Sony Losing 3rd Party Exclusives Made The PS3 Shine
Written by Anthony 
When I first heard news of Grand Theft Auto going mulitplatform I was shocked, a little mad, and admittedly a bit nervous. Next came Devil May Cry, a franchise once only available on PlayStation consoles. After that went Tekken, along with many others. The most recent was a major shock to the gaming community, with Final Fantasy XIII going to Xbox 360. So how does all of this benefit us PlayStation 3 owners?
Sony, while always having been known for having talented 1st party developers that create quality titles such as God of War and Shadow of Colossus, suddenly had its back against the wall. If your back is against the wall, and you are feeling cornered, your only choice is fight, or flight. Sony being the king of the consoles, certainly isn’t the company to go down without a long-fought battle.
In this battle, the console wars, the tide is starting to turn. Xbox 360 is starting to slow down, and developers are starting to see the power of the PlayStation 3. And why is this? Because Sony 1st party developers have been forced stepped up their “game”…
Let’s take a look at the 2008 holiday line-up. For shooters, you had Resistance 2 which raised the bar for all multiplayer games with its 60 person multiplayer and its thriving community. We also had the award-winning LittleBigPlanet which was the most innovative title of 2008. Both of these games are a direct result of the console wars, as each developer not only had to perform to expectations, but also had to exceed them to win over new customers on the fence about which console to buy. Sure there were many more stellar games they released, like Motorstorm: Pacific Rift, but that is all I will touch on in 2008. Let’s move on to 2009.
With the recently announced 2009 PS3 line-up, it’s easy to see which console has the very best first party exclusives this year. Yes, I know the year has only just begun, and the other consoles may counter with their own big guns, but let’s be realistic here… I am sure Sony has a few tricks up their sleeve as well. Even without these “tricks” Sony is sure to make some serious waves this year.
Starting off with Killzone 2 (our review is coming Monday) a game that everyone said would never live up to its hype. I can say with confidence that Killzone 2 has not only lived up to its hype, but that the hype didn’t live up to Killzone 2.
Next, let us move to Heavy Rain and inFamous, both unique games in their own respect. Both of these are hoping to find their place amongst the many successful PlayStation franchises. Although both are deserving of our attention, they just might be a bit overshadowed by the next two titles….
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the follow-up to the breath of fresh air that was Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, with the first game being the beginning of what has become one of my favorite franchises of all time. A compelling story, enjoyable cast, and heart pounding third person shooting/platforming round out its feature set.
Lastly, let’s touch on God of War III, even though the game surely speaks for itself. After watching the trailer in HD, and checking out all of the screenshots, it’s easy to see that God of War III is set to be the biggest game of this year. One of Sony’s flagship franchises, and one of the most well known franchises in gaming. Sony Santa Monica has to not only bring us the quality God of War is known for, it has to take the franchise to new heights, giving us gaming experiences so ambitious that gaming will never be the same.
So in closing, with Sony not being able to rely on third party exclusives to drives its console sales, Sony’s first party developers must pick up the slack, and so far, they are doing a phenomenal job of not only doing just that… but they are raising the bar of expectations from the gaming industry.
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February 20th, 2009 at 12:42 PM
When GTA4 was announced for the 360, it didn’t really surprise me… I mean, the other GTA games were ported to the Original Xbox about a year or so after the PS2 versions, so I pretty much expected GTA4 to be multiplatform from the start.
I never was a fan of Devil May Cry, and I didn’t really see that game going multiplatform such a big deal.
But I agree with the title of the article, and I really think that this generation of gaming has made Sony stronger because this is the first time in like 10 years that Sony has had to REALLY work and has had tough competition in the console wars. I think Sony probably got a little cocky because of their immense success with the PS1 and PS2 without a lot of effort, but this generation has brought them back to reality and they’re back on track.
Now that most games are multiplatform, and 3rd party exclusives are very hard to come by, 1st party games are going to become the driving force behind consoles, and Sony has the 1st party studios to do it.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:43 PM
True, its a fight for survival!
February 20th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
I am happy to see the 1st party development efforts that Sony has made. The PS3 has quite an array of titles to show for itself. I will not lie, it still hurts to know that Star Ocean 4 isn’t coming to the PS3.
White Knight Chronicles does more than make up for it.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:25 PM
The more I come here, the more I like it here.
Good read!
Keep up the great work!
February 20th, 2009 at 1:25 PM
A lot of great games coming to PS3, but for me personally, Heavy Rain is the one I look forward to most out of all exclusives.
Alice and BG&E2 are the other most-anticipated games for me.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:29 PM
PS3 fans worry about the “console war” too much.
You don’t see 360 fans or web sites talking about the PS3 all the time.
Who cares if other gamers get to play those games as long as you can still play them on PS3?
360 fans are not all broken up that Mass Effect is going to PS3, what is wrong with you guys?
February 20th, 2009 at 1:38 PM
I agree, why would anyone get shocked mad, or nervous because I get to play those one time exclusives on my 360 now.
Do you own stock in Sony?
You guys take this sh&t way too serious, the PS3s “greatness” will not be affected by such things. Grow up, its good for consumers when exclusives go multiplatform, to hell with some big Japanese corporation. RHE
February 20th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
This might be the dumbest article i have read in a while. All of these games were going to come out with or without the 3rd party games. The PS3 is not ever going to shine because its forever in 3rd place. Does that mean its a bad system power wise? No of course not but sonys best chance at taking the market will be the ps4. The ps3 is this generations XBOX a system that should have swept in and killed the market but their own dumb choices killed it. Killzone 2 is a great game but guess what it will not be a major hit and it will not move systems like halo 3 did. The reason why 360 has destroyed the ps3 in every which way is because its simple and better. Easy to develop for is key in winning each generation and sony will remember that for next gen. But with XBOX rumored to launch their new system with a HALO…..well thats like going fishing with a bazooka.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:47 PM
“I can say with confidence that Killzone 2 has not only lived up to its hype, but that the hype didn’t live up to Killzone 2.”
Just about there, I stopped taking you seriously.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:48 PM
@darkie
i think ps3 owners bought the console for its exclusives, not primarily for multiplatform games….. 90% of my ps3 games are exclusives while most of my multiplats are bought for the PC.
btw 360 fans and websites DO talk about the ps3 all the time.. and HOW ITS DOOMED (since the time before it was even released! lol)
February 20th, 2009 at 1:48 PM
@ Darkie
“You don’t see 360 fans or web sites talking about the PS3 all the time”
errr what are you doing then
I guess you don’t include yourself when generlising or labelling other gamers.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:50 PM
sorry for the double post, but darkie may i direct you to read the comments below yours and above mine =)
February 20th, 2009 at 1:53 PM
“PS3 fans worry about the “console war” too much.
You don’t see 360 fans or web sites talking about the PS3 all the time.”
So this is why 360 fanboys are always hyping NPD sales as the second coming?
Everytime the 360 outsells the PS3, you can hear 360 fanboys screaming from the rooftop that the PS3 is doomed?
360 fanboys do care about the console war. PS3 fanboys just get tired of the FUD being spread around concerning their console. Being attacked by the media is one thing but to have fanboys attacking as well?
Anyway, this is a good opinion piece.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:53 PM
@ Laland,
Have you played Killzone 2?
February 20th, 2009 at 1:55 PM
@Darkie
Actually, Xbox sites spend most of their time talking about PS3.
@STINKY PINK
I somewhat agree with you on one point, having a choice of which console you can buy a game for is better for the consumer.
What bothers me is when the quality of a game suffers because it has become multiplatform. Look at the first party games for PS3. Then look at third party, multiplatform games. They could be SO much better if the developer had the time and resources to take full advantage of the PS3. And if they use a single engine to support both platforms, they are hamstrung having to limit themselves to what the 360 can do, when there is SO MUCH more that the PS3 can do.
What do we see coming from Microsoft? More versions of Halo. What do we see coming from Sony? I think Sev summarized that very well in this article.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Great job dude. Surprisingly deep and intelligent analysis.
I never thought of it that way but very true.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:01 PM
I love how whenever i read an article about Sony / playstation the comments always have a guy that doesn’t even own a ps3 talk shit.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Same here. When I heard GTA was going to Microsoft, I was PISSED.. that was OUR baby.. we finally had a game, that was a revolutionary game for it’s run and gun, sandbox game. XBOX users were extremely jealous of us. Then they got it and it was fingers in our faces HAHA.
The PS3 broke uncharted territory and the games that st came out, Resistance and UNcharted were awe inspiring. Now 2 years later as mentioned in the article, games are becoming better in every way shape from, style, etc., because when the PS3, was rumored, it was said to revolutionize gaming and the be all, end all, entertainment system. Here we are 2 + years later and now that companies are getting used to to using the technology, now is truly the time, that the proverbial GAUNTLET has been officially thrown down and it may be in fact the end all for Xbox
February 20th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Another well put together article, good stuff keep it up.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:21 PM
@Mike
It won’t beat Halo 3 in sales but Killzone 2 will be a hit 1.1 million pre-orders in Europe alone, ranks 8 in a japanese game preorder store the same week it was announced to be released in their country, Top pre-order in both Amazon and Gamestop.
It won’t be as successful as Halo but it will be a hit. And to say Sony’s best chance at the market is the PS4 isn’t really a perfect idea since the PS3 and the Xbox 360 have barely a million sales gap. I know what you’re thinking Xbox 360 has 8 million more than PS3, yes it does but if you put the PS3 and the 360 in the same timeframe you’d notice that Sony is selling just as good as the MS. So anyone calling the PS3 a failure because of its sales are inadvertently saying that the 360 is a failure. I mean the arcade is cheaper than the Wii but the 360 still is failing to crush the PS3 in sales what does that tell you in your whole just making a profit idea. The PS2 was hard to develop for at the time and look where it got it it was a console that reached 50 million when gaming was still plagued by the stereotypes of what gaming is.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:23 PM
i think its a good thing a lot of people think the 360 is a better console. Sony is definitly not going to go away and being the underdog will just make them work harder on games like Sev says.
The only thing I don’t like is when developers think the 360 is a better console. You can make a game bigger and better on the ps3 but companies like Vavle would rather stick to whats safe and familiar than try to learn develope for a different console which would ultimately benefit them.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Great read, no doubt about that. Sony always had the best first party titles, each console generation starting from PlayStation One.
Sorry Xbox fans, Gears of War is a third party exclusive, not a first.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:14 PM
AWESOME ARTICLE!
I have a great feeling about the PlayStation 3 nowadays!
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!
Come on SONY – you can do it!!!!!!!!!
February 20th, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I can see that the developers might have had to try harder to show people what the ps3 can do so they can make the playstation brand strong again this generation with sales and good games.
I hate listening but am always amused by nerds cmmts about things, becuase they think they are really smart but you can 90% of the time count on them failing. Like with females.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Yes i am talking about the overly oppionated nerd/fanboy joks who put other people down. the childish ones.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Great read Sev. You made some very good points, and I think you are right. Competition in this industry is helping to bring about lots of good change, and we as the consumer get to enjoy the fruits of it.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:12 PM
@Darkie theres more hate vids on youtube bout the ps3 from 360 fanboys an to top it off u know u are a hater when ur a 360 fan and ur on a ps3 site lol:)
February 20th, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Nice article dude, very well put
February 20th, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Great article! And I bought my PS3 for Gran Turismo and since it maybe coming this summer lets hope that it does not dissappoint. I have GT5P and it was a lot of fun until I went online and found the immature X-bot racers out their bashing their way to a win.
But with the core CPU for all three Platforms coming from IBM’s PowerPC division it is a no brainer for 3rd party developers to go multiplatform since all three platforms use the same core technology, but only differ on the supporting tech. Like the amount of cores and how those cores interact with the core CPU. Hey they even use the same core technology on their GPU’s, makes you wonder who copied who.
And if you look, those developers that can make games for the PS3 can more easily produde games that can be ported to the competition.
But I do think that Sony will survive the wars and maybe on top since this is still early on in the cycle.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:32 AM
!00% agree, Sev. BUY BURNOUT!!
February 21st, 2009 at 4:24 AM
I have a few things to say on the overall discussion.
First off, people have been complaining about the PS3 since before day 1. “Sony why won’t you release the system earlier, don’t use blu-ray just get the system out”
“Sony take out backwards compatibility, we don’t want to play PS2 games on our PS3s, that’s why we have a PS3 and already own a PS2 still”
“Sony why did you take out backwards compatibility? We desperately need that!”
Second, Ninja Gaiden Sigma was a port of Ninja Gaiden Black which was the Xbox Devil May Cry. They would have made a port for the second 1 but… drama happens.
Third, a lot of Xbox “Exclusives” are on PC as well. Gears, Halos, Mass Effect, Bioshock, and many of those are getting ported to the PS3.
Plus you have games like Resident Evil 5 and Red Alert 3 which are adding bonus content/providing HD content in place of SD content. Reason being? The highly criticized Blu-Ray disc capacity which led to cost increase as well as development delays on the PS3.
IMO Halo is greatly overrated. I never got why that game was so popular. That’s besides the point though. 360 just doesn’t have a very strong lineup of first party games. Some great/decent/fleeting 3rd party support, (some of which they paid for) but they have games like Castle Crashers which just makes me want to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Arcade games. Yes there’s some unique stuff, I just don’t see the quality like I do in games like Flower, Pixel Junk Eden, and SARPBC. I don’t mean quality as in “Your shit stinks” i mean quality as in “This has a unique quality to it”
All in all my PS3 has served far past the needs I had for it. Sony is really doing interesting things with games like DCUniverse, M.A.G., and Free Realms (2 of those games being on PC so technially not exclusive by my terms)
To summarize it all, Sony lost some exclusives to Microsoft, who is losing some to Sony, and if it ever comes down to a battle of “First party devs” it essentially seems like Sony is up against a 1 trick pony named Halo. Halo Wars will provide it with 2 tricks, but compared to teh sheer number and high quality of first party titles? Meh…
February 21st, 2009 at 5:44 AM
Yo Ookami, I feel everything you said. I could only take so much Halo before I get bored. Even in multiplayer over Xbox Live or a LAN game with the homies, Halo just doesn’t keep me immersed to keep playing. Despite that, its still Xbox’s cash crop which is why I never picked up an Xbox. I will say that I considered it, but only for Halo. There is a cadre of titles on Xbox that I like to play but would never buy. Not so with the PS3 or at least not for me.
I will say that one franchise that has always made me consider a Sony console is the Gran Turismo franchise. But as you so eloquently put, games over the PSN have a unique quality to them. Flower, PixelJunk Monster’s, Echo-chrome…the list continues. All of these games have such tremendous replay value to me and they’re simple, beautiful titles with interesting gameplay. Perhaps the lack of a one-trick pony in Sony’s lineup is what makes this console seem a little scattered and. I am not exaggerating when I say that EVERY 360 owner I know (and I know quite a few) has a copy of Halo and/or GTA but the PS3 owners I know or meet have quite the variety in their gaming library in comparison to one another. I’m not saying I don’t see common titles, but the number of commonalities between PS3 owners are much less. It’s interesting to see how wide a spectrum of media consumers the PS3 appeals to vs. a much narrower yet die-hard demographic that is the Xbox crowd. I personally believe that the PS3 appeals to the demographic of media savvy consumers versus the dedicated gamer. If that’s true, then Sony’s console numbers could be explained in that a media savvy consumer has been shown to drop funds on a dedicated Blu-Ray player versus a “gaming console”.
February 21st, 2009 at 5:56 AM
Don’t forget about Twisted Metal 3,which is already created.For me it is that the title is now number one. Not including the KZ2;) THIS IS NR.1
Greetings
February 21st, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Yeah, the lineup this year looks sweet! I am, however waiting for two things;
).
1:Ico, and Shadow of the colossus makers next game. I get giggly all over just thinking what these guys can do with the power of the ps3.(A remake of Sotc, anyone
And 2:(and i have gotten the impression that i am about the only person in the world who’s hoping for this) A new Onimusha game for the PS3.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Sony’s first party is second to none. MS’s first party support is an absolute joke, and they’re doing nothing to improve it.
So yeah, the tide is turning this gen. Sony started slow, MS was taking charge. Now seems MS is out of breath and Sony is flexing it’s muscle.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:50 AM
GTA: IV was NEVER a PS3 exclusive, so it didn’t shock/bother me one bit when it was announced as a multiplatform game. The news about Final Fantasy XIII did come as a huge shock to me, however.
Still, i agree with this article, the PS3 has had the best quality first – party exclusive games this generation and that’s not going to change anytime soon, especially with Microsoft acting the way they are. That being said, there are still some huge third – party exclusives to come for Sony’s console over the next year or two:
Quantum Theory
White Knight Chronicles
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Demon Souls
February 21st, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Great read! Couldn’t agree more. More articles like that.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:36 AM
The worst thing sony ever did was let it’s exclusive titles like GTA4 and devil may cry to name a couple slip onto the xbox. Bad decision. Gave the xbox that extra push and made people start thinking……… Y pay nearly twice as much for a PS3. Those people that would of other wise bought one thought fuck it and bought an xbox. Not to mention that most of the game comparisons favoured the 360. Granted now the sony exclusives look spectacular but think where the console war would be now if it had those past game exclusives…..???
xbox…..????? Wot xbox!
February 21st, 2009 at 11:56 AM
“Sony’s first party is second to none. MS’s first party support is an absolute joke, and they’re doing nothing to improve it.”
Fun fact: Sony has nearly double the number of first/second party studios as Nintendo and Microsoft…..combined.
February 21st, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Great read, its nice to finally read a proper article on PS3 exclusives. I have to say I was a little disappointed when I heard GTAIV was a non-exclusive, but only because I felt the game, general story and gameplay would suffer from being made for an inferior console, and it DID! But I’m sure R* know this (they probably knew already when it was decided GTAIV would be multiplatform), so I hope the next game will be an exclusive (at least timed-excl). So they can once again create a masterpiece (and use Sony’s music archive, GTAIV’s music was a disappointment, although FusionFM and JNR are fucking brilliant!) and focus on making the game specifically for the PS3 hardware. And as for the other exclusives going multiplatform. I’m not really bothered, they just wanna make more money, and the games coming out for both platforms are always better on the PS3 anyways
And PS3 first party exclusives are the best! I mean look at Drake, that game that better better graphics and lighting than ANY game on the 360. I’m don’t even need to talk about KZ2, it speaks for itslef! No one can even touch GOWIII. When it comes out it will be in a league of it’s own. Can’t fucking wait!! @D.O. – Nice post dude
February 21st, 2009 at 3:32 PM
I hope Sony loses so much money – that they have to license their flagship titles (god of war) to stay in business. It was really arrogant of them to price the console so high at it’s launch and force everyone to accept blue ray right out of the gates.
February 21st, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Uhh…..the PS3 never forced ANYONE to adopt Blu – Ray technology. The PS3 play’s plain old DVD’s.
February 21st, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I really find fanboys annoying. PS3, 360, or Wii. I own a ps3 and a Wii, and they both have their perks. But I am somewhat annoyed with so many exclusives going multiplatform. But I have to agree with the person who said that multiplatform is better for consumers. BUt one thing is for sure, fanboys of all consoles generally trash all the other consoles and talk about how the console they own is the best. It’s really ridiculous, considering that they don’t usually own a stock of the company. But you have to think about this though, that the entire objective of a company is to make money, and in this case, that is to please customers. I’m not really sure if exclusives becoming unexclusive is really a big thing, but it does affect overall consumer happyness. But you have to remember, that the PS3 still has a lot of exclusives left, in comparison to the 360. Sony is making a very good product, and the 360 is in actuallity not as good. Don’t get me wrong, i don’t hate the 360, it is also a good console, but the PS3 is better, if you look at key games.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Here is the problem with Sony’s PS3. One word: Blu-Ray.
Its too darn expensive to make titles for it and by now if most people have seen that there is not much of a difference. The 360 is a powerhouse and if you put GOW 2 against Resistance you can easily see that.
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:21 AM
Hmmm…maybe that’s a good thing for us gamers. What if a console’s games are absolute crap because they were made by some emo man-child who dropped $100 for a dev. kit and decided to make a game? The way I see it, if a studio drops 10k into a development kit it means that either the studio is baller status and/or they have a really great idea for a title that is so ambitious that it will demand the muscle of a console such as the PS3. I think the high cost will make a studio consider if their idea is worth the money to drop or if they could simply half-ass it and develop for a cheaper console.
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:01 AM
@Firedward – U are a fucking idiot!! ‘Xbox360 a powerhouse’ more like a shitbox mate. Have you forgotten about yr RROD!! Gears2 is shite and doesn’t take a ‘powerhouse’ machine to run it, Resistance has 60 players in one room at a time, how many does gears have dummie? And it’s not expensive to develop on blu-ray, it’s just a little harder to develop on the PS3 (if yr a shite developer) it’s only the shitty houses like Valve who say it’s hard to develop for. Those guys are arrogant PC devs and think that anything else is shit, why do u think they develop for the 360, cuz it’s effectivley a PC mate. The PS3 is something completly different, u actually need a brain, why do u think there is such a difference in games. The 360 doesnt even have a game that looks as good as Drake, MGS4, KZ2. And when GOWIII comes out, THEN u will really see wht the PS3 is capable of.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:40 AM
I said this back when I was working for EBGames… PS3 is like the great Nintendo as XBOX360 is to SEGA and it will lose and make games for all systems like SEGA did. Remember it failed at PC and PC parts back in the day. Its build for and only has Software(Microsoft) So, they need to stick to that….
February 24th, 2009 at 5:48 AM
Fuck all the sellout in gaming.. All we need is first party games. Make Twisted Metal and Syphon Filter.. ok, I have a Syphon Filter One Code: For the 50th person to see me a message on PSN with “Fuck 3rd Party” in the message will win the code.. Game ends 2/27/09 11:59p EST.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:22 PM
SignOfZodiac
Are you saying that Sony failed at the PS2? I don’t think so. I think most people would agree when I say that it did well. And are you saying that Sony has failed at the PS3? This console war still has no clear victor yet (well, you could say the Wii, but the Wii is not a very core console) and this fight will go on for quite some time. I agree with Delta that the Ps3 and 360 are both good consoles. But I don’t think that Sony has lost yet. The PS3 has some great hardware. It’s expensive, but there is some good stuff still, like MGS4. It has not failed ast consoles yet, and PC’s are an entirely different area. Besides, companies learn from their mistakes, hopefully.