Sony must create synergy between its AAA games and live games

Sony needs to make sure there’s a good synergy between its live games and big premium AAA single-player games to maximize reach, engagement and potential sales.

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We’ve outlined a few things Sony should be doing in regards to its live games, including dropping the PS Plus requirement for first-party free-to-play games, and now it’s time to quickly explore the synergy between online and single-player. to discuss games.

Ideally, Sony should create direct links between its first-party AAA games and its live games. This is especially true for games set in the same franchise, and this can be done in a number of ways. We’ve already seen Sony’s early entry into live games with built-in monetization modes like The Last of Us’ Factions mode, Uncharted 4’s multiplayer, and non-money live content like Ghost of Tsushima Legends.

Now Sony is releasing some of these live games as separate titles; Legends, for example, can be purchased separately for $19.99. It’s an interesting and eclectic approach to buy-to-play live gaming.

But it is certainly not a popular one. Gone are the days when AAA games got side multiplayer content – now those things are released as separate F2P games with battle passes and other microtransactions.

To really penetrate the market, Sony needs to fully embrace the free-to-play live games. This is risky and it sounds like Sony is still taking a multifaceted approach and not all of its new live games will be F2P.

Sony is about to go all-in on live games. The PlayStation giant aims to release 12 live games in different markets by 2025.

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Sony live game plan.

PlayStation Live games

(Special thanks to Zuby_Tech for the list and distribution)

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Many of Sony’s new first-party studios are working on live games to complement the ambitious plan.

Some games will be on mobile devices, some will be cross-play between PC and PS5, some will be free and others will likely be paid. This disparate list of games and platforms should be related to two main things: PlayStation Network integration, ideally via a PC launcher (and via the mobile app) with full PlayStation Stars benefits, bonuses and rewards; and inter-franchise synergy across multiple releases.

In short, Sony needs to find a way to link its big premium system-selling PlayStation 5 games to its live games in a meaningful and direct way where possible, and in smaller ways where it isn’t.

So how would Sony handle this?

The solutions range from simple buy/download links embedded in both games to more complex things such as content updates for multiple games,

Sony must advertise its live games at the bare minimum within its premium games, and vice versa… especially within games of the same franchise.

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PlayStation derives most of its quarterly revenue from add-on content, a segment that includes microtransaction purchases in major free-to-play games such as Call of Duty Warzone, Apex Legends and Fortnite. Sony is chasing live games in an attempt to capture this market.

Sony wants all eyes on PlayStation. It is investing heavily in partnership agreements to produce 11 shows and movies based on the main PlayStation IP, including a new Last of Us TV show on HBO. It would be wise to promote all facets of the franchise within each other to create some sort of marketing synergy… but more importantly, there are opportunities for unlocks and rewards here too.

For example, the new Last of Us multiplayer game should have a direct link to buy both the Last of Us Part I remake on PS5 and The Last of Us Part II on PS4. On the other hand, both games should have a direct download link to the live game on their startup screens.

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Ubisoft Connect directly connects most of Ubisoft’s popular games and allows gamers to complete objectives and exchange digital currency for in-game items and rewards. This kind of cross-game framework can benefit Sony.

The more complex method would be to somehow associate these games with live events, rewards, and other content. Completing a specific challenge in the Last of Us multiplayer game can unlock a perk, reward, or cosmetic that is also available in the two base games (and vice versa). There may even be bonuses for gamers who do things in both games.

What would be most interesting is if Sony, Naughty Dog and other developers found ways to somehow integrate the quest progress in both games, e.g. discovering a secret in the live game would allow can open new doors that were not available in the base games.

This kind of deep-layered cross-synergy may not be feasible due to technical and infrastructural constraints, but it would still be interesting to see.

Sony could create its own form of Ubisoft Connect to integrate all of its first-party premium and live games into one cohesive framework for rewards and other unlocks. Something tells me that Sony will create a PlayStation PC launcher to fold directly with the PlayStation mobile app that integrates trophies, social networking/connectivity and PlayStation Stars under one banner.

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