Someone at Sony is feeling very smart and modern right now, totally unaware that PlayStation is now a dead brand walking.
They are a strong brand, but that’s not going to be enough to justify a definitely-$1k+ PS6 compared to increasing handheld and console-like gaming options that are not locked down ecosystems. Their exclusives likely can’t save them, they have been dying out already.
Physical media was one of the few remaining differentiators for hardcore collectors and loyalists. Even if I’m sure it’s a greatly diminished part of their bottom line, it’s a psychological anchor that justifies the existence of a console. Now their console will be just another extremely handicapped and uncompetitive digital box, even if (as recently reported) they copy the Switch dockable format.
I guarantee that you’re wrong. The PS6 will sell every unit they produce for years, even at the $1200+ it will be. Why? A few reasons:
It’s PlayStation. PlayStation has a gigantic “Sony can do no wrong and we want all their competition to die, and we’ll buy whatever they release no matter how garbage it is” fan base in the tens of millions.
there will be no alternative.
85%+ of all games sold on PlayStation currently are digital. This change affects a tiny fraction of the user base.
For me, the locked ecosystem of consoles was justified by a lower price for the hardware and the option to sell or trade the software. Now that neither is going to be a thing any more, my 40+ years of console gaming will be ending after this gen. It’s gonna be dedicated PCs plugged into the TV from here on out.
I’ve always been a PC gamer, but for a long time there, consoles were affordable enough to put in for just a few exclusives. Then I gradually went from a couple consoles to one, and then I started skipping generations and now it’s at the point where my last participation in the console market was getting a used PS3 at the far end of its life and getting a Switch gifted to me a couple years ago. I was expecting to skip PS4 and get a PS5 after the price dropped, but yeahhhhh. I’m definitely still interested in exclusives (the Shadow of the Colossus remake, The Last Guardian, Bloodborne, and now Intergalactic), but at this point, there’s no viable scenario were I’m in the Sony ecosystem in the foreseeable future. Fumito Ueda’s next game being announced for PC was shocking to me.
Even if we’re talking marginal cost differential for used games, a lot of consumer psychology is just feeling like they are getting a good deal. PC gaming is on the rise–and I don’t mean that in a cute, Lemmy Linux gaming sort of way, it’s genuinely a market shift shown across multiple indicators–there’s growing hostility towards walled-garden ecosystems, and Nintendo’s still going strong. Sony needs some sort of carrot, sheesh. Woof.
that’s not going to be enough to justify a definitely-$1k+ PS6
I’m inclined to agree. They might be able to sweeten that with a one year PSN voucher or something. Otherwise, you’re just paying for access to exclusive content, access to PSN, and the ability to say “I have a Sony.”
This is the way to go. Make sure to get the drive serviced so it doesn’t crap out prematurely. There are so many PS2s out there, you can probably still get one cheap.
Someone at Sony is feeling very smart and modern right now, totally unaware that PlayStation is now a dead brand walking.
They are a strong brand, but that’s not going to be enough to justify a definitely-$1k+ PS6 compared to increasing handheld and console-like gaming options that are not locked down ecosystems. Their exclusives likely can’t save them, they have been dying out already.
Physical media was one of the few remaining differentiators for hardcore collectors and loyalists. Even if I’m sure it’s a greatly diminished part of their bottom line, it’s a psychological anchor that justifies the existence of a console. Now their console will be just another extremely handicapped and uncompetitive digital box, even if (as recently reported) they copy the Switch dockable format.
I guarantee that you’re wrong. The PS6 will sell every unit they produce for years, even at the $1200+ it will be. Why? A few reasons:
For me, the locked ecosystem of consoles was justified by a lower price for the hardware and the option to sell or trade the software. Now that neither is going to be a thing any more, my 40+ years of console gaming will be ending after this gen. It’s gonna be dedicated PCs plugged into the TV from here on out.
I’ve always been a PC gamer, but for a long time there, consoles were affordable enough to put in for just a few exclusives. Then I gradually went from a couple consoles to one, and then I started skipping generations and now it’s at the point where my last participation in the console market was getting a used PS3 at the far end of its life and getting a Switch gifted to me a couple years ago. I was expecting to skip PS4 and get a PS5 after the price dropped, but yeahhhhh. I’m definitely still interested in exclusives (the Shadow of the Colossus remake, The Last Guardian, Bloodborne, and now Intergalactic), but at this point, there’s no viable scenario were I’m in the Sony ecosystem in the foreseeable future. Fumito Ueda’s next game being announced for PC was shocking to me.
Even if we’re talking marginal cost differential for used games, a lot of consumer psychology is just feeling like they are getting a good deal. PC gaming is on the rise–and I don’t mean that in a cute, Lemmy Linux gaming sort of way, it’s genuinely a market shift shown across multiple indicators–there’s growing hostility towards walled-garden ecosystems, and Nintendo’s still going strong. Sony needs some sort of carrot, sheesh. Woof.
I’m inclined to agree. They might be able to sweeten that with a one year PSN voucher or something. Otherwise, you’re just paying for access to exclusive content, access to PSN, and the ability to say “I have a Sony.”
Imagine if you will, they released a new ps2 with ps1 backward compatibility and optional discs.
I’d pay $500 right now.
Just use an emulator, even PS3 emulation has gotten pretty good.
But thats an emulator, yes 99.9% the same but not “real”.
Pretty much all 3D PS2 games can be played in widescreen via emulation. They’re better than the original.
Sorry boss, I only play mine on a CRT in 4:3 the way it was intended 😁
Playing on emulator is fine, but like everything in today’s world, its fake, and not as visceral of an experience.
You can still play on a CRT in 4:3 via an emulator if you like. You just have more options if wanted.
I know there are many who swear by original hardware only, though, which is fine if you have the luxury of obtaining and maintaining them. Many don’t.
Yep totally
It just works on pc btw
You can buy a used PS2 right now that has that for way less? Even if you demand an hdmi mod, it’s way less than that
This is the way to go. Make sure to get the drive serviced so it doesn’t crap out prematurely. There are so many PS2s out there, you can probably still get one cheap.
Of course, but someday they will all be gone. I dread those days. Caps dont last and its very very hard to repair smc ones.