Forbes: The PS4/Xbox One Console War Has Taken A Decidedly Stupid Turn
"... But recently, the things that divide the PS4 and Xbox One are becoming less and less interesting, and focused less on providing new and interesting perks and games for their systems and more about mildly annoying those who own their rival console.
"This happens in a number of ways, but one of the most prominent is a practice that has spawned with this new generation, timed-exclusive content, and now as the concept evolves, timed-exclusive games.
"We’ve seen Sony do this with Activision since the dawn of the PS4. They worked out a deal where PS4
Destiny players get certain “bonus” content in the base game and its expansions. So far, that’s meant that PS4 players have gotten weapons, armor, ships, missions and multiplayer maps that Xbox players haven’t, and though it’s not a
ton of stuff, it’s certainly enough to be irritating.
"Microsoft reportedly “invested” enough in the development of Square Enix’s
Rise of the Tomb Raider that they get to call themselves a co-publisher. It’s one thing if a developer makes a commitment to purchase a franchise for themselves, but again, this ended up being a timed deal.
It was just revealed that
Rise of the Tomb Raider will indeed come to PlayStation, but players will have to wait a solid year for the honor of playing it. Rather than buying one of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises for their own, Microsoft is merely leasing it to annoy PS4 players.
"I suppose we’re seeing a shift where developers and publishers would rather develop games released for all consoles rather than having to choose sides. Console sales have never been higher this early in a generation, so everyone wants a piece of every pie. The cost of retaining developers to make exclusive games is likely rising.
"But the problem is that the solution that’s been found is nothing but an annoyance to players. Console timed exclusive content and timed exclusive games are like mobile games that throw up paywalls. One side gets angry enough at the other to develop an intense hatred of the brand in question, yet the “convenience” of getting some content a week or a year early isn’t enough to make them actually run out and buy a console.
"It’s a different sales pitch when you have Microsoft and Sony listing off their exclusive franchises as to why you should join their team, compared to saying “Get select
Destiny content a year early on PlayStation” or “play
Tomb Raider first on Xbox.” It’s not enough punch to produce an actual console sale, but enough to make the other side grumble quite a bit.
"As such, this console war has stagnated and become rather dull. Both major systems have slowed to releasing what seems like one or two major exclusive games a year, and are more concerned with squabbling over crumbs given to them by developers (in exchange for millions of dollars)."
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