Activision CEO Bobby Kotick says he sees the number of games bought per console slowing if the
price on the PlayStation 3 doesn't go down, and that his company (the largest independent game developer in the world, thanks in part to that sweet, sweet Blizzard cash) might consider dropping the PS3 and PSP in 2010 or 2011 if things don't improve. He says Activision paid $500 million in royalties to Sony last year, but the Xbox 360 and Wii are cheaper to develop for and offer a better return on investment. Still, with 23 million PS3s out there in the world, we'd think it'd be difficult to ignore the console entirely -- especially for cross platform titles like the upcoming Modern Warfare 2, where a majority of the work takes place in content development and gameplay mechanics. Of course, with games like
Guitar Hero,
DJ Hero and
Tony Hawk now demanding the purchase of peripherals along with the game itself, Activision itself could certainly be doing more to make gaming cheaper on consumers... but we suppose that's another conversation entirely.
[Via
Joystiq]
posted June 19th 2009 10:32AM
Sony should call their bluff and tell them to GTFO.
They are getting as bad as EA for yearly increment games and games with plastic junk controllers.
Agreed.
I seriously doubt Actibitching would actually do anything.
It's been stated quite a few times by many developers that the PS3 isn't exactaly developer friendly or bottom line friendly for that matter. If you don't find their yearly game revisions that engaging, why do you care anyways?
I love how everyone's approach to this news is "Good Riddance to bad rubbish!"
I, for one, as much as I hate Activisions new "policies" on yearly releases, am pretty damn excited for Modern Warfare 2, and losing such large titles would Kill Sony. Some of the highest selling games over the last year have been from Activision, be it GH:metallica/World Tour or COD5.
I try not to support Activision due to it's beating of franchises (Mod. warfare 2 being an exception for me), but you gotta admit, losing them would be a deathrattle for sony.
I'm not sure Sony can afford to lose 500 million a year from a big customer. I'm pretty sure Activision can afford to not spend 500 million a year.
I just want to see Jack Tretton tell this guy to GTFO that would be amazing haha
I agree, the PS3 needs a price drop, but I think the console is already cheap enough for all of what it offers compared to the competition.
As for the PSP, wtf is this guy talking about. The portable is selling amazingly well.
But how is the PSP selling compared to the DS. If there's a more lucrative market, would you want to sit idle where there's no money?
Hmm, I see the same type of responses on Joystiq. You guys are being extremely silly. As others have said, the loss of Activision would be enormous. Sony makes money from licensing and the PS3 format needs great developers/publishers, especially at this point in time.
Considering how many games Activision publishes and how popular they are, losing Activision would be a tremendous blow by any standards. I think it's unlikely that Sony would follow Activision's advice, but more likely than not, they'll probably go into talks with them to work something out.
The point is not that losing Activision wouldn't be hurtful, it's that it will never happen. This is a CEO talking straight out of his ass.
Cut the size and price of the PS3 by 66% and I'll be happy :).
C'mon kids. Nobody's gonna lose anyone. The Engadget article is right (and for once, not anti-Sony): Activision needs Sony as much as vice-versa. They work *together* to get *our* money. All this threat of Activision dropping support for Sony is complete BS -- they just want higher profit margins, more of our money. It's not like they no longer want the money. Jesus, get real people...
Actually this is such a transparent move. Activision continues to make games that cost well over $100 a pop by basically selling pressed plastic. A lot of people are starting to complain about the price and that you have to by new crap accessories for the new titles. So what does Activision do? Instead of admitting that they do sell plastic toys with huge margins they blame Sony. Oh you see we are trying to save you the consumer money but the big bad Sony Corp. won't budge. Really?
And Sony will lower the price eventually but it's not because of Activision. And I do what an official gfy response. That would really make my day.
For the company that cannot even make sure that their games install on a PS3 on launch day (Prototype) they are really making wild claims... Get better developers first!
I have a feeling Activision doesn't want a price drop of the console but rather a drop in the licensing fees. They have NO room to talk when it comes to cost, look how much their box full of plastic junk costs. When your game with peripherals costs 50% of the system it's played on, that's just DUMB. Yet they've sold tons.. wtf.
Are you kidding me? If Sony lost Activision games like COD it would go down faster than the Titanic. Hell it is already doing that. Ok maybe if after hitting the first one lets say it would be like the Titanic hitting 26 more after that.
I agree! Everyone just wants to put the blame on someone else lately. Take a look at the economy and then maybe you'll see why your sales are down. Activision is stupid!
QFT
+1
And here's why Bobby Kodick said what he did.
PS3 Game Sales rank among all consoles (including Wii, PS2, etc) for top companies for fiscal year March 2008 to March 2009 (some for calender year 2008)
Konami: #1
Capcom: #1
Ubisoft: #1
Take 2: #2
Electronic Arts: #2
Activision: #4
Well, look at that. Their position says it all - a cheaper PS3 might help Activision sell some (crappy?) games that people just aren't buying for PS3. The other companies seem to be fairing amazingly well on the PS3 platform.
Activision sucks! Especially for suing to stop the release of Brutal Legend. Boycott Activision!!!
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/activision-sues-double-fine-over-brutal-legend/
When keepin it real goes horribly wrong.
Activision knows they won't do this, sony knows they won't do this, EVERYONE knows they won't do it so why bother saying other than to puff your chest out?
I don't know. If Activision sales were really good with XBox and Wii with them supporting Sony (but not selling much or making a good profit), then it won't be that difficult to drop Sony.
How about NOOOOO!!!
I hate companies that tries to push their 'weight' around.
btw.....Sony....drop the prices.
Nobody I know uses a PS3 for games, the two people I know who have one bought it for a cheap blu ray player (at the time) and play games on 360 and Wii. PS3 has shown that it truly is a joke, and their new dildo controller that's going to fail will prove it. The Wii got motion control right, it's just underpowered. 360 got online, handheld controllers, and HD right. The PS3 used to be a cheap blu ray player, not anymore.
Hi Steve Ballmer!
Unless it isn't you, and if it isn't... you have no personal stake in either company, so GTFO
If I was Steve Ballmer....I would have mentioned Natal....which I didn't. You have no personal stake in Sony, so why are you defending them?
Did school let out early today?
I'll agree with you on that one, shaunisadirty... I know 3 people with a PS3, and 2 of them were bought for a cheap blu-ray player (about 3 games between them), and the other one as a second console to her 360. Considering she's almost permanently on Xbox Live, I can't see that she has any time to be playing the PS3.
Agreed Shaun, 360 is way more dominating because of its cheaper entry price. Sony should really take this guys advice. I probably would have bought one had it not been $400 pice tag seeing as i just would game on it(No interests in Blu-Ray yet).
No longer the cheapest, but still the best blu-ray player on the market as well as majority of the exclusives popping up on the system being AAA titles(IP titles included such as Uncharted, inFAMOUS, and Resistance) and many companies have been raving about the sheer power of the PS3 (Valve excluded for being a bunch of lazy fucks). I'd say that the PS3 is more than just a blu-ray player. It's more of a competition now between Sony/M$ now and I, for one, am glad that I put my money on Sony. I've had my PS3 since launch (original 60GB owner) and I have 3 friends with 9 xbox 360s (5 RRODed and 1 E71ed).
Why is everyone ranking down people that say the PS3 is sometimes only used as a cheap blu-ray player?
Its a fact... I have all 3 systems and only 2 games for PS3. But I have about 15 blu-rays and rent blu-rays from netflix. I usually buy games for the 360 because I feel the online is better and I can use rechargeable batteries(Most don't need this but my family room situation I do).
Well shaun if you knew me you'd know somoen who uses it for games. I bought my PS3 for games first and Blu-Ray was a bonus/justification for the price. I currently own 2 of the 3 console systems and at one point had all 3. Just before the end of the year, I sold my Wii because I wasn't using it at all and bought far fewer games for it than either of the other 2 consoles. I use my XBOX and PS3 about the same amount of time on average. Sometimes I'll go a month without using one and the next month it's the other that's not being used. Though actually, now that I think of it, I'm on my third XBOX (each fixed under warranty) and if I figure in the downtime I actually use my PS3 more.
LOL, what a tool (I mean you)...
Everyone knows Activision won't drop Playstation, it's by far the biggest gaming brand on the planet. Bigger than Wii, bigger than Xbox. (Playstation had shipped over 400million units into homes).
@Mark
Sony has only shipped about 23 million PS3s worldwide while the Wii has shipped over 50 million in the same amount of time and the 360 shipped 30 million since it's release.
As for everyone harping on Activision: Considering the game costs $60 means the controller that comes with it is $40, the same price as those PS3 controllers. And you can just buy the game by itself and use an old controller so quitcherbitchen. Same goes for the RB series.
You don't know too many people, do you?
Wait, did you say "handheld controllers"?
Or... just make better games instead of Guitar Hero 6 or something...
Yea, like scratch scratch Revolution....
Yeah if I was Steve Ballmer I would have been promoting Natal...which I never mentioned....so nice try. You have no personal stake in Sony, so why are you defending them?
Dude, go away. Don't you have to get your chores done or get your diaper change.
When trolls go wild.
I think we can all agree a Christmas price cut is a fact of life. The way the PS3 games are looking, I may just pick one up by then.
Think about it. PSP Go! Came out, and pictures of a Slim PS3? It makes sense since Cell went to 45nm or 32 or whatever smaller figure die process. Sony just kept it underwraps because it's going to be their trump card come this holiday season.
Guy looks like El Kabong in that picture.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/el%20kabong/blubyrds/1bc7a678.jpg
CAGE MATCH.... wooohooo FIGHT!!
are there a bunch of bums living today? Get this, I have never had a job, and I managed to purchase the ps3 January 2008 with my own money. explain that.
You must be known for having the best drugs in town then
No silly, Drug Dealer is clearly an occupation.
Maybe he "purchased" it from a locked car...
Still living in your parents' basement huh?
Yep sounds like every PS3 owner I know, no job and lives with mommy and daddy.
I'm a full time college student btw.
Ahh, Student Loans. My roommate did that too, used his student loans on things besides school. Now he's in a lot of debt.