Think many here Underestimate the Impact of A Console Timed Exclusive (XBox1 Related)

[sales2099]

kupomogli said:

Timed exclusives are patchwork that benefits the console in the short term. It helps gain marketshare which is good for the company, but it's just bad for gaming overall. As was already stated, it's just wasting resources that could have been used to develop an actual exclusive. It brings no benefit to the owner of the console because while the game is on their system first, it's still on the other system. Unless you're exclusive to one console, what do the sales of the game matter other than the my penis is bigger than yours comments(which this thread is.) The publisher is the only one being hurt by the timed exclusive, as they're more than likely losing more money than they gained with the contract.

One thing beneficial for the other console that receives the timed exclusive later, is that even though it starts at $60, the fact that it normally doesn't sell well means that the title itself drops in price much quicker. Mass Effect 2 included all DLC but one they released after the PS3 version and could be found for $20 in a couple of months couldn't it? It's not like a timed exclusive actually stops other games from coming out, or stops other exclusives from coming out, Timed exclusivity gives them one less game to choose from and when they can choose it, it's going to be very cheap very quickly. Gamers can easily spend their money elsewhere and then pick the timed exclusive up for cheap a few months after release.

That's certainly true. But this is a hyper competitive industry with new games taking the spotlight in very quick succession. If a certain game was coming to one console first, its getting great reviews, and marketing is ramping up, your friends are buying it.....it is hard to wait for the other version.

Come next year, chances are theres another timed exclusive or exclusive to take the spotlight, meanwhile the other guy got the timed exclusive that is now a year old game. Its really all about having that "must have" great game every year (or more likely, every holiday), regardless if its going to other formats when the hype has moved on.