You leave the details to MSs team, that isn’t the problem of us. Phil says it’s sustainable and I find it hard to believe they would plan this out years in advance knowing just how little money they would be making.

Did you know game sales increase for GP titles over time? That’s because GP users recommend titles to friends without the service. Word of mouth is a powerful thing. Maybe devs pay MS to stay on the service for the exposure, we honestly don’t know their full revenue stream beyond just paying subscribers. And we know at least half of MS studios are A-AA and buying outright is still a majority option for gamers.

Ever considered the revenue coming in from PC gamers? Both outright buys and PC GamePass? MS doesn’t lock their games behind a console anymore. 

Overall I think you agree that Sony could be a little less stingy with their 1st party on a service emphasizing PlayStation experiences. And GP being an objectively better service just drives the point home all the more. But you shouldn’t assume quality will go down because all games will be made for the service, that’s a FUD narrative and I think while I’m not above it you are (compliment).

You pretend your words don't imply anything, but you're actually making claims.

1. You're suggesting quality is gonna go down because declining software sales and Gamepass. But you don't really know if game budgets have been impacted, gone up or gone down. Its all pointless speculating, but you act as if your speculation is valid.

I`m claiming it CAN nor that it WILL. If you want to pretend that loss in revenue don`t impact available budget then that is on you.

2. MS isn't sustaining their AAA games with Gamepass alone. Therefore that whole argument you're making is pointless. Its also possible many users who don't want to buy full price games are opting for Gamepass thus increasing revenue.

Yes I know they aren`t sustaining with GP. And again without numbers, that MS doesn`t give, we don`t know if they are getting more profits or less, nor the long term effect.

3. If sales or profits go down significantly or stay modest, IPs might just disappear. That generally just happens. You're suggesting Gamepass will cause this happen which hasn't been the case thus far, several years in.

Again, I`m suggesting it CAN not that it WILL. Several years in? There haven`t been a single game that started development after GP was launched, much less a long time passed. For reference PS+ had much better games on PS3 than on PS4, and the biggest reason and change was they looking biggest reason for PS+ was the MP not the games. So let`s wait to see the drivers of GP and MS strategy in the gen before you say there is no way it could happen.

4. I am not saying Gamepass improved the quality of MS software, I am saying MS is improving the quality of their software while running Gamepass. Hence, quality hasn't been impacted by Gamepass. No evidence Gears 5 and Forza Horizon 4 were negatively impacted by Gamepass. Halo:MCC got a massive overhaul and launched Gamepass. Hence, quality has gone up and output is going to increase.

If Halo Infinite is a notable release, I guess that would be more evidence MS is improving quality of their software.

Yes quality have gone so much better that MS was praised all this time for their 1st party efforts right?

But to get back on topic. Is it time for Knack 2 to save PS Now?

I like Knack 2, but have no idea what you want from this point, and does PSNow needs saving? We already discussed that PSNow purpose and strategy isn`t what you want it to be.

I didn't dispute they can or will make money on GP. That doesn't mean the quality of the content will increase. And with MS giving exactly 0 number on sales we can't even see how much the day one titles are selling overall.

Will keep in mind half of the studios being A-AA when you or some other MS fan try to do the "we now have as many studios so we will fight on the 1st party SW quantity and quality" and stuff like that =p. And yes GP with day one would be more sustainable with more A-AA titles than AAA.

Even with the PC purchases the MS games are selling lower than they did on X360 and much lower than what Sony titles are selling, and PS games are locked on PS, also not to forget that historically the revenue made on PC is much lower than on consoles. Even juggernauts like GTA gives preference to console.

Yes sure Sony could do better I have acknowledge it, and also gave the reasons why they don't currently (and sure it could change). It isn't a certainty on quality will go lower, it is a concern because of sustainability of the business model. Myself I would prefer it increases quality and quantity and sure people paying less, receiving more and being positive. Still that isn't what I have seem with Netflix and worry that can happen with GP, PSNow, XCloud, etc.

1. Revenue in long running IPs has ups and downs. My example was Gran Turismo, its way down in sales. However, the current budget might be bigger than ever because it still sells well enough and more attention is put into visual fidelity.

Sure it have ups and downs. GT haven't sold lower than 6M so far, and that seems enough to pay for the game. But if it were to be expected hovering on the 2M per entry changes would be necessary.

2. Okay, then there is nothing to really discuss. All we really know is sales on console, PC and Gamepass subscriptions support 1st party games. All of that combined appears to be more revenue than Xbox consoles alone.

Probably, but now we are also going to have double the number of studios, and we have to wait and see if the combined revenue and profit will be enough to support quality first and quantity second or if they will need more quantity to keep the service feed with variable quality.

3. A concern about Gamepass is games would be rushed out with little quality control. That hasn't happened, its been the opposite actually. You're concerned about what COULD happen, not what is happening. Quality control is still important for actual sales and encouraging subscriptions.

Of course I'm concerned about what could, if it was already hapening it would be more than concern it would already be a situation that needs solution.

4. What?

PS Now got a massive price cut. I think that's Sony admitting the service is lacking. It needs Knack 2.

Services and products get price cuts all the time. But sure it can be an indication that customers weren't seeing the value meeting the price and so Sony needed to cut the entry price instead of improving the service (because likely that would give less profit on their projection).