The 5 Smartest Moves Sony Made This Year

Strong Support of PSVR

Sony’s PlayStation VR could have gone one of two ways: it could have been a roaring success, or it could have been an absolute failure. Luckily for Sony, it looks like the PSVR may well be outselling its two PC counterparts by quite a hefty margin. While there’s a valid point to be made that the PSVR benefited from a price point $100 cheaper than the next cheapest headset, the Rift, it’s also worth noting just how strong Sony’s support of its virtual reality headset was.

Rather than letting it out to die (we’re looking at you, PlayStation Move), Sony managed to jam its launch day, and the following months with a bunch of interesting and enjoyable titles such as Eagle Flight, EVE: Valkyrie, Job Simulator, and Rez: Infinite. Combine this with the fact the system launched with a bunch of other cool experiences and apps like Invasion!, the Kitchen demo, and Littlstar VR and it’s safe to say that Sony has provided strong initial support for the device. Let’s just hope it continues long into the future.

Messaging

While the conferences that Sony attended in 2016 didn’t change, the way in which they’ve refined their focus and messaging in recent years was definitely in full force at both E3 and PlayStation Experience. From start to finish at both of these conferences, Sony spent no time talking about the things fans didn’t care about like corporate talk or lengthy ramblings about subscription services coming to your console. Instead, we got trailers, gameplay demos, epic announcements for the likes of The Last of Us Part II, Crash Bandicoot: N’Sane Trilogy, and Insomniac’s Spider-Man, and release dates to set our countdown timers for.

Outside of conferences, Sony’s focus on ensuring that there is clear and concise messaging when there needs to be has been prevalent. Answers regarding the PS4 Pro and certain feature exclusions were provided soon after the unveiling. Despite its very tech-heavy content, the PS4 Pro’s unveiling did well to showcase the type of improvements players could expect to see from the new system. Heck, even the PSVR’s admittedly cable-intensive setup was accompanied by free demo videos online. With Sony’s jam-packed conferences, excellent communication, and a more focused vision for what they want to deliver, it’s never been a more exciting time to be a PlayStation fan.

The Slim and Pro Partnership

The way Sony unveiled their two new PS4 systems may not have won over every PlayStation fan, but the products themselves are a solid partnership that is sure to help bolster PS4 sales as we hit the midway point. Offering up a refined and sleeker version of the current unit at the lower price point, and the 4K-capable PS4 Pro at the original selling price of the PS4, means that all platform bases were covered for the gaming demographic.

Those who wanted to just get the standard PS4 experience could pick it up without paying for additional power they didn’t care about, nor necessarily get the most out of. On the other hand, with the rise of 4K displays and players looking to be on the precipice of what technology has to offer, the PS4 Pro offers a taste of it without breaking the bank. As it stands, the PS4 duo caters to all audiences and offers a potential upgrade for existing owners who want to make use of their shiny new 4K displays.

Great Third Party Relations

Sony has made some pretty substantial moves when it comes to third party studios in 2016. Not only did we see the release of Street Fighter V as a console exclusive on PS4, but we also got the huge announcement of Insomniac Games’ upcoming Spider-Man title coming exclusively to PS4. Alongside that, PS4 remains the system you’ll get all Call of Duty DLC first. A huge deal that frames the PS4 as the preferred console for the series’ many fans.

Though Sony did have a bit of a stumble when it came to Bethesda regarding the Fallout 4 and Skyrim mods situation, it still managed to salvage some sort of a deal and ensured that fans’ long wait for the feature didn’t end in them being left empty-handed.

Sony’s strong third-party relations, however, shone through when it came to releasing both the PSVR and PS4 Pro. Both meant that, in one way or another, there’d be extra work for developers. Yet, for both of these launches and in the months that followed, both pieces of hardware saw a slew of third-party titles that made use of their new features. Be it Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs 2 utilizing the Pro’s power, or Eagle Flight and Werewolves Within for PSVR, or Bethesda’s native 4K Pro patches for Fallout and Skyrim, Sony continues to ensure they’re bringing the best third-party experiences to all components of the PlayStation ecosystem.

A Bright Exclusive Future

Though Sony’s first-party exclusive offerings may have been a little light for 2016, it certainly made sure that fans were aware it wouldn’t be the same case come 2017. Throughout the year via numerous events and announcements, Sony showcased a whole host of titles for fans to look forward to next year and beyond. Days Gone, Horizon Zero Dawn, Persona 5, Nier, Crash Bandicoot, Death Stranding, Insomniac’s Spiderman, and God of War are just a few of the major titles that Sony hopes will make the future of every PS4 owner a bright one.

Combine that with the remasters of PaRappa the Rapper, Patapon, and LocoRoco coming to PS4, as well as the third-party offerings set to release in 2017, and you’ve got a release schedule to tide you over for quite some time.