The Nintendo Switch 2 has proved to be an incredible launch for Nintendo with the system breaking records globally. The company’s competitors are all watching closely how how the system fares after launch given the success of the original Nintendo Switch console. One such company is Sony who were asked by investors how they plan to combat the threat of Nintendo on the PlayStation business. One question was especially succinct with a question about how they will transition youngsters who grow on Nintendo hardware.
Some investors are concerned that the improved specs of Switch 2 and Nintendo’s improved relationships with third party publishers will lead to tougher competition for PlayStation in the next few years. What do you think of those concerns?
Hideaki Nishino: We closely monitor the overall gaming industry, including the action of other market participants. Additionally, a catalyst in the market is great for the industry as a whole. As they invigorate excitement they demand more product, so it’s great to have people launching new things.
As I mentioned previously, we have a different strategy. PlayStation 5 is designed for immersive gaming experiences, and this includes the innovative DualSense controller features as well. We believe PS5-level performance is required to achieve a great experience on big screens, and in this way we have provided a unique offering for players and creators in this current console generation.
Publisher strategies are increasingly shifting towards being multi-platform, so more platforms can run the same game, which is great from a creator’s perspective. Among those platformers, our mission is that we will continue to be the best place to play and publish. As such, we have empowered our creators to leverage our offering and the services to create amazing, unique experiences for players with high engagement and great monetization opportunities. We have done this consistently as the industry and competitive dynamics have evolved.
PlayStation Studio and our franchises have a special role in showcasing the PlayStation experience and then strengthening the player’s relationship with us.
Some investors are also concerned that Nintendo’s appeal to the younger generation could lead to market share declines for PlayStation if those younger users choose not to graduate to PlayStation as they age. What is Sony Interactive doing to increase its addressable market among younger users and its overall mix of users?
Hideaki Nishino: The PlayStation brand and offering has resonated with a wide range of players over 3 decades now. The number of users engaged on our platform continues to grow. By supporting such a large number of creators, we are able to provide the largest range of content available, catering to all demographics, geographics and play styles, ect..
We believe that by constantly investing in players’ relationship with the brand and our relationship with creators, we will ensure we stay close to all players’ hearts through their lifetime.
Herman Hulst: On the first party content side, we’re also reaching to a greater range of audiences more directly, including younger players with our first party lineup in addition to our franchises with more multi-generational fan bases such as Marvel Spider-Man. We also have franchises that appeal to a range of different player segments. Horizon’s a good example, it’s very popular with female players. Astro Bot…has been a hit with children and adults alike.
We continue to drive engagement to PlayStation’s ecosystem and brand by bringing franchises to new formats; film, television and anime. Anime in particular is appealing to key younger audiences, so that’s going to be very helpful for us.
In other words they are going to keep developing “interactive movies” than games.
What a bunch of non-answers lol. Also we already know even though Astro bot won many awards the sales number itself is middling for a first party “mascot” game. It’s Ratchet tier basically in sales level. I guess that’s why Hulst put it at the end on his statement above.
Yeah, reading further into their comments today it seems they are going to be putting a lot of stock in building up the Astrobot series.
It makes little sense since while Astro Bot was well regarded it wasn’t a major seller and they need to make money after all their disasters. Astro Bot like Sack Boy can only get them so far I dont think it can be a mascot. Funny since they could have bought Crash and Spyro from Activision years ago but didn’t now Xbox owns them. Sony did this to themselves PS6 will be their last console their Jaguar.
Plus astrobot is …. Kinda boring as a character. It’s a cut little robot with no notable personality, backstory, or any kind of world.
Honestly feels like “little big planet 2.0” design wise.
This isn’t a bad thing by itself but it lacks any kind of impact that you remember long term. The game itself was largely a celebration of everything Sony has ever published … Which is nice. But it means astrobot has even less of an identity of his own.
Exactly it wasn’t a big hit they’re just trying to cover themselves from executive wrath and shareholder fury more garbage on the way and cancelations probably studio shut downs not to mention tons of staff have left Sony studios already and PS5 hasn’t lived up to what Jim Ryan promised investors its no where near doubling the PS4 in lifetime sales even though he’s gone they want results like that. Here’s the thing is the pony crowd going to buy Astro Bot at $80 or more and a $700 or more PS6? Probably not after how bad PS5 was. Gaming has changed and people aren’t waking up. I hope Nintendo dumps Doug sooner rather than later to avoid becoming more like Sony.
DROP THE PRICE
Yeah that’s not happening they cant compete with Nintendo or Microsoft in the game pass space they games PS5 players are mostly playing are Xbox games its not good. They gave up on Vita which ended up becoming the future handheld well hybrid consoles. They listened to out of touch older people and fan boys mixed with executive nonsense leading to the death of PlayStation who is buying a PS6 after 5 didn’t deliver and worse at a higher price around $800-1000 with $80-100 games not including DLC. Playstation is done time for Sony to move on.
PS5 has sold nearly 80mil, Its doing more than fine.
Sony and Nintendo can happily co exist.
Anime for the most part is actually not really kid friendly, seeing as the majority of it is aimed at older audiences for obvious reasons.. (tons of sexual content) so I mean, yea. Sony don’t know what their talking about unless they mean kiddy shows like polermons.
Quite a different market… Would love to know who these “investors” are lol
Sony is going to have a big field day over the Switch 2 launch. They will start making movies instead of making games.
||Sony makes games?…||
Sony PlayStation.
||More like sony moviestation…||
Sonic.
Sony have been making movies since the 90s
All I can say is that their only option to compete is to get into the mobile market… again.
But most of us that remember the Vita, will not support them. They burned us, and burned us good. They essentially said thank you for paying $350, but we longer care for you, f off, we’re not making games for this console that you just bought, but hey, thanks for the loyalty, go buy our PS4. Great going Sony.
They also can’t afford to go hybrid, the cost for whatever they whip up is going to be insanely expensive and these dude bro Call of Duty and fortnite players aren’t going to be happy unless theyer playing in 8k at 120fps.
They burned you good. So good, infact those same people probably helped the PS4 sell 117mil units.
Probably, I know I did, but the support was dropped after the PS4 was released.
Danbogard with the way you vehemently defended Sony in this article it’s clear you are a Sony fanboy lol. No wonder your previous comments were so anti-Nintendo. Typical Sony fanboy.
Ah the classic “fanboy” label when someone has actually sales figures.
Good one, Mike
It’s not just that singular comment “Dan”. Your whole identity in this site is clearly to bash anything Nintendo ever did. Now with this article you’re just showing your true face lol. Sony fanboy.
Mike, if you’re intent on scrutinizing my ‘identity,’ you’d have noticed I praised Nintendo’s Japan sales a few articles back. Frankly, if the entire basis of your argument is reduced to a ‘fanboy’ label, then debating with a mind as narrow as yours is pointless.
Nintendo releases a first party game almost every month and has been doing so for years and they almost always high end and quality
Sony could the the best thing like remastering Bloodborne and no one can do anything about it but Sony hates their Bloodborne fans and Bloodborne itself.
Nintendo isn’t a threat to Sony or Microsoft, their hardware is obsolete and over priced 🤣
And yet, Nintendo is selling more and especially money-printing consoles.
Too bad you got to buy a PS6 to play Astro Bot 2
blud said graduate to playstation LOL
What are you even saying? If Nintendo is a “threat”, why are you making movies for them? This species doesn’t make any sense!
I dont see why Playstation is worried. The Switch 2 is too expensive and nobody is gonna buy it anyway remember?….. idiots