Otter said:
Veknoid_Outcast said:
I don't quite get the last post. I feel like there are two approaches Sony could take. It could go for accessibility and convenience by making a digital-only console that's so cheap and easy that consumers are willing to sacrifice the security/flexibility of physical. Or it could go for an enthusiast machine where physical games are sold at a premium, hoping collectors and diehard fans pay for the privilege. A $1,000+ console that's digital only is the worst of both these worlds. Who would be lining up for that? |
"digital-only console that's so cheap and easy that consumers are willing to sacrifice the security/flexibility of physical. "
There is no cheap next gen console in a world where the base Series X is $800.
"Or it could go for an enthusiast machine where physical games are sold at a premium"
By default it will be an enthusiast machine and even then physical game purchases will be the minority & a market they can't easily price control. In any case just there is a limit to console prices before users drop off like flies, the same applies to games prices. The most realistic way of increasing revenue is just to cut out the second hand market, reduce retail costs and reduce their cut, increase the average selling price of games (keeping them closer to RRP $70-80).
The reality is a $1000 system is going to sell very poorly. There's not a lot Sony can do to make a system beyond the PS5 that is cheaper than $800 atm. This ecosystem of removing physical will impact sonys revenue across the whole PS ecosystem not just PS6 (i.e 100m PS5 users). Essentially PS6 is actually not important and will not bring them money. They are just to trying maximise revenue from their existing audience as the they will no longer grow or reach new consumers at current RAM prices.
Essentially sony is taking a big gamble trying to increase average revenue per consumer at the risk of loosing the 10% of users might demand physical. In the market there isn't really alternatives. If you want to play GTA/COD etc you're not going to play it on Switch 2 realistically and if these games do come to S2 they're probably on GCK. Xbox will do the same, they're literally creating a PC. If you care about physical you're not going to get that on PC either.
I think Sony has calculated that besides a vocal annoyance at a preference being dropped, very few will actually ditch playstation. That is something we will have to wait to see. Or at least see how long the negativity lasts. Personally I do hope that they are pressured into making concessions amends but how and in what form, I'm open to seeing what that could look like.
Ultimately this is just a case of capitalism. PS could continue to be profitable with these crazy ram prices relying on their healthy PS5 audience but they won't grow and they are trying correct that to apeal to their share prices & shareholders. That's not unqiue to them but I hope that it comes back to bite them none the less. My only support of this, is if they genuinely use the higher potential revenue to offer systems at lower prices (take a bigger loss on physical). More important than physical vs digital is that people are actually able to afford and enter the game market through new console purchases. |
I agree with everything you're saying. Sony has clearly been more interested as of late in drawing additional money from its current customers, as opposed to bringing in new ones. And the price point is a far bigger issue than physical vs. digital.
I feel like a $1,000+ MSRP will alienate the fair-weather fans who pick up a PlayStation on a whim during Black Friday; and the the lack of physical will alienate the serious fans who care about the medium and the industry — the sort of people who would be more willing to pay a premium. In this scenario, Sony would rely on what Piscatella calls "the most affluent with the least price sensitivity and highest preference for convenience." I'm just not confident a lot of rich, indolent video game fans would be willing to subsidize this experiment.
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