PlayStation has an amazing history and heritage. It has been a part of the gaming market for 24 years, which is the longest any company has continuously been in the console business other than Nintendo. There are entire generations of people, and areas of the world, where PlayStation is synonymous to video games. There are people who grew up on PlayStation, or PS2, or even PS3, given how long last generation was. There's a strong fondness and attachment to the brand, and to its history and legacy.
So why does it feel like Sony doesn't really care about any of it? Their actions over the last decade or so have indicated that they only care about their legacy when it can be quickly monetized, but otherwise don't really seem to care. For example:
Even Xbox is far more reverential of its legacy than PlayStation. The backwards compatibility initiative, and the drive to bring back classic fan facing brands and aspects of the Xbox brand that users are most familiar with: Inside Xbox, X0, Jump In, and so on- clearly, to me, indicates that the brand acknowledges and respects its history.
Why not PlayStation? I appreciate that they are forward facing, I would want it no other way. But why is that at the expense of acknowledging and respecting their heritage? Why do they seemingly hold their own history in such contempt?
So why does it feel like Sony doesn't really care about any of it? Their actions over the last decade or so have indicated that they only care about their legacy when it can be quickly monetized, but otherwise don't really seem to care. For example:
- The slapdash handling of the PlayStation Classic. Everything about the device, from the lineup of games, to the emulation (using open source PCSX, really?), to the emulation quality (50Hz in Europe...), to even the controllers on offer (non-DualShock ones) screams like it was hastily put together at the last minute to try and capitalize on the "Classic" console trend
- PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale, which was given a shoestring budget, minimal marketing support, and used more to push marketing for upcoming first and third party games rather than to push the legacy of PlayStation as a brand and platform
- Sony's utter lack of classic games on their digital platform. They led the way with PS Classics back on the PS3 and PSP. PS4 has nothing. Even the misguided PS2 Classics initiative has been largely abandoned at this point
- Actual, public statements made by executives that hold old games in contempt ("I look at this and I think, why would anyone want to play this?")
Even Xbox is far more reverential of its legacy than PlayStation. The backwards compatibility initiative, and the drive to bring back classic fan facing brands and aspects of the Xbox brand that users are most familiar with: Inside Xbox, X0, Jump In, and so on- clearly, to me, indicates that the brand acknowledges and respects its history.
Why not PlayStation? I appreciate that they are forward facing, I would want it no other way. But why is that at the expense of acknowledging and respecting their heritage? Why do they seemingly hold their own history in such contempt?