2023 is already a strong contender for the best year in gaming ever (at least when it comes to newly released games), but we’re yet to see how it will be remembered for PlayStation in the long term. It’s currently an experimental year full of huge bets that we won’t see the results of until 2024 at the earliest.
From an outside perspective, 2023 might look like PlayStation is resting on its laurels. With more successful third-party releases than most people can reasonably handle on an approximately monthly cadence, the average PlayStation fan will likely be satisfied with “just” the absolutely fantastic Marvel Spider-Man 2 On the part of the first party. In fact, this year Sony created a series of dominoes that, depending on how they fall, could determine its future — for better or worse. Although some of its efforts are heading in the wrong direction, or at least worrying the community, there is no turning the ship right now.
Heavy on hardware
Sony has released more devices this year than any other year in its history. We started with the PlayStation VR2, got the surprisingly slim models of the PS5, and most recently the PlayStation Portal, and we’ll be closing out the year with the awesome adaptive controller. Of these games, PSVR2 is the biggest roll of the dice the company is currently seeing. VR, in general, still only caters to a niche audience, and as powerful and advanced as the technology inside Sony’s headset is, that small audience is automatically cut off by being tied to a PS5 install base willing to shell out another huge expense. Despite all the cards stacked against it, Sony could Pull the ace from its sleeve to justify the entire experience: first-party games.
In much the same way as Nintendo, Sony’s success has largely depended on its first-party studios’ ability to craft great experiences with enough appeal to draw audiences to its platform at the expense of the competition. Unlike Nintendo, Sony’s games always take full advantage of the latest technology. If this level of quality, creativity, and can’t-miss exclusive games start showing up on PSVR2, the entire conversation around this console (or lack thereof as it currently stands) could completely upend.
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In its launch year, PSVR2 only had one first-party title to speak of: Horizon:Call of the Mountain When the system is launched. Any hardware launch is expected to have a limited library, but the worrying part about PSVR2 is that Sony has shown no signs that it will provide more experiences on this scale. First-party advertising was noticeably absent even in VR-focused sectors in their showcases until 2023. This apparent lack of investment from the platform owner shows not only a lack of trust in the public but also in other developers. The result may be a nasty spiral that clips the regime’s wings before it has a chance to spread it.
Unlike the PS5, the PSVR2 couldn’t succeed on its own momentum. It should be Sony itself that pushes the snowball down the hill, through a combination of first-party and third-party support. It will no doubt be a hefty cost for at least the next year, but it’s arguably a necessary cost just to show its most loyal customers who bought early that their purchases weren’t a waste and risk burning them out.
On the other hand, the PlayStation Portal and revised PS5 models are what they are (and cost what they do) and Sony appears to be making a statement about its stance. The Portal is a barebones device that sells at a premium price with a limited use case, but at least it won’t have the same problem as the PSVR2 in the absence of software because it simply streams anything from the PS5.
Not only are the “slim” models of the PS5 less expensive than the base models, which is usually attractive for console reviews, but the digital version is actually $50 more expensive than the one launched in 2020. All signs point to the company Sony is planting a flag on the ground, claiming that its products are not only as valuable as they were when they launched, but perhaps even more so.
at your service
The value of the hardware ultimately comes down to the software, where the most attention will be focused in 2024. On that front, Sony has offered more experiments that have yet to bear fruit.
The company’s PS Plus rebranding has continued to run into roadblocks after some initial skepticism upon its relaunch. A streaming service similar to Game Pass gives players access to hundreds of games available for download and, in some cases, cloud streaming. However, it doesn’t fully justify its cost for the hardcore user it’s aimed at. Streaming will always rely on one’s internet, but at least it has expanded to include streaming PS5 games. Classic games have been a slow succession of strange selections, and we’ve only seen one PS2 game added to the service since launch. Without any announcement of future plans or additions to the service, Sony made a significant price increase for each service tier, with the most expensive tier receiving the largest price increase despite many considering it to be the weakest value.
It’s been made clear multiple times that adding first-party games to the service on day one is not in Sony’s business plans. By ignoring this option, subscribers may not be willing to pay more than an additional 30% for a service they feel doesn’t already exist. The most basic tier has jumped from $60 per year to $80 and only offers cloud saves, online multiplayer, and a monthly selection of “free” titles. Those who sign up for the highest premium tier experience the largest price increase from $120 per year to $160. The one exception that might swing in the narrative ties directly in with the more controversial gamble in Sony’s playbook.
Regarding the actual games that Sony is working on, the company has made it clear that the live service is its future. Sony opened its picture with 12 titles in development and has spent the majority of its 2024 specials focusing on what we expect to be the first out of the gate in this initiative: Marathon, Fairgame$, Concordand A We delay Multiplayer project. As far as this massive shift in direction may befall PlayStation fans who have purchased single-player narrative experiences, it’s too early to claim anything about the quality of these projects – especially considering that half of them have been delayed until after 2026.
On the other hand, the obvious conflicts in the development of these titles are a reasonable concern. the We delay The multiplayer game, which is said to be in limbo following layoffs at Naughty Dog, is a symbol of the growing pains Sony studios are feeling as they try to transition to this new model. While it’s certainly better to delay projects than rush them in an attempt to keep up with the trend, there’s still a gap in first-party output that these games were meant to fill. If Sony is willing to bend the “no first party for a day” rule for live service games coming to PS+, it could be a big step in softening the blow dealt by the price increase but it can’t mitigate the content drought during these games. Games come together.
The future of live service will be challenging. Sony has painted itself into a corner by setting such a high bar for first-party output. Anything less than an amazing experience may be viewed as a failure by unforgiving fans. That’s a tough enough tightrope to walk in regular game development, but live services are a completely unique beast and Sony is reportedly struggling to get a grip on it as plans change internally. With only one “traditional” first party game currently announced, which is Insomniac wolverine, A lot of weight is being placed on these live service games to convince core audiences that they’re a complement to – not a replacement for – those single-player experiences that Sony has built its current identity and success on. Although the effects won’t be felt for a while, the departure of Jim Ryan can’t be ignored either. Ryan was the architect of many of these major course changes at the company. With his departure, new leadership may have different ideas about the direction Sony should take, and either double down on or even roll back some of these initiatives. It further muddies the waters as to what the future holds for the entire brand.
Every move made in 2023 gives the impression of a very confident Sony. A slew of new hardware, price increases and a shift in focus to a new style of game indicate a level of certainty that 2024 will justify these moves. The last time we saw Sony looking like this was at the dawn of the PS3 era, and they’ve had to spend this entire generation playing catch-up. For those of us in the dark, the best we can do is hope Sony is making the right gamble. Once the dominoes start falling in 2024, it will be too late to change course.
Editors’ recommendations
In an unprecedented move, PlayStation has set up dominoes in 2023, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement among gaming enthusiasts. As the year 2024 begins, all eyes are on whether these dominoes will fall, heralding a new era of gaming and technology. The gaming community eagerly awaits the outcome and potential impact of this ambitious display, with speculation rife about the potential consequences for the gaming industry. Will PlayStation’s dominoes fall in 2024, and if so, what will it mean for the future of gaming? Only time will tell.