So Timed Exclusives are still a thing...

[jackdoe]

DeathLoop and Ghostwire were announced for Xbox platform back when they were announced.

Click to shrink...

Were they? I was wondering if Sony did the same thing as MS with Tomb Raider, i.e. turn a game that was previously announced on a competitor's platform into a timed exclusive, but all the press releases I see around e3 2019 don't mention platforms at all for DeathLoop and Ghostwire.

 

[I KILL PXLS]

I don't mind it for indie games (assuming they haven't announced multiplat support prior), but it is really annoying from these big publishers. That said, I never expected this practice to stop.

 

[Precious Tritium]

And how many were Microsoft going up to a big publisher and paying them to not put their games on PS5? Pretty sure it's zero.

Click to shrink...

Yakuza

I agree it feels less bad with smaller developers but larger developers with new IP probably still feel pretty good with some guaranteed money and free marketing. Just because Bethesda is publishing doesn't mean it's going to sell well

 

[DeoGame]

Yakuza

Click to shrink...

Yakuza is confirmed for PS4 and will likely be on PS5 as well.

 

[Godzilla24]

So scummy to money hat Bethesda games. Why??

 

[justiceiro]

They wouldn't be exclusive at all if not for paid exclusivity. That's why they're annoyed.

Click to shrink...

Its also less likely they would even be made if there was not a additional source of revenue for it. That's exclusives became a thing in the first place.

 

[LordBaztion]

QUOTE="Splader, post: 36648253, member: 39846"]
I believe Xbox showed 3, Medium, Scorn, and The Ascent. Of which none are confirmed to be timed exclusives (they just say exclusive right now), though I could be wrong in that.

In comparison, 12 titles are timed exclusives from this event.

Project Athia, Godfall, Deathloop, Ghostwire, Kena, Bugsnax, Little Devil Inside, Solar Ash, Oddworld, Jett, Goodbye Volcano High, and Stray.[/QUOTE]Stray is confirmed timed exclusive? I hope so.

 

[denx]

The fact that this bullshit made its way to PC (thanks for nothing Epic) should had told you moneyhats ain't going nowhere.

 

[Precious Tritium]

Yakuza is confirmed for PS4 and will likely be on PS5 as well.

Click to shrink...

There's a lot pointing to it being timed on Series X. Coming to PS4 but not 5 at launch.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

So scummy to money hat Bethesda games. Why??

Click to shrink...

After watching the Deathloop trailer I also gotta question why Sony would moneyhat that.

Game looked bad IMO.

 

[KernelC]

I'm almost certain all the games except for AC from Inside Xbox were also timed exclusives with Xbox though.

After watching the Deathloop trailer I also gotta question why Sony would moneyhat that.
Game looked bad IMO.

Click to shrink...

then watch it again

 

[Nostradamus]

The end of the trailers on the PlayStation YouTube channel say which ones are timed exclusives....why was that missing from the show?

Click to shrink...

Thank god there were no "exclusive" splash screens during the show.

 

[Railgun]

I believe Xbox showed 3, Medium, Scorn, and The Ascent. Of which none are confirmed to be timed exclusives (they just say exclusive right now), though I could be wrong in that.

In comparison, 12 titles are timed exclusives from this event.

Project Athia, Godfall, Deathloop, Ghostwire, Kena, Bugsnax, Little Devil Inside, Solar Ash, Oddworld, Jett, Goodbye Volcano High, and Stray.

Click to shrink...

Is there a list of all the games that are exclusives and the ones that are timed? A little annoyed this wasn't communicated more clearly in the show but good to know so many of these will be on other platforms as well.

 

[dancingphlower]

It's better than full exclusives no?

 

[Combichristoffersen]

then watch it again

Click to shrink...

Thanks, but I'd rather not. The visual design and style was butt ugly, and the gameplay sorta looked like a bad Bioshock spinoff of sorts.

 

[Judge]

Were they? I was wondering if Sony did the same thing as MS with Tomb Raider, i.e. turn a game that was previously announced on a competitor's platform into a timed exclusive, but all the press releases I see around e3 2019 don't mention platforms at all for DeathLoop and Ghostwire.

Click to shrink...

Xbox Wire posted about them last E3 when they were announced. They don't do that for games not coming to their platform. Disregarding that...it's games from Bethesda. There's zero reason for them to be exclusive to any platform other than money in hats.

E3 2019: Doom Eternal, Fallout’s Battle Royale, and Ghostwire: Tokyo Revealed at Bethesda’s E3 Keynote - Xbox Wire

We knew going in that Bethesda’s E3 keynote would not have big reveals — and no, there was no footage from The Elder Scrolls 6 or Starfield. The company’s presser did feature a handful of notable game updates and expansions, a couple new title reveals, and the much-anticipated reveal of new...

news.xbox.com

 

[Poimandres]

Yea they suck. At least it's mostly Microsoft and Sony fighting here while PC gets everything day 1. EGS stuff is a nuisance on PC but I'm not too phased about switching launchers on my PC when needed.

 

[Iron Eddie]

Looks like PC will be the safest base to start from.

 

[Staticneuron]

Understanding why they do it is a different story than actually condoning it.

I think the practice is abhorrent as it's nothing more than a power flex that limits access to others.

I get why it's done. It's just unfortunate that we live in a society that demands & rewards keep-away tactics.

Art should not be withheld from anyone.

Click to shrink...

The practice purpose was never to withhold. That is the effect. The attempt is to make a particular hardware look more appealing by bolstering its library. The companies in question don't care about what the competitors base has or do not have. And as usual the people who seem to be most upset about this is either people who are interested in the competition by itself or multiplatform console owners who have a preference. Because in all honesty, whether other people get to experience game or not isn't a rational concern for individuals to have.

Yea they suck. At least it's mostly Microsoft and Sony fighting here while PC gets everything day 1. EGS stuff is a nuisance on PC but I'm not too phased about switching launchers on my PC when needed.

Click to shrink...

To this day I haven't downloaded or used EGS. I am not going to complain about any deals they made. It just helps me choose how I spend my money. I understand if people are annoyed a game they were looking forward to is exclusive, but we all know why they do it and while you can't control the companies, you can control your money.

Microsoft is publishing CrossFire, and they published PUBG lol. Not great examples

Click to shrink...

This harkens way back to Mass Effect days. Alot of MS published games were simply timed exclusives with seemingly MS fronting the costs in specific ways. This has happened for multiple generations now. Sony had a similar strategy , except for being the named publisher they payed marketing costs iirc.

 

[Professor Beef]

So scummy to money hat Bethesda games. Why??

Click to shrink...

maybe the extra money will go towards actual bug testing

 

[Shogun]

It's the quickest way to build an ''exclusive'' library of games even if it's a shady as fuck move. At the same time as much as I don't like what Epic have been doing on the PC scene you really can't blame smaller devs for choosing financial safety in this climate. A studio like Bethesda selling out is wild and shows how little faith they must of had in both games.

 

[Professor Beef]

A studio like Bethesda selling out

Click to shrink...

bro they're a fucking business lmao

 

[Shogun]

bro they're a fucking business lmao

Click to shrink...

Nahh that's a cop out. Timed exclusivity purchased towards the end of development is an extremely shitty practise so miss me with that hand waving nonsense. It's a shady practise that shouldn't be encouraged no matter which of your favourite companies are doing it. The likes of Metro and Borderlands 3 never needed the financial support business move or not.

 

[Poimandres]

To this day I haven't downloaded or used EGS. I am not going to complain about any deals they made. It just helps me choose how I spend my money. I understand if people are annoyed a game they were looking forward to is exclusive, but we all know why they do it and while you can't control the companies, you can control your money.

Click to shrink...

I haven't spent any money on EGS, but have a rather decent library of games there! Hehe.

That's likely to change when Playdead and Gen Designs next games release, but those are being properly funded by Epic so I'm happy to support them.

 

[monmagman]

I'm fucking shocked Sony wrangled two timed exclusives out of Bethesda.

 

[BBboy20]

Have they all been confirmed to be timed exclusives?

And...I mean, yeah? Were people thinking they weren't going to be a thing anymore lol

Click to shrink...

...I don't think people were even aware that was becoming a trend until now.

 

[ShapeDePapa]

Looks like PC will be the safest base to start from.

Click to shrink...

Do we know if they will release on PC at the same time?

 

[tutomos]

Bethesda working with Sony... wonder if it'll lead to something bigger
The GTA5 deal seems small but will probably attract more people than all of the other exclusive deals combined lol.

 

[wafflebrain]

Is Little Devil Inside timed exclusive for PS5 and PC or is it completely locked to PS5 for a year or however long?

 

[Niceguydan8]

Someone mentioned that Microsoft is starting to do it again as well. Medium and other games shown at the XSX presentation are apparently timed exclusives.

Click to shrink...

"Is starting?"

When did they stop?

 

[Aaron D.]

The practice purpose was never to withhold. That is the effect. The attempt is to make a particular hardware look more appealing by bolstering its library.

Click to shrink...

But they still bolster their library...through withholding.

Look, I've got no problem with a platform completely funding a production and calling it their own. That's why no one cries about Nintendo releasing Mario or Zelda exclusively to their own hardware.

However, if a 3rd party develops a game with the intent to eventually spread it across all platforms, holding it back to a single one via moneybags is a cheap move that only benefits those invested said platform.

It's easy to hand-wave it when you're talking the most popular hardware on the market and it doesn't affect you. But it sells everyone else short.

As I said, I get why it's done. but it's a still a cheap move that does a disservice to the global audience.

It's the definition of "capitalism sucks". There's no technical wrongdoing, but it's an artificial barrier that is gross to those left out in the cold.

 

[Professor Beef]

The likes of Metro and Borderlands 3 never needed the financial support business move or not.

Click to shrink...

maybe and maybe not, but they're still a business that wants money

 

[ryseing]

I'm fucking shocked Sony wrangled two timed exclusives out of Bethesda.

Click to shrink...

I'm sure Bethesda liked the guaranteed money for Deathloop given how Arkane's previous games have performed in terms of sales and Ghostwire looks just esoteric enough that it could use the help of the Sony marketing machine. I have zero doubt that Sony is going to treat both of these like first party titles in terms of marketing.

 

[Ravenash]

I don't mind timed or full exclusive for indies or AA games, but from companies like Square, Bethesda, capcom etc is just bullshit. If i recall correctly, deathloop and ghostwire tokyo were announced for Xbox One and PS4, What the hell just happened?

 

[skeezx]

as long as there's different platforms everybody gets their respective goodie bags

i don't "like" it but honestly will you die if you have to wait 4 months for deathloop or whatever

 

[ElephantShell]

Platform holders paying for exclusivity on games they had no hand in developing unfortunately will probably not go away and it kinda stinks. Sony does it, MS does it... It's just one of those things.

I get why they do it though, especially near launch of a new console. It will surely slow down as the gen goes on which will be good.

 

[Aaron D.]

I don't mind timed or full exclusive for indies or AA games, but from companies like Square, Bethesda, capcom etc is just bullshit. If i recall correctly, deathloop and ghostwire tokyo were announced for Xbox One and PS4, What the hell just happened?

Click to shrink...

I read this as you not caring about indies or AA games. Please excuse me if I'm wrong.

I'm the inverse where I could give a flying F about AAA, but seeing indies locked behind moneybags makes me rage, lol.

 

[ElephantShell]

I read this as you not caring about indies or AA games. Please excuse me if I'm wrong.

I'm the inverse where I could give a flying F about AAA, but seeing indies locked behind moneybags makes me rage, lol.

Click to shrink...

At least you know the indie developer secured that bag, which they desperately need.

 

[Aaron D.]

At least you know the indie developer secured that bag, which they desperately need.

Click to shrink...

True.

Still burns.

 

[DeoGame]

I read this as you not caring about indies or AA games. Please excuse me if I'm wrong.

I'm the inverse where I could give a flying F about AAA, but seeing indies locked behind moneybags makes me rage, lol.

Click to shrink...

I'm not OP but I share their views. For me, Indie Games can directly benefit from exclusivity arrangements far more than AAA games can, so I let it slide. They can also be a bit more niche, so the games I play my friend may not and vice versa. Like, one of my friends is dodging FFVII Remake spoilers like the plague but probably wouldn't for Outer Wilds for example.

 

[prodyg]

Its super annoying and makes me not want to support the games at all.

 

[entrydenied]

Oh, neat, it saying it was designed exclusively for PS5 made me think it was a full on PS5 exclusive.

Click to shrink...

I suppose it is more like made for the PS5 as the main platform, then ported over to other consoles when exclusivity ends.

Not unlike the PS3/360 days where games were either made for the PS3 or 360 first, then ported.

 

[Aaron D.]

I'm not OP but I share their views. For me, Indie Games can directly benefit from exclusivity arrangements far more than AAA games can, so I let it slide. They can also be a bit more niche, so the games I play my friend may not and vice versa. Like, one of my friends is dodging FFVII Remake spoilers like the plague but probably wouldn't for Outer Wilds for example.

Click to shrink...

It's an interesting question, all told.

Can indie exclusives betray a lack of confidence in their product?

Or is it the elusive draw of money on the table?

I remember the whole Satisfactory fiasco where the game was advertised on Steam but then scooped up by Epic at the last minute. The devs were complete shit-heels after they got all those Fortnite bucks, badmouthing Steam after the fact. Seemed really scummy, truth be told.

Not sure if there's a right answer either way. Walled gardens just rub me the wrong way.

 

[RdN]

Garbage business tactic, and it becomes specially sucks to see people celebrate this kind of BS. I just saw someone celebrating the fact that GTA Online has a 3 month exclusivity window on the PS5 and I couldn't decide whether to be frustrated or just sad.

 

[Truly Gargantuan]

A studio like Bethesda selling out is wild

Click to shrink...

You mean the studio that tried to sell you horse armor? The studio that tried to monetize mods in the worst possible way? The studio that STAYS releasing buggy ass games and waits for the community to fix it?
THAT Bethesda sold out? No way.

 

[Iron Eddie]

Is there a list of all the games that are exclusives and the ones that are timed? A little annoyed this wasn't communicated more clearly in the show but good to know so many of these will be on other platforms as well.

Click to shrink...

This just highlights how scummy this industry is. It's bad enough we still see timed exclusives (or full) from third party but they top it off by moving the practice to DLC or other content. To make matters even worse is they are not very transparent about it all. That's why there continues to be so much guesswork.

Garbage business tactic, and it becomes specially sucks to see people celebrate this kind of BS. I just saw someone celebrating the fact that GTA Online has a 3 month exclusivity window on the PS5 and I couldn't decide whether to be frustrated or just sad.

Click to shrink...

Most often they are just console warriors validating their purchase.

 

[Shogun]

You mean the studio that tried to sell you horse armor? The studio that tried to monetize mods in the worst possible way? The studio that STAYS releasing buggy ass games and waits for the community to fix it?
THAT Bethesda sold out? No way.

Click to shrink...

Fair points.

 

[Staticneuron]

But they still bolster their library...through withholding.

Look, I've got no problem with a platform completely funding a production and calling it their own. That's why no one cries about Nintendo releasing Mario or Zelda exclusively to their own hardware.

However, if a 3rd party develops a game with the intent to eventually spread it across all platforms, holding it back to a single one via moneybags is a cheap move that only benefits those invested said platform.

It's easy to hand-wave it when you're talking the most popular hardware on the market and it doesn't affect you. But it sells everyone else short.

As I said, I get why it's done. but it's a still a cheap move that does a disservice to the global audience.

It's the definition of "capitalism sucks". There's no technical wrongdoing, but it's an artificial barrier that is gross to those left out in the cold.

Click to shrink...

Not really. Timed exclusives make sense because the aim is to bolster library but it doesn't need to be to specifically harm competition. If it was, there would be nothing stopping them from offering more money to make the exclusivity last so long that it kills any interest on opposing console and seems to be a defacto exclusive. That is why I mentioned Mass Effect before because of how long that series was locked down on 360. Even then the people that hurt the most were probably the pubs/devs. Because people tend to move on because more products are on offer and after MS basically started the timed exclusivity push, Sony followed suit but less aggressive. It seems Sony is more confident in their first party options as well then to make super long timed exclusivity contracts.

But the salient points are "artificial barrier" and "those left out in the cold." Again I pointed that out in previous post because choice is still there to buy into console if you cannot wait, or simply wait. The game doesn't fall apart after the timed exclusives general period (normally seems to be about a year). So it isn't as big of a deal if the only thing people have to do to receive the title is buy in or wait. I mentioned Epic before because they also had deals and I refused to buy in so I had to wait for some titles. Last I check I haven't sustained any injuries during the wait.

I haven't spent any money on EGS, but have a rather decent library of games there! Hehe.

That's likely to change when Playdead and Gen Designs next games release, but those are being properly funded by Epic so I'm happy to support them.

Click to shrink...

Playdead has truly made some amazing experiences. Smart move by Epic to back them.

 

[Minthara]

Timed exclusives will ALWAYS be a thing for a myriad of reasons:
- Marketing is expensive, often doubling the budget of the game if not more if you are an indie team.
- Game development is expensive as hell
- Some teams cannot afford to develop for multiple platforms at once (certification can be expensive and require extra QA costs that some teams simply cannot budget for at the time)
- Some teams simply do not have the marketing arms that major publishers do when all they have on staff oftentimes is one community manager (when compared to an internal publisher marketing team that can be 20-40 people deep, nevermind the difference in reach and established base).

Games are almost always a financial risk of some sort, so the more development costs you can recoup, the better it is for your business. In general, it is better to spend someone else's money on a project rather than more of your own, if you can.

As game budgets continue to rise, recouping your costs becomes even more important. Especially since transitioning to a new-gen in game development is usually a steeper cost.

 

[Ales34]

Its more of an annoyance Bethesda Game Studios are doing timed exclusive deals

Click to shrink...

It's not BGS. It's the Bethesda the publisher. BGS has nothing to do with this.