You can't conquer the world (or stay on top) without taking calculated risks, and one company not playing it safe is Sony. While its console market share plummeted drastically with the botched PlayStation 3 launch, the company deserves credit for cutting many of its internal studios loose on brand new projects. Rather than rehash next-gen versions of its biggest titles, Sony put Gran Turismo, God of War, and SOCOM on the back burner in favor of a slate of new big budget games like Resistance, Infamous, and Uncharted. The sales of these games were stunted due to the console's slow adoption rate, but with the PS3 sales rebounding after a long overdue price cut (and consumers fed up with the 360's extraordinary failure rate), Sony may be in the best position moving forward. Even while the PlayStation division struggled to achieve profitability, Sony recognized the long-term benefits of a new portfolio of quality games. As pending releases Heavy Rain and The Last Guardian prove, the company hasn't wavered from its dedication to unique experiences, even in the face of growing deficits.
While supporting games like The Last Guardian may not positively affect the bottom line, the brand loyalty cannot be measured by statistics. Time will tell, but as panicked publishers scale back development costs in favor of a stable revenue-generating business model, Sony's reputationas a company dedicated to delivering quality is growing and its long-term perspective is starting to look all the more savvy.
by Matt Bertz
Content Manager,
Game Informer