This year’s Gamescom won’t be remembered for surprise reveals or gigantic game showings. Instead it’ll be remembered for the PR storm surrounding Microsoft and Rise of the Tomb Raider. A lot of people are claiming that Microsoft is now trying to buy exclusives, something Sony says they’ll never do. Except, they already do buy some exclusives. Sort of.
CVG landed a rather lengthy interview with PlayStation Europe’s Jim Ryan, in which they ask him about Sony’s policy towards buying third-party exclusivity. Ryan pointed out that Sony have made many deals to secure exclusive content in third-party titles, but doesn’t feel that Sony needs to purchase the game outright.
“So do we feel the need to go out and buy outright exclusivity? Probably not. You saw last night [at Sony’s press conference] that before the media briefing we showed updated videos of games that we had revealed at E3. That’s because we wanted to keep the show itself full of new, fresh things. We think that gave us a good, strong, convincing portfolio of exclusive stuff and we’re happy with that.”
A nice little, truthful, jab at Microsoft no doubt. Problem is that while this might apply to big AAA titles, Sony definitely doesn’t follow their own rules when it comes to indie exclusivity. Ryan actually confirms this later on in the interview, saying that Sony offers various different types of support to indie studios. This sometimes comes with some sort of exclusivity deal, with No Man’s Sky – a game that will release first on PS4 – being a prime example.
“It’s that approach, which makes us friendlier to indie devs, and on top of that, the icing on the cake is that we will go out and look at a small number of games and seek to help the developer make those games as successful as they possibly can, and that support can take a whole range of forms.
It can take the form of financial support, it can take the form of having Sean Murray from Hello Games on the stage at E3, there are many ways to do it and we try not to be prescriptive and say “this is the template you have to follow, this is the path.”
So it’s really unclear whether Sony just opposes the idea of purchasing exclusivity on big, AAA titles, because that’s definitely not the case when it comes to indie. Granted, indie developers are smaller studios that sometimes require this type of help to make their ideas a reality. It just seems a little bit underhanded for Sony to say they don’t need to buy exclusivity, and then do it anyway.
Regardless, Microsoft is still notorious for purchasing a few timed exclusives on big AAA titles. Something which Sony hasn’t felt the need to do yet.
Last Updated: August 15, 2014
Rinceable
August 15, 2014 at 15:49
All of them, naughty naughty, very naughty! Play nice people!
Jonah Cash
August 15, 2014 at 16:04
Uhmmmm helping a small indie studio of 10 team members with money to get their game of the ground vs buying the rights to the new Tomb Raider…… Do I really have to point out the difference in that????
MS is desperate to get people to buy the One, but I think this might backfire just like the launch of the One did!!! I for one am tired of being treated like a cash cow one minute and then get turned on the next…. When and if the new TR comes to PS4, I will wait for a second hand one to become available and I will buy that!!
You want my money?? Then show the same loyalty to me that I am showing to you!!
Pieter Kruger
August 15, 2014 at 16:20
The size the company that’s in financial difficulty makes no difference surely??? It just shows that MS have the deeper pockets to “help” (as you put it,LOL!) bigger companies with bigger running costs! Or would you have preferred layoff at said bigger company instead?????
iAmWeasel
August 15, 2014 at 16:26
Pffft.. my console manufacturer is richer than yours! And… my console manufacturer would so kick your one’s butt!!
Pieter Kruger
August 15, 2014 at 16:33
Where’s “dick” boy today? ????
J_Joestar
August 15, 2014 at 17:55
I think a notable difference is that a big company will probably be able to negotiate it’s position from a stronger standpoint than a small indie dev that probably doesn’t have the reputation and finances to just say “i’ll take my game to *insert rival company here*”
Jonah Cash
August 16, 2014 at 07:18
You have had another tough week trying to defend MS….. Sorry about that, I was starting to come around about two weeks ago…. But now I will wait to see if more of their “exclusives” goes to PC, then in two years time I will just buy a PC!!
Also what MS did with TR is a good move for them, but I have a problem with buying success!! In my line of work money talks, but I am bucking that trend and after 4 years with good clean business I am not just catching up with the cash boys I am starting to pass them!! The way you do business should always trump the short term gains…. Always!!!! No matter what type of business it is!!
And yes I know that the way I do it might not work for everyone, but it is still something to strive for…
Ryanza
August 15, 2014 at 17:00
Microsoft spend a lot of money on one game. Microsoft didn’t buy the Tomb Raider IP. Microsoft didn’t buy the developer studio. Microsoft didn’t buy the publisher. Microsoft only paid for one game to be exclusive.
Sony would never waste that kind of money on one title that they do not own.
Why the fuck is Microsoft gaming studios working on Kinect games. Why has Rare been working on Kinect shit for years. Microsoft only cares about Halo, Forza, Gears of War. Microsoft is not interested in creating lots of new exclusive AAA titles. And that is one of the reasons why gamers are just not interested in the Xbox One. There is nothing new and exciting to make people want and buy the Xbox One. Halo, Forza and Gears ain’t going to cut it anymore.
Sony is showing off new and interesting games and there is variety.
Pieter Kruger
August 15, 2014 at 17:44
Truly blinded by fanboy syndrome once again, ROFL! You seriously only heard of Halo, Forza and Gears coming to the XB1? Being on here proof you have access to the internet…..USE IT!
Ryanza
August 15, 2014 at 18:11
I’m not a console fanboy but true fanboys like yourself likes to call others fanboys.
Microsoft shows off a console I don’t want. None of the games that Microsoft showed off raised any interest for me and definitely not worth getting an Xbox One.
Well not yet anyway. But one or two games still wont cut it. Microsoft needs to show a life long investment in creating new AAA ip’s.
Sony has games I want to try out. That’s the difference. Sony will keep on investing on new AAA IP’s.
You a Xbox One fanboy, so whatever shit Microsoft shows, you will get excited for it.
I’m a fan of CD Projekt RED because I know whatever they show me, will be good.
Until they fuck up of course.
Pieter Kruger
August 15, 2014 at 17:47
Yeah, because getting all those timed exclusives, timed exclusive content, exclusive content etc. from 3rd party developers are completely free! You make me laugh! Sony only wants your money, just like every other company out there! ????
Ryanza
August 15, 2014 at 18:13
CD Projekt RED wants my money and I want to give it to them. I guess that means that The Witcher 3 will not be any good.
FunnyAsPhuk
August 15, 2014 at 17:02
Seriously, Sony the most you talk, the more I want to side with Microsoft just on moral. You’ve already brainwashed I don’t know how many, now you just attack Microsoft as part of your sales pitch? So your saying you paid absolutely nothing to have Bloodborne exclusive to your platform? Wow, surprised From went for that. What about the marketing that basically has people believing that Diablo and Destiny are only on Playstation? And I guess Blizzard and Bungie just freely chose to make exclusive content for your platform too right? Yep, your more devious in your acts. What a bunch of fucktards.
demfax
August 15, 2014 at 21:02
You are wrong. Bloodborne is being CO-DEVELOPED with Sony’s 1st party Japan Studio. It is a joint collaboration between two development houses, Sony is not just handing From Software a sack of cash.
Again you are wrong. In the interview, Jim Ryan specifically said they were targeting Exclusive Content like Destiny and Diablo 3. He did not deny Sony is paying for that content.
You are raging against absolutely nothing, ignorant, COMPLETELY WRONG, and clearly mentally ill.
Magius
August 15, 2014 at 17:07
Ag it’s just PR point scoring bullshit. If Sony were behind MS this gen and had MS’ cash they would do the same. It’s just bloody business.
Ryanza
August 15, 2014 at 17:11
Sony was behind last gen and what did Sony do then. Started creating new and good exclusive 1st party games and slowly got gamers on their side. And look how many new gamers are supporting PS4 now. The gaming well run dry on Xbox 360 from Microsoft.
fred
August 15, 2014 at 18:02
When you don’t have the studios to do proper games , then you have to get them by other means I suppose. Microsoft needs to invest in smaller studios with potential.
John Doe
August 16, 2014 at 14:39
This article’s insinuations are incorrect. Read Sony’s statement.
There is a difference between….. going out and supportting the development of smaller indie studios who might not have the time or resources to finish or port the game,…. and just going out and paying a 3rd party developer to keep the game off other platforms that were going to get the game originally.
Also, Sony stated that, “they don’t feel the need to outright buy exclusivity”. That doesn’t mean they won’t. They just don’t feel the need to because they allready have a ton of exclusives and a better market position. The reason why they help indie devs is simply to get more games for customers and to expand the industry. Sony doesn’t have a greedy and pathetic parity clause like Microsoft.
freekface
August 16, 2014 at 15:21
Yes there is a difference and SONY are every bit as guilty of doing it, maybe even worse,so stop talking absolute rubbish, Sony are every bit as bad as MS all they care about is MONEY nothing else.
Sony didn’t just BUY out exclusivity with the next GHOSTBUSTERS in the series on the PS3 in Europe they actually bought it when I was around FOUR WEEKS from release leaving all the Xbox 360 and Wi owners having to cancel their orders and no idea when it was going to come out.
“Ghostbusters PS exclusivity clarified, Europeans get screwed”
http://www.destructoid.com/ghostbusters-exclusivity-clarified-europeans-get-screwed-131172.phtml
“How is Ghostbusters suddenly a PlayStation exclusive?
Who did Sony call?”
http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/how-is-ghostbusters-suddenly-a-playstation-exclusive-596684
Paul
March 6, 2016 at 05:37
I don’t know, when I think of consoles, Microsoft and Sony bought quite a lot of exclusives at least in the past, things seem different now with games that are exclusive are also coming on PC but only one of the consoles, not sure what that’s all about but the PC is getting the better deal out of it, it would be nice if we don’t have exclusives and games are released on all the platforms that can handle it, it’s what I like about the PC, no need to buy exclusives, developers want to release the games on it and for the most part, the only games that don’t come to the PC are either in house games by Sony or Microsoft or games that have been bought off with a bribe. What I find interesting is that where developers want to release their games on PC, the same can’t really be said for consoles because there are many games that could come to consoles but don’t.