The Xbox 360 launched a full year ahead of the PlayStation 3, and because of that, Microsoft’s next generation console has enjoyed a decent lead over Sony’s. Especially in the early years of this seventh generation of gaming, when the Xbox 360′s lead was even larger. We learned that in was in 2008 Insomniac Games made its decision to go multiplatform, a year when the Xbox 360 was in its prime and the PS3 was just starting to show promise.
But now, things have changed. Sony’s PS3 is steadily growing while the Xbox 360, according to many analysts, will stall if Microsoft doesn’t act fast and aggressively.
PS3 has become, or rather is becoming the console that developers are turning to, not only to maximize the potential of their games in terms of development, but now, for profits also. Don’t get me wrong, in the US, the Xbox 360 is still king, but there seems to be a trend taking place that should concern Microsoft somewhat.
See, Redmond doesn’t have that many first party studios, and the little it has, do not have blockbuster franchises at all. So Microsoft’s relying on third party developers that it has great relationships with to constantly supply the Xbox 360 with exclusives.
Thing is, this concept can work but not for long. As the PS3 install base grows, so does the potential for publishers to make big money on it grows too, and the only way the software giant will be able to keep up, is if they decided to go the much expensive route of matching, penny for penny, the predicted sales results of any given title.
And so now, you have developers from across the board starting to sound shaky when talk comes up concerning certain Xbox 360 exclusives appearing on PS3.
Valve On Left 4 Dead PS3:
Speaking To PSM3, Valve PR boss Doug Lombardi said the company’s taking a wait and see approach when it comes to bringing other in-house games, like Left 4 Dead, to PS3.
“Who knows what the future will bring?” Lombardi uttered.
EA On Mass Effect PS3:
There has been much talk about the Mass Effect Franchise making its PS3 debut, but when pressed about the situation being true or false, EA tends to leave the media guessing, which always comes across as fishy.
“No comment on that one,” is what the publisher usually says when pressed.
Gears of War PS3:
Epic Games has never really given big hints that its shooter will make it onto the PS3, but the developer has said that the franchise is its own and it can do “whatever” with it.
And the list is long. In recent times, publishers like EA are constantly teaming up with Sony to bring exclusive content to the PS3, content like DLC and other perks, and although this may seem measly, you have to realize that such things merely happened in the PS3′s early days.
So what’s Microsoft to do? Should Redmond cough up more cash in an effort to purchase more exclusive games from developers, or should they start investing heavily in first party studios?
I think the wise thing would be for Redmond to start building new studios with fresh ideas. PS3 hardware’s up 118%, while software exploded to 24.8m, those are no small figures, and with developers looking to maximize profits way past initial sales these days, not even Microsoft’s deep pockets will save them.
The PS3′s been on a roll, lately.
I agree that sony is going to be the place to find more must have titles as the generation winds down. Like you mention alot of third party franchises are thinking of or going multiplat. Also
-Most new games are all multiplat titles.
-All 1st and 2nd party studios seem to be focused on the PS3 now.
-All of the Wii games that are going to be ported over and multiplats in the future that kinect will not get.
-All the next gen japanese PS3 titles that can be imported or get localized that will not be on wii or 360.
-And finally all the Move exclusive titles that could potentially be made, especially in the PSN market.
Yes I believe with the strong sales of many multiplat titles on the ps3 like Batman, Madden, Need for speed, Assasins Creed 2, Street fighter, And soon Medal of honor, publishers are taking notice of new sales trends that are now even or stronger in favor of Sony. With much more room for future price cuts to increase sales in a major way and the Power of the PS3 Sony is gonna have an incredible rate of growth in the next couple years.
id really love to see L4D and ME come to the ps3!
especially L4D because that would mean a re rating and hopefully this time it wont get edited, so i can play L4D2 the way it was intended!
as for gears i seriously can not see it happening!
epic may own the rights to the IP, but M$ paid them for the first two games so A whats stopping them from paying for another several and B its hard to release a series onto a console without its predecessors!
i would kill to see gears on the ps3!
that way i can finally get rid of my 360, because to be honest the only reason im keeping it is for gears 3!
Yeah, you might have to keep it a bit longer, though, MS has a great relationship with Epic…