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Why It'll Take Years for PS Plus to Catch Up to Xbox Game Pass

PS Plus has been playing with a deck stacked against it from the beginning, and will have an uphill battle to reach the level of Xbox Game Pass.

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gamerant.com
masterfox397d ago (Edited 397d ago )

really annoying to keep seeing this that GP is better when MS doesn't even have an interesting high quality new exclusive games on it, even on this article in the picture they keep showing time after time the same effing games Halo, Gears heck is that Lara on left?, lol, also they aren't even in top spot in this game industry, so what's the deal to keep saying GP is better?, to multiplataform games?, PS already has that now with similar service but with Sony we have PS exclusives, and that is instantly is miles better no freaking doubt imo.

agnosticgamer396d ago

Sony themselves said they were 3-5 years behind. And Xbox GamePass had captured what 60-70% of the gaming subscription market in their letter to Brazils FTC equivalent? I’m pretty sure Sony knows the numbers a lot better than you do.

sparky77396d ago

Exactly this, when Sony themselves admit Game Pass is the best deal in gaming and the most successful then you know it's true.

Too many people here are in denial.

Lifexline396d ago

Right if the own company admits to being behind and fans are still in denial that’s when you know you have a problem.

But in all seriousness people don’t understand the value of it. People just want to act like fanboys game pass has so many games on it high quality ones for $10 a month do people not understand that? That’s a steal. You can literally try any game on it instead of paying for one $70 game you pay $10 and play as many games as you heart can handle. You can try. Games you normally wouldn’t bother buying and discovering whether you like it or not. Like most streaming services people are just blind it’s not about Sony vs Microsoft. It’s the value both services give their customers.

rippermcrip396d ago

What exactly did Sony say?

DeusFever396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

“60-70% of the game subscription market”

Before PS+ Extra/Premium, who were the other 30-40%? Apple? Stadia? PS Now?

Redemption-64396d ago

So, who are the other 40-30%? I seriously don't think this is the win you are looking for. None of the other major players in the gaming industry have a subscription service like GP, I highly doubt T2, Sony, Valve, Nintendo, Ubisoft and others are interested. EA is honestly the closest. If there are 25M or let's say 27M GP subscribers and that makes up 60-70% of the industry, that should show you that isn't a lot and the market is small.

I am also more than confident Sony is more than capable of doing day 1, they have done so with some AA games, however they don't have the cash to burn like Xbox in hopes it becomes successful. I personally do not see GP ever reaching the numbers of Netflix, Disney+ or Spotify, so it will be interesting to see how many subscribers GP needs to be profitable and if MS would keep going if it doesn't.

396d ago
Aloymetal396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

The facts disagree with all that delusion you just posted. Wishful thinking, delusional thoughts and personal opinions are not facts.
https://twitter.com/Zuby_Te...
https://www.dualshockers.co...

VenomCarnage89396d ago

People seriously can't comprehend anything other than what their own bias wants them to these days.
Sony is talking 3-5 years behind.... In terms of subscription numbers. That means (drumroll..) they think it'll take roughly 4 years to see that many subscriptions to their service. This isn't complicated stuff people

Lightning77396d ago

For all those downvotes because of bitterness.

https://game--news24-com.cd...

Weird how Sony is confirming this before MS though.

agnosticgamer396d ago

@rippermcrip

"This is what Sony said about GamePass in document filings in Brazil:
Sony said that Game Pass had collected approximately 60-70 percent of the global market for subscription services in the past five years. A market share of Brazil is actually higher, with 70-80% of the PC subscription services generating Game Pass. Sony believed that being able to become a rival to Microsoft’s subscription service, even with substantial investments, would require several years for the rival to succeed.

Sonys first-party success was quite strong since the PS5s launch, but it thinks Game Pass is quite a threat. The service may change if the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is approved. If Sony doesn’t agree, its most likely to be able to offer Call of Duty on the PlayStation console, particularly given its high popularity."

https://game-news24.com/202...

But I guess all the thumbs-down votes are salty PS fans? All I did was post the truth of what Sony themselves said. Anyone who likes the PS+ sub-models better is great for them. But as of now, Sony doesn't see it that way.

shinoff2183396d ago

@lifexline

Gamepass is definitely more then 10 a month dont fib for no reason. Dont also act like there isnt great games on plus. I havent touched my xbox in months and i have gamepass. I have seen about 3 games release in that time that i have interest in. I also adore indies so i know about trying new games.

Godmars290396d ago

Given that PC sub are likely counted along with console, saying "60-70% of the gaming subscription market" - in a specific country no less - is all that big a deal. As is the subscription market in general.

Worrisome in regards to game quality, but in and of itself.

Rude-ro396d ago

60-70% of what?
You are saying a pr spin.

There was no market. Making one does not mean you took a populace that did not exist.

As far as “behind”… one has to be producing something to have.

A decade long drought and counting means the future is dry of any AAA real demand.

I know this is not the number… but if I create a digital product, and a 100 people sign up.. I can spin that as a 100% growth.

We all know gaming wants to rent out their products that are filled with micro transactions, season passes and dlc’s…

But maybe Sony being behind on this aspect is a very good thing for the gaming community.

r2oB396d ago

Even if it will take Sony 3-5 years to "catch up", do Xbox gamers think that's a long time? How long have they been waiting for Microsoft to "catch up" to Sony in regards to consistent, quality AAA output? I'm sure Playstation gamers will be fine for the next 3-5 years playing great games while Sony waits for the subscription numbers to balance out.

Crows90396d ago

@Lifexline

Yeah but ps extra is cheaper than gamepass and has better quality games...including exclusives. Now thats a steal.

Lifexline396d ago

@shijoff and crows are you guys illiterate? I said that game pass is a great service that it gives to its consumers Xbox owners. I said it’s not about Sony vs Microsoft. I never mentioned plus lol learn how to read both of you. Plus is also a great service to PlayStation owners lol if it makes you guys sleep better at night. These types of services are great to all consumers it’s a steal.

WiiU-Dude395d ago

Sony Fanboys will never acknowledge Microsoft does anything better or has anything better. Never. Maybe small stuff, but that is about it. Even if Sony admits so much, Sony's fans still will have nothing to do with it. That is just how it is.

Gunstar75395d ago

Apparently facts are wrong according to your downvotes.

Fanbabies are hilarious

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KyRo396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

I have PS Extra and Gamepass and I would say Gamepass does edge itself ahead of PS Extra but Sony has put up a solid start so far all things considered. Both have some great games on there but Gamepass has quite a few newer releases. The downside is there's a lot of filler on both services of you're not massively into some indie games.

I also find whilst gamepass has newer titles, the titles available on Gamepass are not in the same league as Sony first party titles if we're being honest.

CaptainHenry916396d ago

"Sony first party titles if we're being honest"
This quote makes this article irrelevant

Lightning77396d ago

I was gonna say Sony's launch of premium had better games than Gamepass at launch. It's only gonna get way better from here.

shinoff2183396d ago

Sony has been at the revamp for only 2 months

headshotfrosty396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

Salty are we? Clear it’s a good strategy and Sony knows this hence the uptick in the service offerings as well as PS games on PC. Why does everyone keep acting like MS only makes bad decisions when clearly they have been the real ones leading ecosystem advancement not just games. Reason they have two different sized pockets. Sony needs this.

thesoftware730396d ago

Exactly this.

I think it's mostly a fear of the competition paired with some of Sony's recent terrible moves and backtracking this gen. behind the scenes Sony is on the ropes and is very desperately trying to catch up and find a new strategy that works, the whole 3-4 exclusives a year being their saving grace won't cut it this gen. There are so many ways for people to get and access 100s of games now, that people's attention is constantly jumping all over the place.

gametapes396d ago

thesoftware730

Do you really think that a future of low budget indies and MTX filled games that can survive the new subscription dynamic are better than the type of big budget single player games without DLC and MTX that Sony was offering consumers before Microsoft forced this market change?

Because I don't.

I think that in 10 years, people will look back at those 3-4 games a year we had on PS4 and wish we still had that level of budget and quality. Much like many people miss the days of the PS2 when you could buy a game and get the whole game on a disk that you actually owned.

DOMination-396d ago

Why can't you have both? Cant it be that MS are buying studios so that they (eventually) will have a stream of quality content?

There is no evidence (so far) that MS are looking.to churn out f2p style shovelware.

gametapes396d ago

DOMination-

Nearly every game that Microsoft publishes has DLC / MTX heck Halo now even has a FTP battle pass...

Extermin8or3_395d ago

@domination actually there is ample evidence that most gamespass games will be nicrotransaction filled and geared towards being games as a service and multiplayer. Why? Well part of it is about profitability the second part is you need people to remain subscribed not subscribe for a month- then unsubscribe and wait for thr next big title theybare interested in and resubscribe. You need to keep them subscribed and spending money.

DOMination-395d ago

"@domination actually there is ample evidence that most gamespass games will be nicrotransaction filled and geared towards being games as a service and multiplayer."

I think we are talking about different things. My point was mainly that there's no evidence that MS are telling their studios to churn out half finished games every six months to fill a game pass quota. Everything announced so far has been longterm projects. Not saying that will stay the same in future but right now, MS are making AAA games and releasing them day one on Game Pass with largely free post-release content.

It isn't really true at all on the multiplayer comment and speculative at best on MTX. They are there of course but "ample evidence" is hyperbole at this point.

Halo Infinite: F2P multiplayer focused with MTX
FH5: Single player & Multiplayer - only MTX is a treasure map for the collectibles. Has been a feature in all Horizon games way before Game Pass ever came along. Has free monthly updates and major expansion is free for game pass subscribers
MSFS - Single player game. Monthly world updates are all free to download. Top Gun expansion is free. There is a marketplace for third-party vendors to sell their creations.
Psychonauts 2 - Single player
Age of Empires IV - single player
Grounded - ??? - I haven't played but I believe it's a multiplayer focused F2P but with no MTX. Correct me if I'm wrong.

They just published a game called As Dusk Falls - a single player story-driven game.
Next up: Starfield. A single-player story-driven game. No information (as far as I know?) on MTX. I imagine it will have the creators club but existed before Game Pass, not a product of it.
Redfall: Multiplayer focused game. No information available on MTX or if it's a F2P game as far as I'm aware
Hellblade II - single player
Forza Motorsport: Single player focused with multiplayer modes
The Outer Worlds 2: Single player
Avowed: Single player
Fable: Single player
Perfect Dark: Single player with multiplayer modes
Pentiment - single player
Contraband - Co-op focused - no further information at this stage
Everwild - single player

395d ago
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itsmebryan396d ago

As long as PS plus only has old games that you probably already own it can't compete with day one games on Gamepass at no extra charge. No one only plays "AAA exclusives" if so you are missing out on a lot of great games. Plus, since it looks like Sony all it's games on PC does Sony really have any exclusives?

Also games like "Death loop" and future COD are $70 on PS5 and included with Gamepass.

S2Killinit396d ago

Day one is only for MS first party. You get like 2 per year. And not quality ones either.(at least so far) So, no.

2moda5gamer396d ago

Totally expecting Death Loop to be on Plus same day as GP. It's had its year exclusivity - it's made what money it can for Sony.

S2Killinit396d ago

Exactly, as is, PS PLUS is on par if not better than Gamepass, especially if someone has missed out on some of Sony’s high quality first party games. Then its not even a comparison.

thesoftware730396d ago

What games are better is very subjective.

Om4ever396d ago

@masterfox Forza Horizon 5 ... End of discussion

fr0sty396d ago

Why it won't matter: Sony has better games to put on PS+.

brewin396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

Next year and beyond the difference is really going to shine through. Eventually Sony will have to adopt some kind of approach to adding newer games. You severely underestimate the power of that day one release schedule for all first party games.

Sure you may not like Halo or any of the Xbox exclusives that are on there but there are exclusive games on there and they are great. Forza Horizon 5 is great Halo is great. Just because you don't personally like those doesn't mean they aren't great games. Halo gets a lot of flack but it's mostly just because people want more of it because it's a great game. Also stuff like Psychonauts 2, Ori games, etc are on there. There's also millions of gamers that didn't buy or play an Xbox One and pretty much all of those Xbox One exclusives are on there. There really are some gems stuff like Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, Rare Replay, Sea of Thieves, all the Gears and Halo games, etc.

Another thing you're overlooking is the Discovery Factor. There are new games coming to the pass on an almost weekly basis. Stuff that is just coming out. It's not all first party stuff that's day one. There are all these games that a lot of people wouldn't take a second look at that are finding success because of the subscription. If you don't play it you wouldn't know.

I subscribe to both I think they're both great services in their own right. But Game pass just has a leg up because they've been around longer. The quest system things of that nature the rewards all of that stuff that Sony has not implemented into PS plus yet are also differentiators. But the big deal in the coming year and beyond will be when all of the big games they have been working on finally come out.

I'm particularly stoked for Redfall and Starfield and Big Time releases like that are included on day one! I've already subscribed for the next several years so the fact that I don't have to pay $60 to $70 per game for all these big games that are coming is huge for the millions of gamers that have subscribed. And there's going to be a lot more people subscribing once the Activision Blizzard merger goes through!

FGHFGHFGH396d ago

Why does SONY have to copy gamepass? They sell way more games than Xbox. Third party games sell way more on playstation. Elden Ring sold 40% on playstation vs 16% on xbox and 44% on pc. Basically all the sales were on pc and playstation. I bet Call of Duty sells more on playstation too. All the big sellers sell like 2 to 1 on ps.

JayRyu396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

Exactly!!!
Also MS is willing to pay for 3rd party games to release Day and Date on Game Pass as well. RE 8 for example would have been on Game Pass when it released if Sony did not pay Capcom to block it.

So there is even more incentive to choose Game Pass over PS+

MadLad396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

I mean, Gamepass came out years after PS Now, on a console that has less overall sales than Playstation, yet destroyed PS Now so much they had to cut the system entirely and hide it within the PS Plus numbers.

PS Now had abysmal numbers, so they just rolled it into another tier of PlayStation Plus; a service you need to play most games online.

gametapes396d ago

Game Pass didn't start its real growth until it was on PC.

It's not console that's driving Game Pass numbers, it's PC.

Chevalier396d ago

Hide numbers? Like how Microsoft hides behind stupid metrics and sales are so terrible that they stopped reporting them? Lol

neutralgamer1992396d ago

How many of you defending GP are paying full price on per month basis? Serious question

Until Ms are getting retail MSRP on per month basis/recurring payments they aren't making PROFIT

agnosticgamer

Xbox is 10 years behind PlayStation when it comes to quality of games. I am a GP user who's signed up for next 34-35 months and there has been anything good on it in a while. Most of the times we are playing backwards compatible games on XSX

For as much praise as cult like fanboys give to these corporations I wish the same people would be up in arms about not getting great games but instead on social media they are praising Phil Spencer around the clock

I could careless about the plastic box and GP would be an amazing service when Ms cam produce 5-8 exclusives every year(they own so many IP's and studios that in 3-5 years time they should be able to get on a steady schedule)

I am a gamer first and foremost

darthv72396d ago

for me personally, I try to earn enough bing search points to get a free month every now and then. but in the meantime, i just let it renew every 3. It just did the other day for $45. Kind of wished they offered a yearly for less like they used to for gold. Maybe they will but for now i just pay whatever it is.

Extermin8or3_395d ago

They are never going to produce 5-8 exclusives a year. 3 or 4 if you are lucky becauae todo anything else simply isn't profitable.

headshotfrosty395d ago

Lol another armchair genius. It’s called a loss leader. Look it up. It attracts customers using low cost services then makes money on add ons etc. They make more money off the add ons overall as more the money saved on game purchases is reallocated to add ons that have ridiculous profit margins. They only have to sell a few million skins at $5 each (per game average) to justify the entire system at scale.

ChubbyBlade396d ago

PSNow us nowhere near as good as gamepass. I don’t even have an Xbox, I have gamepass on Pc and a ps5. They’re not comparable. Gamepass is extremely good value.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 395d ago
zsquaresoff397d ago

PS Plus is already a better service because of New and legacy titles that Xbox can only dream of getting. Playstations first party games alone overshadows everything on GamePass currently.

396d ago Replies(5)
thesoftware730396d ago

GP is obviously a threat to Sony no matter your spin. I like PS exclusives just like the next man, but I also like MS exclusives, which they do have as well. It just seems like the only argument people have in defense of Sony is...they have exclusives! guess what? so do all of the big 3 and in that case, it's a matter of preference, not everyone is into long-drawn-out similar cinematic Sony games, by the way, many are starting to pop up on PC as well. When you look at other features, services, price of games, community, BC, GP attractive price with the ability to play on PC, tablets, web browsers, and cell phones, and future prospects from recent acquisitions, its not impossible to see why some may like Xbox or GP as a better option.

I am not saying one system is better than the other overall, I'm just pointing out that some people make it seem like it's an insta-win for Sony.

giovonni396d ago

I agree! It’s too much emotional attachment to these systems. To the point where it’s childish. Like fans are really upset that there is value in something they have no plans trying.

rippermcrip396d ago

Microsoft is in a DISTANT 3rd place for exclusives. Let alone award winning exclusives. Sony puts out GOTY contenders on a yearly basis.

Tspite396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

What xbox has to offers pales in comparison to what we have already seen from PS. We haven’t even seen what will be announced for 2023-2024 other than Spider-Man 2, Wolverine, and from Square, Forspoken, FF 16 and FF7 Rebirth etc.

I need to see Xbox offer more they have already to see them as a viable threat. Yes, in terms of GP vs PS plus, that could be a different story entirely. Without day and date Sony still has more subscribers. Sony will also likely be adding much more to PS extra/premium over the coming months including day 1 AA games.

I think there is great value on both sides, but I would still say Sony is keeping a close eye on this deal and do have legitimate concerns when it comes to service vs service.

As long as PS churns out great games and they still sell like they have been, their business model won’t change much, like Nintendo. But they will offer more on their service to appease those kind of gamers and will be porting games more often to PC.

That is all a win win for Xbox and PS in my eyes. But Sony will likely remain dominant in the market next to Nintendo. Where they could possibly lose is in services unless PS Plus grows with much more content. (And atm Sony still has the lead).

This is all merely opinionated and based on the current data we have. This is how I see it.

EvertonFC396d ago

MS exclusives ? like the usual gears, forza, halo? I'll add fable to that and project Gotham racing and flight sim but what else ? Quantum break, ryse? That's about it for 20 years of Xbox.
I'm sure I'm missing one or two but I think you get my point for 20 years of Xbox

Crows90396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

Except what you say is the argument isnt actually the argument.
Nobody is buying xbox exclusives. Everyone is buying playstation exclusives. See the difference?
So when people say xbox gamepass is better because of day 1 exclusives...first thats not a good sign and second those exclusives need to be desirbale. IF playstation extra will offer all playstation exclusives 6+ months after release thats so much better than what gamepass has in store. Sure gamepass will offer quick access to now bought IP like elder scrolls and starfield BUT thats not actually good for those games.

IF you dont understand this let me do some simple math.
Assume there are 30 million gamepass subscribers. In the month of starfields release those 30 million ALL pay $10 to access that game. Thats 300 million dollars for Starfield...although we know the $10 dont all go to starfield so Im being very generous. ON the other hand assume maybe 10 million people would buy Starfield at $60 in the same month of its release. That would make starfield 600 million dollars and ALL of it would go to starfield.

Do you see the problem here? Gamepass day 1 games from their exclusive dev teams only means that if they dont bring in the subscribers to make up for it then those studios will be downsized. Eventually disbanded or mishandled like so many Microsoft studios in the past. You need money to run a business and no business runs on a net loss.

Oh and gamepass with less features is more expensive than ps extra.

Chevalier396d ago (Edited 396d ago )

The reason neither Playstation or Nintendo needs to offer their 1st party games on any service because their games sell extremely well. Don't forget the reason Xbox had to move to Gamepass to try to stay relevant being in 3rd place, with entries of Gears, Halo etc dropping to their lowest series sales.

Spiderman, Uncharted, Pokemon, Smash, Mario and flagship titles do so well it would be a huge loss to lose their day 1 sales, can the same be said for Halo, Gears, Forza? Nope, sales don't even compare.

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RangerWalk267396d ago

The Sony exclusives are the types of games that would be perfect for a subscription service like PS Now and Game Pass. They're typically single player, one and done rentals. I do own multiple copies of The Last of US lol.

395d ago
headshotfrosty394d ago

Oh boy here we go. First Sony stans complaining and hated on GP. Now that PS has a version instantly they’re better. Geez you all must be huffing that good stuff. Serious delusional fan mouth foaming.

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sparky77397d ago

It's true, Game Pass has far superior games 1st and 3rd party with a massive variety not just 3rd person narrative games.

There is a reason it's called the Best Deal in Gaming and it will remain that way especially with the addition of ABK games.

Sony just can't compete they just don't have the money to make the same deals MS can.

DeusFever396d ago

Far superior games? Like what?

Kakashi Hatake395d ago (Edited 395d ago )

They'll say anything to continue their Gamepass day one narrative. Plus Extra and Premium offer tons to play. Subscriptions are garbage by their logic unless the games are brand spanking new, yet nothing worthwhile has released for GP since Halo. Would rather get the best of both worlds with Playstation. Can get newish games without sacrificing first party quality. If I have to have a game day one, just support the developer and buy it.

gametapes396d ago

PS Plus has far more GOTY winners and nominated games.

And are you really trying to claim that Game Pass has more variety than PS Plus? PS Plus has around 3x as many games covering every single genre. Premium has 400 games alone, Premium has more classic games than Game Pass has in total.

So I am going to call B.S. on both your quality and variety claims.

S2Killinit396d ago

So wrong that a response would give your comment too much credit.

396d ago
garryxcs396d ago

I agree with the money part, It's always about how much money MS has but as for the "far superior games", lol that's so far from reality it's ridiculous to even suggest.

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Silly gameAr397d ago (Edited 397d ago )

MS is the only company I know that can pretty much not do anything but push a sub service, and still get articles like this. Any other company would be getting crapped on. I guess some companies really can do the bare minimum, and get loyal fans for life.

DeusFever396d ago

Microsoft puts a ton of PR behind Game Pass. More than the gaming news media will ever admit.

isarai397d ago

I'd rather have the better exclusives than a subscription service, just sayin 🤷‍♂️

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