AfterDawn: Tech news

Activision considering dropping PS3 support if price isn't cut

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 19 Jun 2009 5:05 User comments (35)

Activision considering dropping PS3 support if price isn't cut Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has suggested today that the publisher may be forced to drop support of the PlayStation 3 console if Sony does not slash the price of the system, and soon.
"They have to cut the price, because if they don't, the attach rates [the number of games each console owner buys] are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony," said Kotick.

"When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console — and the PSP [portable] too."


Activision paid over $500 million USD in royalties to Sony in 2008.

Adds Kotick: "I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform.



"It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation."


In the report Activision did note however that they expect the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be the "biggest entertainment launch of all time," despite lagging software sales this year.

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35 user comments

119.6.2009 17:15

lol oh oh, i smell trouble brewing, especially if anther company follows suit.

219.6.2009 17:24

Activision isn't going to do a damned thing. PS2, PSP & PS3 sales generate more revenue for them as a whole over Sony's competitors. What Activision now needs to worry about is what this tool Bobby Kotick is spewing may affect investors, employees and relations with Sony...as what if Sony closed it's doors on them so their biggest revenue generator is no longer there for Activision?

But we all know a price cut is coming this year, look for something @ TGS (in September right before the holidays) with the high possibility of a PS3 Slim + Bundles etc.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 19 Jun 2009 @ 5:28

319.6.2009 17:48

It's just a stupid, empty 'threat' by the idiot. Maybe he just wants to claim credit for when a price drop DOES come??? Their game sales for a console would have to drop many times more before they seriously considered dropping development for it altogether.

419.6.2009 18:44

Meh raise the price of the consoles half the price of games...twice....that is what is really needed..... maybe even a vendor setup for the hardware so anyone can build the hardware via license......

519.6.2009 20:09

PS2 is still very popular. I'm waiting for PS4 with HiDef1080P and Tivo good anywhere in the world.

619.6.2009 20:14

ps4 better have resolution better than 1080p, by then it should be in the 2000's

719.6.2009 20:31

Originally posted by H_Seldon:
PS2 is still very popular. I'm waiting for PS4 with HiDef1080P and Tivo good anywhere in the world.
Meh I think the resolution is good enough, do something more with framrates,compressions like halve the size of HD compression a couple times before fooling with expanding it.


H_Seldon

MP4 RT encode chip and DVR features> anything tivo.

819.6.2009 20:47

Good its about time sony got put in there place. It was there idea to over charge consumers for there console. I am glad to see activision threatening to pull there support, More developers need to do the same.

919.6.2009 20:53

Originally posted by matt87622:
Good its about time sony got put in there place. It was there idea to over charge consumers for there console. I am glad to see activision threatening to pull there support, More developers need to do the same.
Its an empty threat..........

1019.6.2009 21:25

Really a pointless comment by them. Considering we've already seen many articles pointing to a price cut coming soon. Along with possibly a "slim ps3".

But I guess activision doesnt visit afterdawn.

Either way this subject has been beat to death. Yes a price cut is needed. And once god of war 3 and uncharted 2 hits, it'll be interesting to see what kind of numbers we see.

Btw I own both ps3 and xbox 360. Like them both, but use xbox more at the moment. Cant wait for GOW3, Uncharted 2, and Final Fantasy though.

1119.6.2009 22:07

if this price cut does not come soon this really could be a possibility, The PS2 is almost on the 10year mark and Sony has clearly said no more PS2 after that. and the PS3 and PSP are the 2 lowest selling consoles. So it could be chance that this could happen. Although I agree that Activision would have to be totatly stupid to abandon the most powerfull console with the most potential. But ya never know.

1219.6.2009 22:37

Activision is a crappy developer/publisher anyway, so why should Sony feel threatened?. If it weren't for the Call of Duty series, I would've never purchased a game developed/published by them.

Hell, it's like a lazy, good-for-nothing employee, threatening his employer that he'd quit his job if he doesn't get a raise.

Don't make me laugh, Activision.

1320.6.2009 02:41

i personaly think they need to drop there prices anyway as ive been wanting to get a ps3 but my only problem is its double the price of others with not all that many games but in genral its a good high quality system

1420.6.2009 02:42

Originally posted by jetyi83:
ps4 better have resolution better than 1080p, by then it should be in the 2000's
it will have 2160P lol (btw that is actually being made)

1520.6.2009 07:11

Originally posted by Matt898:
if this price cut does not come soon this really could be a possibility, The PS2 is almost on the 10year mark and Sony has clearly said no more PS2 after that. and the PS3 and PSP are the 2 lowest selling consoles. So it could be chance that this could happen. Although I agree that Activision would have to be totatly stupid to abandon the most powerfull console with the most potential. But ya never know.
Umm, Sony has NOT said that. They said at E3 they will make PS2s for as long as there is enough demand for them (which there still is and is expected to be for another 2-3+ years).

1620.6.2009 07:14

Quote:
Originally posted by jetyi83:
ps4 better have resolution better than 1080p, by then it should be in the 2000's
it will have 2160P lol (btw that is actually being made)

Guess I better not move to a bigger place because my apt can't realistically handle a 50"+ HDTV to make 2160p worthwhile. Yeah, I know higher HD is in the works (even above 2160p), but 1080p if fine for at least the next 4-5 years.

1720.6.2009 10:14

Quote:
Originally posted by Matt898:
if this price cut does not come soon this really could be a possibility, The PS2 is almost on the 10year mark and Sony has clearly said no more PS2 after that. and the PS3 and PSP are the 2 lowest selling consoles. So it could be chance that this could happen. Although I agree that Activision would have to be totatly stupid to abandon the most powerfull console with the most potential. But ya never know.
Umm, Sony has NOT said that. They said at E3 they will make PS2s for as long as there is enough demand for them (which there still is and is expected to be for another 2-3+ years).
They said they would produce them until the demand is not there anymore which they were expecting to be about the 10year mark. The point is the PS2 is last generation, PS3 is the current generation. I don't think activison would suffer that much if they dropped PS3 considering how much money it cost to develop a title for a specific console and how little the demand for the PS3 is now. Sony needs to drop consider that fact they aren't the Video Game Console mega powerhouse they used to be and just because there system comes with BD built-in and the console says Playstation on doesnt mean there gonna be the system everyone wants. Nintendo and Microsoft have done too good of a job to allow sony to charge 400bucks for a game system and that be OK. With that in mind why wouldn't a game developer want to concentrate more on consoles that are selling?

1820.6.2009 10:26

Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by Matt898:
if this price cut does not come soon this really could be a possibility, The PS2 is almost on the 10year mark and Sony has clearly said no more PS2 after that. and the PS3 and PSP are the 2 lowest selling consoles. So it could be chance that this could happen. Although I agree that Activision would have to be totatly stupid to abandon the most powerfull console with the most potential. But ya never know.
Umm, Sony has NOT said that. They said at E3 they will make PS2s for as long as there is enough demand for them (which there still is and is expected to be for another 2-3+ years).
They said they would produce them until the demand is not there anymore which they were expecting to be about the 10year mark. The point is the PS2 is last generation, PS3 is the current generation. I don't think activison would suffer that much if they dropped PS3 considering how much money it cost to develop a title for a specific console and how little the demand for the PS3 is now. Sony needs to drop consider that fact they aren't the Video Game Console mega powerhouse they used to be and just because there system comes with BD built-in and the console says Playstation on doesnt mean there gonna be the system everyone wants. Nintendo and Microsoft have done too good of a job to allow sony to charge 400bucks for a game system and that be OK. With that in mind why wouldn't a game developer want to concentrate more on consoles that are selling?

Err...PSP and PS3 have already been mentioned to be a large chuck of their game profits, they can't afford it.

1920.6.2009 11:31
LissenUp
Inactive

Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
Meh raise the price of the consoles half the price of games...twice....that is what is really needed..... maybe even a vendor setup for the hardware so anyone can build the hardware via license......
I've never read such incomprehensible gibberish that makes no sense. Does the nickname Zippy come from speaking too fast and hence writing what you're speaking???

2020.6.2009 11:39

Quote:
Originally posted by ZippyDSM:
Meh raise the price of the consoles half the price of games...twice....that is what is really needed..... maybe even a vendor setup for the hardware so anyone can build the hardware via license......
I've never read such incomprehensible gibberish that makes no sense. Does the nickname Zippy come from speaking too fast and hence writing what you're speaking???
Zippy speak FTW,another cost...er...victim served!!
:P

Its a simple train of thought really keep the cost of the hardware up and lower the price of the software by half, this would make up for the lack of polish and qaulity for modern gaming.

But in the end universal hardware (like the DVD forum) would be a better setup, you have 2 or 3 hardware/software forums that plan the architecture and peripherals, to build the hardware a vendor or manufacture buys the rights to do so, to put software on it the publisher/developer buys the right to do so.

This means the vendor/manufacture can compete with each other for price and make all in one units, it would be a much more open market with faster coverage of hardware and software than the current exclusive driven console war model.

2120.6.2009 23:34

I could care less about Activision, I don't like any of their games...

2220.6.2009 23:46

Originally posted by Morreale:
I could care less about Activision, I don't like any of their games...
Don't care about daiblo,star craft or war craft(wow excluded of corse)?

2321.6.2009 00:12

Diablo is awesome but its a PC game so wtf.

2421.6.2009 10:08

Quote:
Originally posted by Morreale:
I could care less about Activision, I don't like any of their games...
Don't care about daiblo,star craft or war craft(wow excluded of corse)?
Why is WoW excluded? It has made the most money out of any video game released and it has the highest number of players out of any other game too. Afterdawn recently reported how WoW continues to dominate, accounting for 44 percent of all total minutes played in the month
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 21 Jun 2009 @ 10:09

2521.6.2009 10:49

Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by Morreale:
I could care less about Activision, I don't like any of their games...
Don't care about daiblo,star craft or war craft(wow excluded of corse)?
Why is WoW excluded? It has made the most money out of any video game released and it has the highest number of players out of any other game too. Afterdawn recently reported how WoW continues to dominate, accounting for 44 percent of all total minutes played in the month
It sucks,its a MMO it can not compare with a proper single player game...on any level.

2621.6.2009 10:51

Originally posted by Morreale:
Diablo is awesome but its a PC game so wtf.

Which is published by Activision and will be on the consoles like Star Craft 2, welcome the next level....of crap. :P

2721.6.2009 13:54

Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by Morreale:
I could care less about Activision, I don't like any of their games...
Don't care about daiblo,star craft or war craft(wow excluded of corse)?
Why is WoW excluded? It has made the most money out of any video game released and it has the highest number of players out of any other game too. Afterdawn recently reported how WoW continues to dominate, accounting for 44 percent of all total minutes played in the month
It sucks,its a MMO it can not compare with a proper single player game...on any level.
Of course it cant compare with a SP game: because its not. That's like comparing a racing game to a shooter.

2821.6.2009 14:12

Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by Morreale:
I could care less about Activision, I don't like any of their games...
Don't care about daiblo,star craft or war craft(wow excluded of corse)?
Why is WoW excluded? It has made the most money out of any video game released and it has the highest number of players out of any other game too. Afterdawn recently reported how WoW continues to dominate, accounting for 44 percent of all total minutes played in the month
It sucks,its a MMO it can not compare with a proper single player game...on any level.
Of course it cant compare with a SP game: because its not. That's like comparing a racing game to a shooter.
Not really more like comparing a SP FPS like Bioshock,Dues ex or dark messiah to a online FPS with weak as sht weapons,obscure rules and endlessly bland and convoluted story....or like Dark messhia with worse gameplay.... LOL

2921.6.2009 18:47

There is no console out there atm really challenging the PS3 with what features it has and the new generation of games etc... this is why the price has not dropped Sony does not feel that there position is threatened yet. When Nintendo or Microsoft come up with a substantial alternative that challenges Sony's position then maybe they will drop their prices.

3021.6.2009 18:52

Originally posted by borhan9:
There is no console out there atm really challenging the PS3 with what features it has and the new generation of games etc... this is why the price has not dropped Sony does not feel that there position is threatened yet. When Nintendo or Microsoft come up with a substantial alternative that challenges Sony's position then maybe they will drop their prices.
Ummmm..... over state much? The 360 is still the better platform to sell products on.

Sony has no real stable position other than their brand and via oversight and stupidity has yet to catch up with the rest......

3122.6.2009 08:47

Sorry Zip but I have to agree with borhan9 on this one, the PS3 comes at a cost because of the features it has that NO OTHER console can match (not even including the costly addons & fees etc it's competitors charge for). As for playing "catch up" it's all in how you look at ALL of the information ~ the only reason the 360 has a "lead" is because of it's 1 year head start, and even then it's trumped up numbers because of RROD/RLOD/E74 etc. The PS3 continues to outpace the 360 in sales since LTD so it's just a matter of time...but the bottom line is that the PS3 is selling more consoles in the same time frame as a 360 at nearly twice the price. So how is that bad?

But on topic, Activision is absolutely talking BS about not supporting the PS3 because that will jeopardize their standings with Sony itself. The fact is how can they give up on a brand that has made them MORE money than it's competitors last year? This applies to EA, Ubisoft and others as well.

The current total sales are about 23 Mill PS3 vs 30 Mill 360, that is not a "commanding lead" and is less than the launch deficit the PS3 was down by because of the head start MS had. So when you really look at it MS is the one who is in trouble because they are selling the 360 at a cheaper price than the Wii and STILL got passed by them and are also being outsold on the back end by Sony who has a higher cost console! Now THAT doesn't look good...


Edit: I forgot to add it's funny how Activision is talking all this crap about a price drop and cost etc. but yet they charge for overpriced peripherals like Guitars ($120) and Skateboard controllers ($120)

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 22 Jun 2009 @ 9:38

3222.6.2009 10:42

Originally posted by Oner:
Sorry Zip but I have to agree with borhan9 on this one, the PS3 comes at a cost because of the features it has that NO OTHER console can match (not even including the costly addons & fees etc it's competitors charge for). As for playing "catch up" it's all in how you look at ALL of the information ~ the only reason the 360 has a "lead" is because of it's 1 year head start, and even then it's trumped up numbers because of RROD/RLOD/E74 etc. The PS3 continues to outpace the 360 in sales since LTD so it's just a matter of time...but the bottom line is that the PS3 is selling more consoles in the same time frame as a 360 at nearly twice the price. So how is that bad?

But on topic, Activision is absolutely talking BS about not supporting the PS3 because that will jeopardize their standings with Sony itself. The fact is how can they give up on a brand that has made them MORE money than it's competitors last year? This applies to EA, Ubisoft and others as well.

The current total sales are about 23 Mill PS3 vs 30 Mill 360, that is not a "commanding lead" and is less than the launch deficit the PS3 was down by because of the head start MS had. So when you really look at it MS is the one who is in trouble because they are selling the 360 at a cheaper price than the Wii and STILL got passed by them and are also being outsold on the back end by Sony who has a higher cost console! Now THAT doesn't look good...


Edit: I forgot to add it's funny how Activision is talking all this crap about a price drop and cost etc. but yet they charge for overpriced peripherals like Guitars ($120) and Skateboard controllers ($120)
No the reason why the 360 has a lead is because one dose not have to reinvent the wheel to code for the SOB, add price into the mix and there again its simple the 360 wins.

The PS3's features come at a cost bad poor optimization,price and by that poor sales less units on the street and thus it looks bad to developers.

The optimization issue is by far the PS3s Achilles heel it dose not matter much if the PS3 has the same numbers as the 360 add up optimization issues.

Now don't get me wrong the 360 made a killing on the front end, the WII made a profit jizzing on itself and the PS3 will make a profit on the back end of the generation but its not quite peaked yet.

Acti just wants another 10-20M PS3 units on the street so they can sell a few more copies....hell....sony should want that too......

3322.6.2009 10:54

I'm starting to think Activision isn't worthy of the Call of Duty series.

3422.6.2009 17:38

Originally posted by milkyoreo:
I'm starting to think Activision isn't worthy of the Call of Duty series.


why they are really good games,and they look good on both consoles.

3524.6.2009 09:48

Quote:
why they are really good games,and they look good on both consoles.

Refer to the article above.

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