 that its American and European divisions couldn't get developer negotiation approval from the Japanese mothership. Microsoft maintained contact with Rockstar and others through this Sony silence, scaring up Xbox 360 versions of third-party PlayStation mainstays. Apparently, Ubisoft wanted Assassin's Creed to be a PS3 exclusive but couldn't steal Sony's focus from the initial Japanese launch. (So that's what was going on.)
The series of articles reminds us that Microsoft is still the new kid on the console block, but it's fighting to succeed in games. And with the PS3 finally launching, the Sony sleeping giant is waking up, renewing ties with developers.
Read:
Loot: Dispatches From the Console Wars, Part I
Loot: Dispatches From the Console Wars, Part II
Loot: Dispatches From the Console Wars, Part III
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mohan @ Nov 18th 2006 11:13PM
Well this makes a lot of sense as to why Assassin's Creed was also announced for the 360, also as to why the next iteration of GTA is going to be on the 360. This might be a good console war, and won't be as one sided.
Foetoid @ Nov 18th 2006 11:20PM
I honestly believe that this generation will not only see very few exclusives between the 360/PS3, but a few of the smaller developers will die out. Acclaim was a fantastic studio pumping out classics like Turok and Shadowman, but now thier gone. With development costs exceeding $10 million, companies that put a title on only the 360 and not the ps3 for example, will be limiting the sales they can get and making bakc the money from development will be a lot harder. Therefore developers are going to be a lot keener to multi-platform thier games.
MGS4, DMC4, FFXIII...i can see all these games hitting the 360 in the near future. Otherwise a lot of smaller companies are going to forcast losses out the ass and eventually shut down. If the Wii sells well, i can see almost every smaller developer throwing out Wii games with the lower development costs, and the bigger 3rd party developers chucking in titles too as an easy money fix. This will lead to the Wii having the best 3rd party support of any previous Nintendo console.
On another note to do with Acclaim Studios. Can anyone confirm what on earth happened to the Shadowman license. I know the first one hit PS1, N64 and DC, and the sequal was on PS2, but i would love to hear that it is possible for Nintendo to secure the original Shadowman 64 for the Virtual Console...that would surely make my day.
SkillCoil @ Nov 18th 2006 11:54PM
This blog entry is a lie.
Assassin's Creed was always slated to be on the 360, but Sony asked to keep it quiet (most likely with a big wad of cash).
Plus, goodluck to Sony at trying to win back those hard bought exclusives over the years, they fucked up and will pay for it, just like nintendo did all those years ago.
LK @ Nov 18th 2006 11:55PM
This has been a decent, non-biased article from a print publication without a clueless "gamer". It may have that journalistic dryness quality to it, but it was a great series of articles on how Microsoft has been working hard to forge new relationships while Sony has been lazying about.
Microsoft might be the eager (or desparate) one here, but Sony's arrogance is just pouring out of that article. Soon, Sony's arrogance will (or already did) allow itself to lose touch with the consumers. If so, losing some of these third-party exclusives will hurt Sony since these exclusive third-party games defined the Playstation 2, and Sony will have to turn to itself for exclusive games that can reach the mainstream consumer.
stevo @ Nov 19th 2006 12:23AM
i think that sony is just biting its time on sales. if they wanted to become to really really fast and then lose it really really fast (like microsoft) then they would have shipped about 3 million units to japan and about 1 millin to the U.S.. Sony is holing out like The Beatles did when they turned from vinel to CD form. it was always 30 years after the vinel release that they converted to CD's. i believe The Beatles in this case can be represented by Sony. on the other hand, The Rolling Stones (represented by microsoft) threw all there vinel's into CD form as soon as they could, no wait, just threw it out there. and guess what, The Beatles beat the Stones in record sales by the millions. If theres a lesson to be learned here its that the longer you wait on something, the more the other person wants it.
n8dogg @ Nov 19th 2006 12:31AM
Ah, SkillCoil, very interesting post. Do you work for Ubisoft or have a friend from the company who tells you these things?
stevo @ Nov 19th 2006 12:44AM
if i were to talk about Assassin's Creed, id have to say that i really dont care about it. you Xbox lovers out there might be figiting in your bed trying to get some sleep thinking if sony will get its hands on assassin's creed. to me its just another prince of persia except the guys in white, and guess what, i didnt like prince of persia, im a war game junkie. all i care about is Call of Duty 3, Resistance: Fall of Man, God of War 3, and Metal Gear Solid 4. period. for some1 who's so concerned wether assassin's creed is gonna be for PS3/360 and not just 360, you need to get a life, go outside, breath the fresh air, maybe even say hi to your friends which you havent talked to in 5 years cuz you were to busy jerking off to video games. Stevo, out.
alloy @ Nov 20th 2006 5:10PM
Croal is the biggest Sony fanboy ever. No biased reporting there.
Trismegistos @ Nov 19th 2006 1:53AM
I think the cross-platform games are better for the industry. It gives all the fanboys something to directly compare.
The best part is that it lessens the "I want a PS3/360 solely because one game looks excellent" comment.
Stevo, you might not be looking forward to Assassins Creed but there are tons of Sony & Microsoft fans that can't wait for Ubisoft's next hit.
DrJack @ Nov 19th 2006 1:53AM
@stevo
What the hell? You're a war games guy? Yet you are clearly a PS3 fanboy (you know because teh Japanese LOVE war games?)?!
God of War 3? God of War 2 hasn't been released so keep dreaming about that, maybe it will come out when Sony says programmers will be able to grasp the true power of the magical cell processor (that should be around 2015).
Metal Gear Solid is about stealth and has some fighting... Assasins Creed is about stealth and some fighting...
The only game you list that is a "war" game is COD3 and thats better on 360. You're a war game junkie but probably think Gears of War is stupid for one reason or another. Oh wait sorry Resistance is a war game, but I liked it more when it was called Call of Duty (Does it matter if its a WW2 game with aliens instead of Nazis... I mean come on Assasin's Creed is just Prince of Persia in white, right? I mean thats what you said).
I'm so sick of you Sony fanboys, you can't even form a rational argument. If you're a war game junkie (ie you care more about war games then any other factor) why wouldn't you be an Xbox fanboy? I mean come on, Gears of War, Rainbow 6, Ghost Recon, Call of Duty 2/3...
But you're not a war game fan (well according to the games you have listed) you're an action fan. Assasins Creed looks nothing like Prince of Persia... so let's see you have never seen the only gameplay footage available on the web and you have assumed that since it has Arabs in it, it must be like Prince of Persia?
So why do you hate (and by you I do include all of the clone army that is the Sony Fanboy Union... seriously you guys should get a pay check from Sony for the BS you spew) Assasin's Creed? While I am sure you will disagree it comes down to this (considering this game would fit nicely into what you consider "war" games): The game was rumored to be a PS3 exclusive and that probably made you feel all tingly... Sony isn't going to fail they can still get important exclusives you thought to yourself... then one day you wake up to find out that Assasin's Creed will be coming out on the 360... then the nail in the coffin, Assasin's Creed has more advanced AI on the 360 due to the limitations of branch prediction with the cell processor... long story short now you think this game is stupid and nothing.
The Sony fanboys need to call a meeting and discuss logical arguments, it would make you guys come off just as delusional assholes and not moronic delusional assholes.
So if you are a fan of war games buy a 360 and ditch the war game sparse PS3 because it shouldn't matter which system you are enjoying you're war games on... but thats not the case you do care more about which system the game is on then what the game is and that makes a Sony fanboy. So while everyone (excluding you) is "jerking off to video games" why don't you stop reading a video game blog and go play with your Dad's gun collection. You're unbelievable use of logic should make quite exciting.
killploki @ Nov 19th 2006 2:01AM
does anyone else here have any clue what the hell stevo is trying to say?
im pretty sure sony would have loved to ship more units at launch, but with all the manufacturing problems with the cell and the laser diodes this was impossible. it doesnt have anything to do with the beatles or the transition from vinel to cd you freak.
killploki @ Nov 19th 2006 2:06AM
@DrJack
....awesome!
insane_cobra @ Nov 19th 2006 3:56AM
There's one problem with the theory that Ubisoft wanted Assassin's Creed to be a PS3 exclusive: Project Assassins (now known as Assassin's Creed) has been announced for Xbox 360 first, way back in 2005 at X05.
Joey @ Nov 19th 2006 5:16AM
@DrJack
Way to tell him off.
Though, when I saw the trailer for Assassin's Creed, it did remind me of Prince very much. The art style, the jumping, flughty character, the lighting and everythign just screamed "PoP" to me. I can't wait to play it, no matter the publisher. But, until these comments, I didn't know AC was from Ubisoft.
Foetoid @ Nov 19th 2006 8:06AM
So is anyone here able to track down an answer to my question. Who has the rights to Shadowman now that Acclaim went belly up, and can Nintendo put Shadowman 64 on the Virtual Console....PLEASE!!!
Pulse @ Nov 19th 2006 9:31AM
Hold on, hold on, hold on, you can't Sony has lost its exclusives, famous exclusives such as DMC4 and Tekken we know full well will remain of the PS3 regardless, the only games that have become none exclusive are games that we knew wouldn't anyway, what were the chances Ubisoft was going to make Assasin's Creed exclusive? Little to none, Ubisoft doesn't do exclusives, anyone that thought AC was an exclusive to PS3 was being fanboyous.
GTA was never exclusive in the first place, it only released on PS3 before it did on 360. MGS 2 and 3 were the only MGS games to port to Xbox as well. And know MGS, 4 will most lily remain on PS3, yeah yeah more sales, but the game has already got PSP working with it, how is the 360 going to achieve PSP incorperation? Another reason why even if it does port, it won't have the same experience as playing on the PS3, so its kinda pointless.
And other such games as DMC4, Unreal, Tekken etc etc will all remain exclusive for the simple reason that the 360 has its own game for each of the existing games on the PS3, for the loss of Unreal, there was Gears of war, so unless epic chooses to port Gears of war over to the PS3 as well, Unreal won't move from PS3 exclusivity, the same thing with Devil May Cry and Dead Rising on 360. Can you see what I'm talking about, there are some games that make the PS brand what it is, ppl expect to see those games on the PS3 only, companies will not dissopoint, instead, they'll make a completly new and unique game for 360.
Pulse @ Nov 19th 2006 9:31AM
When I can see the likes of games always known to be PS exclusives such as Tekken (which has ported a few times but as different games), Virtua Fighter, Grand Turismo, Final Fantasy series (not sideline ones like chronicles I mean like 10, 11,12, 13, 14,15 etc), Zone of the enders, God of war, and so many others I've mentioned time and time again, then I can clearly say it has lost exclusives, for the time being, it has lost little or nothing as all the so called lost exclusives weren't exclusive in the first place. They were just always better on the PS2 then they were on Xbox.
Hank @ Nov 19th 2006 11:27AM
With the 360 with a prominent position in the console wars, some developers are simply looking at covering all their bases.
As far as exclusives go, Microsoft may have a hard time yet once again if Final Fantasy and other Sony exclusives have anything to do with it.
Pulse @ Nov 19th 2006 12:12PM
Are you forgetting that Rockstar is one of the many Sony supporters, with the number of Sony fans buying PS3, there is no reason why a Sony game should flop in future, maybe now, cos it launch, but relasing your game at any console launch is already risky.
By the time expected PS3 exclusives release, most PS fans should already have thier PS3, I will definatly have mine in time for the likes of FF13, Tekken, Killzone and others I enjoyed playing on the PS2. I hope there is a God of war 3 for Playstation 3, becuase that game would be intense.
Microsoft would have to pay off strong Sony supporters such as Namco, Konami and Rockstar if it ever wants to see more of those PS3 exclusives porting over to the Xbox, Bungie, Tecmo and Atari happen to be on Xbox's side, but unless they produce something PS3 gamers actually want Sony fans won't be the least bit bothered, its the exclusive companys of Sony Microsoft wants on its side, not the other way round, although it would be nice to play Halo on a PS3 (never will happen) many a PS3 fan wouldn't and still don't care the least if Halo is there or not, and the likes of DOA we really don't even realise is missing from the selection, I didn't even know DOA moved over to Xbox until I saw the demo booth in store. I've always prefered Tekken, DOA has always been about girls and flashy gfx, but the gameplay has always sucked in my opinion and the storylines even more, there is not a single character in DOA you can put over the loavable characters in Tekken, I'd choose Jin Kazama over any DOA character, and the game doesnt look like an attempt to make a fighting game, I dont even think Tecmo knows anything about fighting, the skills are so basic, Ninja, shinobi, wrestler, etc, theres no elaboration, there are only two langs japanese and english, no Korean and Russian like Tekken, and the black characters are always the loosers, how racist, while in Tekken there is the Wesley Snipes lookalike, Eddy, Christine, and Bruce, all amazing characters.
However, just looking at your reactions, I can tell most of you would die if a FF game, GTA game or MGS game wasn't on 360. The fuss 360 gamers make is unbelievable, look how many 360 fans are still hoping MGS goes to 360 as well, just shows the supporters of Sony are in the stronger position.
Quite frankly, 360 better get some good exclusives because even with bad press etc etc etc, Sony will still have the upper hand, cos if all I'm getting on 360 is FPS, FPS, FPS, I am bound to get bored, and thuis far, the only interesting games I have encountered are FPS, no platformers, no worthwhile fighting games, blue dragon is an insult to RPG, even breath of fire was closer to FF games, some sports games have even gotten better ratings on PS2 and the rest are porting over to PS3 as well. 360s games are just bland, its a good console, but bland games.
Pulse @ Nov 19th 2006 12:12PM
Its no wonder the live service tries to get 360 gamers to play a variety of games instead of 1 to get more points, there is really no incentive to play any other games except the prominent FPS games, the only reason I would buy a 360 is for FPS games, in that case, I might as well get a light gun instead of a controller.
Ooh which reminds me :) With PS3's and Wii's montion sensetivity, do you thing there will be some nice light gun motion sensitive games? FPS games would rock if that is the case.
Pete C @ Nov 19th 2006 12:21PM
DrJack, you hit the nail on the head. Anyone that is a fan of shooters that buys the PS3 is an idiot.
cerberus414 @ Nov 19th 2006 3:16PM
Ummm..... Konami is supporting 360 more than it does the PS3. The freaking president of the company said that the PS3 isn't looking to hawt - They made arcade games for 360 like Contra. Namco - also made a crapload of games for the 360 already. Good Sony Supporters eh? Rockstar Made saints row exclusively for 360, Guitar Hero 2, not for the PS3 though. Stop talking out of your ass
johnnieblue @ Nov 19th 2006 5:41PM
Hey cerberus, Saint's Row was made by THQ.
Sadistic Freek @ Nov 19th 2006 7:43PM
Pulse... okay, I stopped reading your comment as soon as you started saying "Sony hasn't lost exclusives..." because then I looked down and saw the only games you listed were from the Japanese companies. Did you even read the article? Seriously, read the whole thing before you start typing out something to discredit it. This article stated that Sony "was too focused on Japanese developers and its national launch of the PS3 that its American and European divisions couldn't get developer negotiation approval from the Japanese mothership." So, there goes that whole argument...
Then you list off Rockstar, but if you read gaming news... at all, you would have known that Sony has lost any time exclusivity with the GTA games that they once had. So Microsoft is already working with Rockstar, and that is good to any 360 owner.
You list PSP in your argument. But PSP sucks, I wasted $130 (bought used, about to sell it on Ebay or something) on a handheld that has nothing for games, at least nothing good to play. Meanwhile, DS is stomping PSP into the ground. Hell I even have more DS and GBA games than I have games for 360... that equals to be a lot. So, who the hell cares about PSP integration? EA even has stated that they are going to start focusing their efforts on DS instead of PSP.
Then you say you prefer Tekken over DOA. Personally, I don't play many fighting games anymore. Why? because, it's no fun unless you're fighting against a friend and can talk trash to him/her. Even then, I'd rather talk trash to someone as I'm sniping him/her in the face on Halo2. But I digress, I always found DOA to be the better fighter. Why? Because it excelled and innovated in areas that made fighting games better (not add a storyline and call it good... seriously, if I wanted a storyline, I'd goto an RPG). I remember using counters in DOA2 on DC for the first time, and it made fighting against someone so much better. I remember using combos that didn't necessarily end if you knew what you were doing. Oh, and as far as the black character being a loser in DOA? Zack was one of my favorite characters throughout DOA, and I won the majority of my matches with him.
Meanwhile, I do not care if FF comes out on 360, because I grew out of RPGs as soon as Square decided that graphics were more important than storyline (the afterbirth known as FFVIII, thanks for taking away a storyline Square). MGS? Whatever, Splinter Cell improves on the sneaking genre in every aspect, which was the only thing I played MGS on PSX for. I know that the MGS series is critically acclaimed, and lots of people love the games, but the only aspect I liked in it is made better in Splinter Cell, so if MGS is never on MGS, I'm fine with that (The only series I like from Konami anymore is the 2d Castlevania games they're making on DS [3d Castlevania sucks, always has, always will]). GTA, I liked GTA and GTA2, but... I lost interest in it after that. THQ did a pretty decent job with Saints Row, but those games get boring. But, I won't downplay GTA's importance and influence (like Sony has). I know plenty of people who love the GTA series, and bought a PS2 because of those games.
As far as 360 having good games, it has great games. The Halo series (but I'm sure that's something you'd expect everyone to say), Gears of War, Splinter Cell, DOA (even though I prefer not to play fighting games anymore). 360 is even getting some top notch RPGs from Mistwalker and Namco. Games on Arcade are great as well. Forza and PGR if you love racing games (I don't, but whatever).
PS3 however... well, let's take a quote from Penny Arcade, "you've got Genji (rank), Untold Legends (just... no) and Gundam (daemonic). Everything else is something that
(a) already came out, and
(b) most likely runs better or has more features on existing equipment. Seriously, read the reviews.
This is beyond insulting. This is beyond ridiculous. It is farcical."
So, there that is.
I'm happy with the 360, it does what a next gen game machine is supposed to do: make gaming better and more fun. I'm looking forward to buying a Wii as well. And, if at some point I want a game machine that is simply trying to force a video format down my throat so that it doesn't turn into another BetaMax, then yeah, maybe I'll buy a PS3. Thank you MS and Nintendo for not making developing games harder and more expensive. Thank you for not bringing in a format that has yet to have all the kinks worked out.
AG @ Nov 19th 2006 9:26PM
N'Gai Croal's article makes good sense and it is factual, not the random FUD that I typically read.
The Xbox 360 isn't dead but it better watch out, because the PS3 is now finally out and gunning for it!
Storm28 @ Nov 19th 2006 9:43PM
I am not a fanboy of any system so I will give an unbiased opinion about this situation. The fact of the matter is that the xbox360 is doing very well since launch and has produced many true next-gen games before sony has even gotten out of the gate with their ps3. Now for the ps3 it means that of most of the games that they are planning to release before the end of the year will be ports and not new properties. So that hurts them a little. Also they are losing exclusives and each week it seems that news about more losses is reported. I simply believe that their marketing strategy as a whole has been flawed.
Both systems will sell and remember the most important thing is the games.What good is a console without the games. So forget about all of the talks of which system is more powerfull or which system is the best. It is all about the games. In my opinion the Xbox360 is getting more exclusive games that I want to play. Gears of War,Halo 3,Bioshock,Mass effect, compared to MGS4(which the only metal gear solid I liked was MGS1 on the psone),ff13,god of war(overated). So to each his own but for my taste the xbox360 is the way to go.
Brandon @ Nov 20th 2006 3:01AM
I don't know, if the development costs are really what I've been reading here on joystiq I don't see the larger developers not supporting the Wii. It is a extra 4 to 8 million but they have less for the art theoretically. Because of the art for the other systems they have made. I also don't see larger developers saying an extra 8 million is not bad when we are spending 25 million to produce this game for 360/ps3 to get it out to more people.
bowchikabowwow @ Nov 20th 2006 2:24AM
you're forgetting the most impressive exclusive title yet for the x360: Sneak King
Brandon @ Nov 20th 2006 3:14AM
I don't know if Microsoft wanted to get the large companies that back Sony, like Rockstar or konami or who ever I think they could get a few and the rest would follow suit. Its quite simple, 25million to do one game, porting it will most likely cost less so they give say rockstar 50 million to port their games, and rockstar makes money off of the games too thats quite a bit of money for them to pass up. If they really want game XYZ they could get it.
Ricky @ Nov 21st 2006 10:59AM
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=sony_bullshit
Those are my thoughts on sony.
tone @ Nov 28th 2006 6:40PM
i honestly dont care if the 360 has had a better launch or has better games at the moment im still getting a ps3. Why? SOCOM 4. Plus ive had sony since playstation1 and i dont inten on changing. 360 is a great system and has great games but its just not my style. Im waiting till next years when some good games start coming out for the ps3 because all of the launch games sucked ass.