Despite a build story, PlayStation’s exclusive content is far from anti-consumer; and it would probably sell me if I first jumped to PS5.
Since it was revealed that Spider-Man would be exclusive to the PlayStation version of Marvel’s Avengers, the general gaming public has a lot of inhibition and have heard from gaming journals and personalities that we should cast a shadow on exclusive content from Sony and PS5. But why? As a primary Xbox gamer, I want to make the case that PlayStation exclusives are far from anti-consumer – and I wish Microsoft did the same for us.
The argument: Is exclusive content from third party anti-consumer?
In case you lived under a rock this week, large sections of the gaming community were shocked by the announcement that Square Enix’s Marvel’s Avengers would have Spider-Man as exclusive content PS4 and PS5. What followed was a confirmation that there would be no other console-exclusive characters (sorry Stadia, PC and Xbox), in addition to some petitions and ‘boycotts’ of some in the Xbox community.
By cooling the collective rage, the argument is that PlayStation is looking to create an actively less gaming environment in all other ecosystems. With Spider-Man being the most popular Marvel superhero, there’s little doubt that developer Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal intended to use him Marvel’s Avengers. Instead, Sony had (according to critics) robbed an experience from the wider gaming community.
I would not suggest that there is no split in our team on this issue – hell, DualShockers’ Logan Moore and Mario Rivera had a 20-minute conversation about why Spider-Man exclusivity is bad for the gaming scene at large. You can catch this full video here:
They hit on a few points – that the move is presumably anti-consumer, creating artificially locked barriers to content in Marvel’s Avengers. In that argument, they argue (along with many others on the Internet) that this is content that was not added because of the work of PlayStation, but was probably removed from the overall product. The end result leaves broader gamers across Google and Xbox systems (such as PCs) in a worse state.
I do not agree with that message. And hell, it can be a generally unpopular opinion among the ‘professional gaming’ sites that try to be impartial.
Fact check: PS5 exclusive content is pro-consumer
Let me start with a click disclaimer: Despite the fact that I’m writing for DualShockers, I’m far from a Sony fanboy – I play my Xbox One X every day, and it’s my primary console towards the end of this generation. Hell, I even had some pretty public spats with the Sony and PlayStation brand on DualShockers. Even from my Xbox perspective, I’m glad PlayStation is fighting for its consumers.
When push comes to shift, the PlayStation brand should have one focus: ensure that its consumers, fans and audience have the best place to play. Whether you play the games on PS4 or PS5, there is no doubt that Sony builds value for you buying consoles and investing in their ecosystem. Why should they satisfy the gaming public in general?
When I buy a gaming console, it’s not just a purchase in a plastic box that will serve games to my TV – it’s a vote of confidence in a broader ecosystem and the community at large. When I started this generation with my PS4, it was because Sony had expertly created a story that their system would be the best place to play games, instead of being an all-round media device.
Since then, Xbox has done a great job smoothing over its early PR nightmares (thanks to the stewardship of Phil Spencer). In my opinion, they have made all the right moves through services like Xbox Game Pass and Backward Compatibility. But with the next generation in sight, people need to think about which console they will buy first. Has Xbox made a strong enough case for the gamer audience in general?
Exclusivity is a way to add value
Time and time again we see that PlayStation has been ready to make its audience the primary beneficiary of its success. Instead of this generation relying on their wealth and success, reports show that they are using their cash advantage to conquer more exclusive games and third-party content. According to reports:
There is no big third party that Sony failed to ask what kind of deals they could work out. Some had content, some had games, some had content en match. It’s not like Microsoft was not ready to offer, they just did not want to pay the asking price, because Sony approached in the first place.
And while we do not know for sure how true or widespread these reports are, it immediately gives me some breath as a primary Xbox consumer – as it should be. Why does Microsoft not fight for teeth and nails for the same deals? And why should I invest heavily in the next generation of the Xbox ecosystem when I’ll get more bang-for-my-buck on PS5?
These are some real questions that I – and the Xbox community in general – need to consider during the run-up to Holiday 2020. Can Xbox Series X offer enough in terms of high performance, services, accessibility and exclusive titles to to offer a better experience than PlayStation? We will know soon.
There is still a lot to learn about the PS5 and Xbox Series X, with performance face-offs, price comparisons and release dates coming in the future. Without a doubt, every gamer will enjoy their time on every system. However, I’m glad PlayStation is standing up for consumers in their ecosystem and publicly demonstrating why it’s the best place to play. Hopefully, Xbox can start pointing to a similar message soon.
Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are set to launch in Holiday 2020, although their specific price and release date are unknown. Keep an eye on DualShockers for more information as it becomes available.
