Sony Unveils PS3 to PS4 Software Discounts

[StewShearerOld]

Sony Unveils PS3 to PS4 Software Discounts

Gamers who buy the PS3 version of some upcoming titles will be given access to a discounted digital copy of the PS4 edition.

With the PlayStation 4 arriving in <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/127035-PlayStation-4-Debuts-November-15>less than two months, there's a fair chance that many gamers might not be in a position financially to purchase the new console at launch. That being the case, some might find themselves in a bind where they're interested in upcoming multiplatform titles but don't want to have to wait for their shiny new PS4's to play them. On the other hand, investing in a PS3 copy might feel like a waste since general wisdom probably suggests the next-gen versions will be the best ones.

Sony, recognizing this potential conundrum, revealed a discount program at Gamescom that will give gamers the option of buying the PS3 iterations of new games and, in turn, being rewarded with a "significantly discounted price" on a digital copy of the PS4 version when it becomes available. Electronic Arts, Activision, Ubisoft and Warner Bros were named as a few of the partner publishers participating in this program, guaranteeing discounts on titles including Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed IV, Call of Duty: Ghosts and Watch Dogs.

This is an arguably smart move on Sony's part. With the PS4 lacking backwards compatibility, it will be very important to its early user base that gamers feel they have a solid library of games to choose from. The fact that many of its early titles are also launching on current generation hardware could , in turn, limit early adopters. Knowing you'll be able to grab shinier versions of recent games on the cheap could be a decent incentive for many gamers to upgrade.

Source: <a href=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/20/gamescom-2013-sony-announces-ps3-to-ps4-game-upgrade-program>IGN


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[mad825]

Yes, arguably a smart move on Sony's part but still a stupid one when you've already paid for the content.

 

[Jadak]

Knowing exactly what a "significantly discounted price" amounts to is pretty important. Regardless, it's a good idea but personally, anything short of a free transfer of my game license to the PS4 won't serve as an incentive, I have no interest in buying content I already have, cheaper ot not. If I want these games for the PS4, I'll be waiting until I have a PS4.

 

[Megacherv]

I'm thinking they'll eventually include Cross-Buy when the PS3 becomes old enough

 

[TimeLord]

I wonder if that'll work with Minecraft since Jeb has announced that it is coming to PS3 and PS4.

 

[Teoes]

One can see that as a nice thing and good on them, but I'm also very tempted to play the cynic and say..

Sony, recognizing this potential source of milkable cashflow as result of choosing not to build backwards compatibility into their new console, revealed a discount program at Gamescom that will give gamers the option of buying games twice under the false lure of a discount.

and then add "fixed that for you".

EDIT: Yes, that was overly cynical of me and thinking on it a little more I'm seeing the better side. They could quite easily have done nothing and let folks pay full price if they wanted to have both PS3 and PS4 versions of games. Any kind of discount is A Good Thing.

 

[Jandau]

It's a sad day when a dickmove is praised as something good just because it could have shafted people even more...

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I'd prefer to simply skip the PS3 version and go straight to the PS4.

 

[Sidmen]

It's a sad day when a dickmove is praised as something good just because it could have shafted people even more...

It's a sad day when a good move is met with vitriol because people feel entitled.

 

[Jandau]

It's a sad day when a dickmove is praised as something good just because it could have shafted people even more...

It's a sad day when a good move is met with vitriol because people feel entitled.

Yeah, because "You bought that game already? On our platform? Well, here, you can now buy it AGAIN, we'll knock off a few % for you." is suuuuuuch a GOOD deed...

 

[The Hungry Samurai]

With the PlayStation 4 arriving in less than two months...>

Psst... I'm as excited as you, but its not September yet.

 

[Church185]

I wonder if that'll work with Minecraft since Jeb has announced that it is coming to PS3 and PS4.

I really want to know if it counts for FFXIV: ARR. Square Enix announced that they would be releasing a PS4 version of it sometime next year.

 

[Vaccine]

I think it would've been smarter to at least give a reason why it still costs -something-, servers costs? or something to a degree, being told nothing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[shrekfan246]

It's a sad day when a dickmove is praised as something good just because it could have shafted people even more...

It's a sad day when a good move is met with vitriol because people feel entitled.

Yeah, because "You bought that game already? On our platform? Well, here, you can now buy it AGAIN, we'll knock off a few % for you." is suuuuuuch a GOOD deed...

Considering that building backwards compatibility into the PS4 would likely make the production cost and thus the retail price skyrocket (as the PS4 hardware isn't nearly powerful enough to even consider emulating the PS3) and the code for PS3/PS4 versions of games will likely be vastly different since they use completely different architecture, yes, it is kind of a good move. You can argue that the content will still be the same, but it's not going to be exactly the same game, no matter how you look at it, and the developers will have put their own extra time and hard work into creating it. I doubt it'll be a small amount of work to develop games for five or six primary platforms, even compared to the average three they do now.

Also, as with most things in this industry, you don't have to buy it. Buy the game and play it on the PS3 until you're done with it and feel like you won't play it again? Why would you buy it again whenever you get a PS4, then? Buy a game and like it enough that you'd want to continue playing it? What's the problem with coughing up another ~$20 toward the developer's continued existence and/or games you want to be made? Unless you're so frugal and scrutinous in every aspect of your life, video games are one of the cheapest entertainment-per-hour hobbies around if you're not buying everything right on release day.

Since the games are going to be offered for both systems in the first place, and they're not the same game despite containing mostly the same content, it is better for them to offer a discount to people who bought a version for an older system rather than just keeping it all full price no matter what.

So, yes, it's a sad day when a mostly neutral move that tends toward the "good" side gets met with vitriol because "BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY!" Funny how one home console implements it and suddenly it's the holy grail of gaming for over a decade later.

 

[Sight Unseen]

I find it funny how Sony is just constantly a step ahead of Microsoft in this console race. Whenever Microsoft fucks something up, Sony jumps in the next day and reveals that they won't be doing anything close to Microsoft's fuck up. And when Microsoft announces something potentially good and in the right direction (in this case, that multiplayer stats and items and levels can transfer for certain games from 360 to XBone), Sony announces that you can get entire games for cheaper if you bought the PS3 version already and feel like you want to upgrade to the PS4.

No matter what Microsoft seems to do, Sony always seems to come out looking a lot better.

And this is coming from someone who hasn't bought anything from Sony since the PS1 and owns both XBoxes. I swear the only thing that could make me buy an Xbox One at this point would be if Harmonix announces a new Rock Band game for it and says that all your DLC purchased with your Xbox Live account will transfer from 360 to One, but not from 360 to PS4 ( I have something like 800 songs on Rock Band on my 360 and love that game sooo much) Given how the music genre has completely collapsed though, I'm not getting my hopes too high for this to happen *sadface*

 

[Jamous]

It'll have to be some serious discounts to make it worthwhile, frankly. I know I just wouldn't bother unless it was past the 75% off zone really.

 

[Legion]

For people who buy physical copies of the PS3 version but then want a PS4 edition I think it is a good idea. For a digital copy from the PS3's store then I think it'd be quite cool if you could simply pay the difference in price and have it transferred over onto the PS4 instead.

 

[Yggdraz0r]

I don't know his source, but a friend told me this:

If you buy Call of Duty: Ghosts on PS3 and want to upgrade it to the PS4 version, you'll be able to upgrade it for a "limited time" for a suggested retail cost of £10 or $10, or ?10 depending on your region.



Seems quite reasonable.

 

[Something Amyss]

How long do we have to upgrade?

I'm thinking they'll eventually include Cross-Buy when the PS3 becomes old enough

That would certainly be nice.

 

[GoaThief]

It's a sad day when a dickmove is praised as something good just because it could have shafted people even more...

It's a sad day when a good move is met with vitriol because people feel entitled.

Yeah, because "You bought that game already? On our platform? Well, here, you can now buy it AGAIN, we'll knock off a few % for you." is suuuuuuch a GOOD deed...

Considering that building backwards compatibility into the PS4 would likely make the production cost and thus the retail price skyrocket (as the PS4 hardware isn't nearly powerful enough to even consider emulating the PS3) and the code for PS3/PS4 versions of games will likely be vastly different since they use completely different architecture, yes, it is kind of a good move. You can argue that the content will still be the same, but it's not going to be exactly the same game, no matter how you look at it, and the developers will have put their own extra time and hard work into creating it. I doubt it'll be a small amount of work to develop games for five or six primary platforms, even compared to the average three they do now.

Also, as with most things in this industry, you don't have to buy it. Buy the game and play it on the PS3 until you're done with it and feel like you won't play it again? Why would you buy it again whenever you get a PS4, then? Buy a game and like it enough that you'd want to continue playing it? What's the problem with coughing up another ~$20 toward the developer's continued existence and/or games you want to be made? Unless you're so frugal and scrutinous in every aspect of your life, video games are one of the cheapest entertainment-per-hour hobbies around if you're not buying everything right on release day.

Since the games are going to be offered for both systems in the first place, and they're not the same game despite containing mostly the same content, it is better for them to offer a discount to people who bought a version for an older system rather than just keeping it all full price no matter what.

So, yes, it's a sad day when a mostly neutral move that tends toward the "good" side gets met with vitriol because "BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY!" Funny how one home console implements it and suddenly it's the holy grail of gaming for over a decade later.

Very well said, Shrekfan.

It's amazing how many people really just don't understand how different the Xbone and PS4 are to their predecessors. I'm sure if it could have been implemented it would have, imagine the leverage that would give over their rival console (no, the Wii U doesn't count as a niche product).