Sony's lost exclusives: Updated timeline

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/07/sonys-lost-excl.html

Having spent a lot of time this afternoon thinking about all the exclusives that PlayStation 3 has lost over the last tumultuous year, we here at Game|Life decided to catalog them in the runup to E3.

I'm not listing franchises that had been exclusive to Sony systems but now have Xbox versions, because that's not the point and because I don't want to be here all day. The exception to this rule is when a publisher was pursuing an exclusive, but Sony didn't sign on. As in the case of...

Grand Theft Auto IV -- Peter Moore shocked the world at E3 last May when he announced that GTAIV would appear day-and-date on Xbox 360 and PS3. Months later, Newsweek reported that Take Two had wanted to continue its long-standing practice of giving Sony a lengthy timed exclusivity on the game, but they didn't want it.

Newsweek says that former Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi's "radio silence" on the issue left Sony's American execs without the authority to make deals, and nothing happened. Same with...

Assassin's Creed -- Again, Newsweek revealed that Ubisoft had actually gone to Sony with an offer to make the game a PlayStation 3 exclusive. Although Sony did go through the trouble of asking Ubisoft to make it seem as if their multiplatform action game Assassin's Creed was indeed PS3 exclusive, it came out shortly after E3 that it would ship simultaneously on both platforms.

The brief flirtation with pretend exclusivity at E3 that year did get Assassin's Creed noticed, winning it several "PlayStation 3 Game of the Year" awards that it wouldn't have won otherwise. Very similar to what happened with...

Devil May Cry IV -- Another game that was said to be one of the biggest reasons to buy PlayStation 3, and easily the best PS3 title playable at Tokyo Game Show in 2006. A few months later, it was multiplatform, with a simultaneous release date.

Virtua Fighter 5 -- PlayStation 3 fans, count your blessings: at least you're enjoying Virtua Fighter 5 now, instead of later this year when Xbox 360 owners will get their version. Still, though, it's one more exclusive gone.

Beautiful Katamari -- Now, we're getting into the realm of games that PlayStation 3 might have lost entirely. Beautiful Katamari was originally announced for a multiplatform release, but according to Newsweek (helped along by Namco Bandai's curious reticence on the subject), the PS3 version has been junked and it's now Xbox 360-only.

Fatal Inertia -- Originally announced in 2005 as a PlayStation 3 launch title, Koei's racing game first was delayed into this year, then went multiplatform. This morning, it was announced that the PlayStation 3 version is "delayed indefinitely" due to issues with Unreal Engine 3. Where this leaves Koei's BladeStorm -- also announced as a PS3 title, also delayed, also made multiplatform -- is unclear. Koei says its status is not affected as it doesn't use UE3.

What's remarkable about many of these high-profile titles is that they are all from Japanese publishers, who historically have been resistant to the idea of multiplatform games in the first place. Market realities have had a profound effect, and very quickly, on their business practices. Sony is lucky that Xbox 360 was such a non-starter in Japan, because otherwise it would be ever more doubtful that game makers would bother putting together PS3 versions of their games at all.

What's Next? -- The two major remaining third-party exclusives for PlayStation 3 are Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XIII. Konami has certainly never been resistant to putting Metal Gear titles on different hardware; witness Twin Snakes on GameCube and Substance on Xbox. And Microsoft is likely gunning hard for the game. Also, Konami probably prefers making money to losing truckloads of it. All things considered, I'm pretty sure it's already a done deal, given the fact that we hear very credible rumors about it once a week or so.

So that really only leaves Final Fantasy XIII. We know that Square Enix is not blind to the changes in the market. Last Remnant, their latest RPG franchise, will be released simultaneously on both platforms.

Also, Final Fantasy XIII's release is a long, long way off. The EGM crew says that they will miss their stated goal of having a playable demo ready for E3. And Square Enix says the game won't hit until after March 2008.

So does that mean it'll end up on 360? Ehhhhh no. Maybe. Possibly. No. It could remain PlayStation 3 exclusive, although Square Enix would make way more money if it wasn't. But it's not one of those no-brainers like Metal Gear. We'll see where E3 takes us. Maybe the FFXIII logo will be tattooed on Peter Moore's chest.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Assassin's Creed

Devil May Cry IV

Virtua Fighter 5

Beautiful Katamari

Fatal Inertia

you forgot to mention Merc 2

The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.asdasd

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

isnt Beautiful Katamari for the wii?venomgxt

Well thats not confirmed yet...

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.gamergeekgeek

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

Heres my link. Wheres yours?

"Developed by world-****designers Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for the PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 and is currently planned to be in stores in North America on October 16, 2007 and in Europe on October 19, 2007. "

[QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.asdasd

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

Actually from what I remember, no. 360 GTA4 was announced during E306

[QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.asdasd

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

err, no, it was announced ps3 exclusive first...

Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...Choga

yeah it was...

[QUOTE="Choga"]Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...gamergeekgeek

yeah it was...

Nope. It was shown for the first time running on a 360 behind closed doors.

[QUOTE="asdasd"][QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.gamergeekgeek

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

err, no, it was announced ps3 exclusive first...

Once again... Give me a link before spreading !@#$.

Oh wait... you cant

[QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.asdasd

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

Heres my link. Wheres yours?

"Developed by world-****designers Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for the PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 and is currently planned to be in stores in North America on October 16, 2007 and in Europe on October 19, 2007. "

Asdad is right that it was never exclusive, although it was a timed exclusive (orginally assumed to be about a year) and the loss of timed exclusivity was a huge blow. Let us not forget Mr Moore making a bufoon out of himself though.

Teh Haze?.

[QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="Choga"]Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...Choga

yeah it was...

Nope. It was shown for the first time running on a 360 behind closed doors.

It was a PS3 exclusive and that is why the picture of it running on a 360 caused such a stir.

EDIT because they told the crowd there it was running on a PS3. As you weren't a member then you won't remember the 100's of cows posting hype for this and denying it was coming to the 360.

[QUOTE="Choga"]Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...gamergeekgeek

yeah it was...

No it wasn't....it was announced for the very first time as 'Project Assassin' at Microsoft's X05 event

Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...Choga

Yes It was a long time ago nut to be honest The only hurtful lost was DMC4 imo

[QUOTE="Choga"][QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="Choga"]Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...blue_hazy_basic

yeah it was...

Nope. It was shown for the first time running on a 360 behind closed doors.

It was a PS3 exclusive and that is why the picture of it running on a 360 caused such a stir.

EDIT because they told the crowd there it was running on a PS3. As you weren't a member then you won't remember the 100's of cows posting hype for this and denying it was coming to the 360.

It was first shown running on a 360 at X05.

[QUOTE="Choga"]Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...AgentA-Mi6

Yes It was a long time ago nut to be honest The only hurtful lost was DMC4 imo

Read my other posts. It was first shown running on a 360 at X05.

FF and MGSdarkmario123

Link Please

[QUOTE="darkmario123"]FF and MGSAgentA-Mi6

Link Please

Just look at the PS3's sales.

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"]

It was a PS3 exclusive and that is why the picture of it running on a 360 caused such a stir.

EDIT because they told the crowd there it was running on a PS3. As you weren't a member then you won't remember the 100's of cows posting hype for this and denying it was coming to the 360.

Choga

It was first shown running on a 360 at X05.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3151655

http://digg.com/gaming_news/PS3_exclusive_Assassins_Creed_was_running_on_360_at_E3

http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=19025

I can put links up all day from as many sources as you want confirming it was an exclusive

[QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="Choga"]Assasain's Creed was never a PS3 exclusive...Choga

yeah it was...

Nope. It was shown for the first time running on a 360 behind closed doors.

[QUOTE="AgentA-Mi6"]

[QUOTE="darkmario123"]FF and MGSdarkmario123

Link Please

Just look at the PS3's sales.

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/07/sonys-lost-excl.html

Having spent a lot of time this afternoon thinking about all the exclusives that PlayStation 3 has lost over the last tumultuous year, we here at Game|Life decided to catalog them in the runup to E3.

I'm not listing franchises that had been exclusive to Sony systems but now have Xbox versions, because that's not the point and because I don't want to be here all day. The exception to this rule is when a publisher was pursuing an exclusive, but Sony didn't sign on. As in the case of...

Grand Theft Auto IV -- Peter Moore shocked the world at E3 last May when he announced that GTAIV would appear day-and-date on Xbox 360 and PS3. Months later, Newsweek reported that Take Two had wanted to continue its long-standing practice of giving Sony a lengthy timed exclusivity on the game, but they didn't want it.

Newsweek says that former Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi's "radio silence" on the issue left Sony's American execs without the authority to make deals, and nothing happened. Same with...

Assassin's Creed -- Again, Newsweek revealed that Ubisoft had actually gone to Sony with an offer to make the game a PlayStation 3 exclusive. Although Sony did go through the trouble of asking Ubisoft to make it seem as if their multiplatform action game Assassin's Creed was indeed PS3 exclusive, it came out shortly after E3 that it would ship simultaneously on both platforms.

The brief flirtation with pretend exclusivity at E3 that year did get Assassin's Creed noticed, winning it several "PlayStation 3 Game of the Year" awards that it wouldn't have won otherwise. Very similar to what happened with...

Devil May Cry IV -- Another game that was said to be one of the biggest reasons to buy PlayStation 3, and easily the best PS3 title playable at Tokyo Game Show in 2006. A few months later, it was multiplatform, with a simultaneous release date.

Virtua Fighter 5 -- PlayStation 3 fans, count your blessings: at least you're enjoying Virtua Fighter 5 now, instead of later this year when Xbox 360 owners will get their version. Still, though, it's one more exclusive gone.

Beautiful Katamari -- Now, we're getting into the realm of games that PlayStation 3 might have lost entirely. Beautiful Katamari was originally announced for a multiplatform release, but according to Newsweek (helped along by Namco Bandai's curious reticence on the subject), the PS3 version has been junked and it's now Xbox 360-only.

Fatal Inertia -- Originally announced in 2005 as a PlayStation 3 launch title, Koei's racing game first was delayed into this year, then went multiplatform. This morning, it was announced that the PlayStation 3 version is "delayed indefinitely" due to issues with Unreal Engine 3. Where this leaves Koei's BladeStorm -- also announced as a PS3 title, also delayed, also made multiplatform -- is unclear. Koei says its status is not affected as it doesn't use UE3.

What's remarkable about many of these high-profile titles is that they are all from Japanese publishers, who historically have been resistant to the idea of multiplatform games in the first place. Market realities have had a profound effect, and very quickly, on their business practices. Sony is lucky that Xbox 360 was such a non-starter in Japan, because otherwise it would be ever more doubtful that game makers would bother putting together PS3 versions of their games at all.

What's Next? -- The two major remaining third-party exclusives for PlayStation 3 are Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XIII. Konami has certainly never been resistant to putting Metal Gear titles on different hardware; witness Twin Snakes on GameCube and Substance on Xbox. And Microsoft is likely gunning hard for the game. Also, Konami probably prefers making money to losing truckloads of it. All things considered, I'm pretty sure it's already a done deal, given the fact that we hear very credible rumors about it once a week or so.

So that really only leaves Final Fantasy XIII. We know that Square Enix is not blind to the changes in the market. Last Remnant, their latest RPG franchise, will be released simultaneously on both platforms.

Also, Final Fantasy XIII's release is a long, long way off. The EGM crew says that they will miss their stated goal of having a playable demo ready for E3. And Square Enix says the game won't hit until after March 2008.

So does that mean it'll end up on 360? Ehhhhh no. Maybe. Possibly. No. It could remain PlayStation 3 exclusive, although Square Enix would make way more money if it wasn't. But it's not one of those no-brainers like Metal Gear. We'll see where E3 takes us. Maybe the FFXIII logo will be tattooed on Peter Moore's chest.

Yellow_Rose

[QUOTE="Choga"][QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"]

It was a PS3 exclusive and that is why the picture of it running on a 360 caused such a stir.

EDIT because they told the crowd there it was running on a PS3. As you weren't a member then you won't remember the 100's of cows posting hype for this and denying it was coming to the 360.

blue_hazy_basic

It was first shown running on a 360 at X05.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3151655

http://digg.com/gaming_news/PS3_exclusive_Assassins_Creed_was_running_on_360_at_E3

http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=19025

I can put links up all day from as many sources as you want confirming it was an exclusive

I guess you're right.

[QUOTE="darkmario123"][QUOTE="AgentA-Mi6"]

[QUOTE="darkmario123"]FF and MGSMandingo101

Link Please

Just look at the PS3's sales.

actually the only place 360 is falling behind is Japan

ps3 on the other hand, is dead everywhere

[QUOTE="AgentA-Mi6"]

[QUOTE="darkmario123"]FF and MGSdarkmario123

Link Please

Just look at the PS3's sales.

Those games wont be released until at least the holidays when all systems are sold like crazyand you got owned because whether you like or not Those re stillconfirmed Ps3 Exclusives wanna play them buy a ps3 , Case closed.

[QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.asdasd

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

Heres my link. Wheres yours?

"Developed by world-****designers Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for the PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 and is currently planned to be in stores in North America on October 16, 2007 and in Europe on October 19, 2007. "

http://www.ps3land.com/article-213.php

Now if only I could bring up the numerous threads from Sony fanboys gloating at this news.

[QUOTE="AgentA-Mi6"]

[QUOTE="darkmario123"]FF and MGSdarkmario123

Link Please

Just look at the PS3's sales.

stop it.

http://www.ps3land.com/article-213.php

Now if only I could bring up the numerous threads from Sony fanboys gloating at this news.

Yellow_Rose

linked

[QUOTE="asdasd"][QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.Yellow_Rose

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

Heres my link. Wheres yours?

"Developed by world-****designers Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for the PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 and is currently planned to be in stores in North America on October 16, 2007 and in Europe on October 19, 2007. "

http://www.ps3land.com/article-213.php

Now if only I could bring up the numerous threads from Sony fanboys gloating at this news.

and there you go :D

We knew this already =/ And we should listen to what Mr Kojima has to say about it.

"But like I said, MGS4 is aimed for the movie theatre, it's aimed for the PS3, so the game's scenario and graphics need this theatre-type hardware. It's when a producer has a game that can work on the 'DVD level' that a game will go multiplatform", he says. Sorry kids. Your "OMGMGS4360" banners will have to come out another day."

stop it.

CaseyWegner

[QUOTE="Mandingo101"][QUOTE="darkmario123"][QUOTE="AgentA-Mi6"]

[QUOTE="darkmario123"]FF and MGSgamergeekgeek

Link Please

Just look at the PS3's sales.

actually the only place 360 is falling behind is Japan

ps3 on the other hand, is dead everywhere

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]

stop it.

pins_basic

lol if they do (which i'm 99% sure they won't) Casey will need to call up retired mods, mods spouses and friends to help police this place. I dread the day.

The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.asdasd

In terms of console exclusives, the GTA series only blessed Playstation consoles until GTA3....Only then the series became timed exclusives!, now its 100% multiplat. We all know you luv you sum Sony, so please stop the damage control and acknowledge the truth.

Game On...

[QUOTE="Yellow_Rose"]

http://www.ps3land.com/article-213.php

Now if only I could bring up the numerous threads from Sony fanboys gloating at this news.

blue_hazy_basic

linked

Why is it I can no longer activate my links.

I don't understand that.

[QUOTE="asdasd"][QUOTE="gamergeekgeek"]

[QUOTE="asdasd"]The only thing wrong with that timeline was that GTA was never PS exclusive.Yellow_Rose

but GTA4 was announced PS3 exclusive at first

Nope.. Rockstar announced both PS3 and 360 right off the bat.

Heres my link. Wheres yours?

"Developed by world-****designers Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for the PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 and is currently planned to be in stores in North America on October 16, 2007 and in Europe on October 19, 2007. "

http://www.ps3land.com/article-213.php

Now if only I could bring up the numerous threads from Sony fanboys gloating at this news.

Did you even read what the article said or did you just read the title?

"The US edition of PSM recently asked Sam Houser, Rockstar President, about an online iteration of GTA. Houser referenced Everquest, a popular RPG for PC. It seems Rockstar wants to do more than just deathmatches:

"With PS3, it looks as if it might be time for interactive entertainment to become the world's dominant artistic medium."

Apparently, GTA4 will be set in Europe, or in a "world" with six cities, and will be available as a UK launch title for PS3 in 2006. "

EVERYTHING in that article is incorrect. There no online in GTA. Its not set in Europe. Theres no six cities. And it sure as hell wasnt a launch title for the PS3. That site was just speculating.

When Rockstar officially announced GTA4 at E3'06 , they announced it multiplat.

Heres the official Press Release

http://ir.take2games.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=195753

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="Yellow_Rose"]

http://www.ps3land.com/article-213.php

Now if only I could bring up the numerous threads from Sony fanboys gloating at this news.

Yellow_Rose

linked

Why is it I can no longer activate my links.

I don't understand that.

not sure but 'tis always a pleasure to help! :D

sorry i meant to say in europe it sold half of what 360 sold all of last year in a matter of weeks, which it did, at a higher price point. 360 is not doing that great anywhere either, and even in america its starting to sag, im not saying ps3 is don any better but then again its not half the price like 360 core is, and core seems to be a nice chunk of overall 360 sales.
Mandingo101

But as of right now the 360 is outselling the PS3 in EU on a weekly basis.

And I would like to see a link stating what percentage the core makes on the 360 overall sales.

HONESTLY... ALL FANBOYISM ASIDE...

If Metal Gear Solid 4 went to the 360 it would be a crushing blow to the PS3 that they might not ever b able to recover from

Most gamer interested in the PS3 have this game HIGH on their list as a reason to purchase one. If would be a deadly blow if it went Multi Plat and released at the same time. Sony better do whatever they can to make sure if this doesn't happen

Now if FF AND MGS4 were to be multi plat at the same time, you might as well nail the coffin on the PS3shut No way in hell will they be able to recover from that

Cows better pray to God that doesn't happen. However, I feel that the PS3 will be delivered yet another devistating blow during E3