Read-a-long with Nintendo Power #253 (April 2010)
March 21, 2010 – 10:40 am | Comments

This issue has some very good news about two games I’ve been monitoring, plus some bad reviews for two games I was going to get. And a little middle-of-the-road news about WarioWare DIY. Stuff your …

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Home » Gaming Sales, Nintendo Wii, PS3, XBOX 360

Activision Talks Dropping PS3 Support

Submitted by Joe Haygood on June 19, 2009 – 12:42 pmComments

robert_kotickOur favorite gaming CEO mouthpiece, Bobby Kotick, has once again mentioned the need for Sony to lower the price of their console, but he added a new wrinkle to the announcement.

It seems that Bobby seems to feel that the high price of the console has stagnated the growth of the PS3, and that Activision may have to cut development for the platform, as it sees lackluster sales in comparison to other platforms.

Now I am not a super smart businessman, but something tells me that while the PS3 may sell less copies of multiplatform titles than the Xbox 360 or the Nintendo Wii, but recent sales of Call of Duty 4 and all the Guitar Hero releases on the PS3 would make me think there is still value to publishing on the platform.

via Talking About Games

“They have to cut the price, because if they don’t, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony. When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console – and the PSP too.”, was one of the quotes that came out of this discussion with Bobby Kotick, and it made me laugh a bit.  I mean, I look at these comments as totally idle threats.  Does anyone really think that Activision will not publish a Modern Warfare 3 or a Guitar Hero: Bryan Adams on the PS3 if they are looking at those titles in 2011?  Better still, does he honestly think that the price will still be $399 in 2010 or 2011?

In the end, I think this is more of a subtle push to get the inevitable price cut to come to the Playstation 3, and it is coming from the biggest publisher on the block right now, which does carry weight.  I just wonder if this will inspire Sony to releace the Bobby Kotick PS3 Bundle, with wallpaper of Kotick that cannot be changed, with a price tag of $299.99.

If somehow, Activision goes through with this, at least the PS3 will have more in common with PC gamers, as they seem to get cut from production platforms all the time.

  • Interesting if they actually do it, but probably just a bluff to get them to drop the price. I'm OK with it, would in turn mean a drop on the 360 front as well to counter. Meanwhile Nintendo will laugh and do nothing.
  • lundy3311
    I really doubt that Activision will lose money by continuing to publish their games on the PS3 and PSP. The install base is only going to get bigger and their not losing money now. I can only agree with Joe here.
  • Well one only has to look back one generation to see how many exclusives came to the PS2, because developers did not see enough of an install base on the Xbox. Developers will go to where the money is at. This is why we are seeing the diminishing exclusive pool on either platform, because it makes more sense to put your game out on as many platforms as you can to get as much money as possible.

    This can change in a heartbeat, and if Activision is seeing diminishing returns for its investment in the platform, you will see them skip out on it. Anyone that thinks I am talking out of my ass only has to look to Activision's support on the PC now, vs. six years ago to see I am speaking the truth.
  • Jordan_Snyder
    I thought his name was Bobby Kotick... Anyway, I doubt this will change Sony's plans at all. I expect them to drop the PS3's price by the end of the year, but not because of threats from Activision. Like you said, Joe, even if the 360 is the top platform for their titles, they're still selling millions on the PS3. Unless other developers start to jump on this bandwagon, the PS3's price point will remain the same.
  • Yeah, this coming from the guy that says his name is Jordan, but its really Junipera. It be fixed.
  • Jordan_Snyder
    Can I call you Bernie from now on? I think I will...
  • You're right - if this was anything other than an attempt to pressure Sony, they wouldn't have said this publicly. Instead they would have gone to Microsoft behind the scenes and asked them how much they'd be willing to pay for 360/PC exclusivity on the likes of Modern Warfare - which would probably be a lot. One or two games would end being paid-for exclusive at first and then, if that made economic sense, maybe they'd start considering it for the entirety of Activision.
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