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Zkuq on 12 September 2024
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LegitHyperbole said:
Zkuq said:

This is a trick question. Sony's image in my perception has been staining for a really long time now, but yes, it's getting even worse, maybe even at an accelerating rate.

Hmm. How so? I thought they were doing excellent from 2008- 2020. Like the best there's been in console gaming. What got you feeling lesser about them and when?

Backwards compatibility is probably the biggest single thing, probably starting with reports that Sony got PS2 backwards compatibility via software working on PS3 near its end of life but never released it. As a single thing, it's not a huge deal, especially since I don't think it was ever properly confirmed. But then PS4 came with zero backwards compatibility, which is worse than the PS3, and old games started getting sold with very minor improvements, and to my undestanding at least in some cases using backwards compatibility (note: I have confirmed this; this is just my last recollection of the matter). PS5 took a step in the right direction, but Sony's stance on backwards compatibility still leaves very much to be desired. PS1 and PS2 backwards compatibility should both be very easy for Sony at this point, as little as they matter anymore... Meanwhile Microsoft, the company I've long disliked, has almost perfect backwards compatibility going back all the way to the original Xbox.

Backwards compatibility is the main thing, but there's other things too. Here's what comes to my mind off the top of my head:

  • paid online multiplayer (I don't care if Microsoft did it first, I still think it's nonsense to have to pay for this)
  • attempts at online passes during the PS3 era
  • poor sales on Store
  • disappointing PS4 price drops
  • PS5 price increases, no (permantent) drops at all (I think)
  • Dualsense price increase while probably being quite profitable for Sony (controllers have always been, as far as I know)
  • mandatory online registration on PS5 'slim'
  • extremely greedy PS5 Pro pricing and the lack of a disc drive

I'm probably missing something, but that should give an idea anyway. Funnily enough, I don't particularly hold it against Sony if they want to do GaaS games. I don't really mind them doing GaaS games, but if that means fewer interesting games, that's obviously a missed advantage, but that's not against Sony per se, it just lessens my interest in Sony's consoles.