• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Tin foil hats not included. What if all these negative Sony articles are just to lower expectations for an eventual resurgence story for Sony?

Jigsaah

Gold Member
I have been thinking recently about why Sony has seen such negative press recently. It seems, almost arbitrarily, like recent articles tend to address some glaring issues with the state of PS5 and Sony as a whole but also pepper in small annoyances that wouldn't really matter too much to many people. An example would be a recent blogger complaining about a lack of faceplates as being one of the many reasons why the PS5 "sucks". This had me scratching my head honestly, because it feels like phony outrage over something so inconsequential. I'm trying to look at this objectively and try see the hidden meaning within the hidden meaning, to quote a recent episode of Boruto.

Yes both XSX and PS5 have some work to do, but isn't this the same every generation. Is it because there's not much else to talk about and these kind of outbursts, at the very least, garner clicks, likes and comments?

Or is it something even more hidden behind veil. Could the bashing of Sony and boosting of other platforms be part of the media's plan to usher in an era of Sony's coordinated, intentional, eventual and inevitable redemption.

I think we could all agree Sony's been pretty quiet. They seem to have lost their sense of showmanship. Their games alone do the talking for them, but I feel like this isn't enough. I also think Sony knows it's not enough.

The saying goes "Absence makes the heart fonder". Could Sony be planning a resurgence in the future to overshadow any and all positive press Xbox or the Switch or even PC receives. Is Sony positioning itself to be the hero that's beaten down only to rise up even higher than they were ever previously?

I'd like to know what you guys think. Am I crazy? Does it not seem weird for the media to be doing a 180 like this?
 
As someone who works in the video game journalism world and runs his own place i can tell you right now if you really think this is done on purpose to dramatically increase the impression of upcoming Sony events then you are silly and dead wrong.

It's simply being done to create negativity and generate more than normal traffic and drama to make something called $$$. Get real and don't be so naive.

This thread is a perfect example how Sony and media sites are now getting free publicity due to people overthinking and just being drama queens. Hilarious.

1 - Sony is not in trouble.
2 - Games are coming.

3 - Chill out and enjoy your current games.

4 - Learn to form your own opinions and stop following other peoples blindly like a dumb sheep.

5 - You will forget about this as soon as Sony showcases God of War Ragnarok, next Naighty Dog project and other unannounced titles.

TLDR - Don't be such a silly goose.
 
Last edited:

Hobbygaming

has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
How Mark Cerny should walk out at Sony's big show:

Looking Fine Lets Go GIF by BrownSugarApp
 
Last edited:

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
It's just websites trying to survive in a day where most people get their video game news from 1 or 2 sites or YouTubers

I can't wait for Sony to show their next slate of exclusives, it's going to shut all of these people up

This I agree with, there is no news at the minute so they need something to push to pray for hits.....sony isnt talking right now so they are pointing the hatred there. Of course there is valid complaints for all companies...but I expect that when sony do talk and show some good games, all these websites will be licking the boot!
 

EverydayBeast

thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
The consoles released during a pandemic, the PS Store makes Nintendo online seem like a child, someone has to push these “journalists” around and we’ll see. Nobody wants to release a console during a pandemic but it happens. Sony’s responsibility is to release intense AAA games and they have time.
 

NickFire

Member
No company plays a game of " LETS PUT OUT NEGATIVE THINGS JUST FOR FUN!"
Plenty of them will play that exact game about their competitors.

The first real console war kind of had them doing that publicly in fact. Sega does what Nintendon't after all.
 

breakfuss

Member
I must not be paying close enough attention because I don’t recall much negative press. Perhaps it’s because I don’t consider blog posts and arbitrary tweets from random sources “press”. I also don’t understand how the inverse of another platform’s success is somehow Sony’s failure. There’s room enough for everyone. Much preferable it to the lopsided domination of the prior gen.
 
Even if we would have 10 negative Sony articles daily, Sony would just have to show a 5 second Knack 3 teaser next week and the whole internet would be like "Sony, Sony, Sony!!" and "GOTY incoming!!!!!". Sony knows this for sure, but i don't think they would do it on purpose.
 
Last edited:
I have been thinking recently about why Sony has seen such negative press recently. It seems, almost arbitrarily, like recent articles tend to address some glaring issues with the state of PS5 and Sony as a whole but also pepper in small annoyances that wouldn't really matter too much to many people. An example would be a recent blogger complaining about a lack of faceplates as being one of the many reasons why the PS5 "sucks". This had me scratching my head honestly, because it feels like phony outrage over something so inconsequential. I'm trying to look at this objectively and try see the hidden meaning within the hidden meaning, to quote a recent episode of Boruto.

Yes both XSX and PS5 have some work to do, but isn't this the same every generation. Is it because there's not much else to talk about and these kind of outbursts, at the very least, garner clicks, likes and comments?

Or is it something even more hidden behind veil. Could the bashing of Sony and boosting of other platforms be part of the media's plan to usher in an era of Sony's coordinated, intentional, eventual and inevitable redemption.

I think we could all agree Sony's been pretty quiet. They seem to have lost their sense of showmanship. Their games alone do the talking for them, but I feel like this isn't enough. I also think Sony knows it's not enough.

The saying goes "Absence makes the heart fonder". Could Sony be planning a resurgence in the future to overshadow any and all positive press Xbox or the Switch or even PC receives. Is Sony positioning itself to be the hero that's beaten down only to rise up even higher than they were ever previously?

I'd like to know what you guys think. Am I crazy? Does it not seem weird for the media to be doing a 180 like this?
Hahaha you know they are an electronics company eh. A multi billion dollar one? WTF is this hero talk? Boo hoo faceplates. Who cares?
 

Flutta

Banned
Breh is been like this every gen.
PS is doomed 😩
Xbox will magically win over the market 🥳
Its the same dance over and over.

One thing is for sure tho, Sony’s lack off communication to its fanbase is an issue. Only time i saw Sony really put an effort was during the PS4 era, and that lasted for about 3 years into the gen 😂.

I mean they still havent had a big show yet. Only thing we get from time to time is those damn rumors.
 
Last edited:

Aenima

Member
I stoped following videogame sites that make they content based on clickbait articles. Unfortunatly ppl in this forum loves that shit and keep bringing here and creating new topics about cickbait shit at any oportunity that just fuel console wars and lower the quality of the gaming discussion that this forum could be doing by choosing to not focusing in discussing new releases and stuff.
 

Withnail

Member
Eh people will always take potshots at the market leader, it's just internet drama.

Ignore the click bait and the fake insiders and get back to enjoying videogames.
 

Hobbygaming

has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
Even if we would have 10 negative Sony articles daily, Sony would just have to show a 3 minute God of War Ragnorak trailer next week and the whole internet would be like "Sony, Sony, Sony!!" and "GOTY incoming!!!!!". Sony knows this for sure, but i don't think they would do it on purpose.
I fixed it for you :)
 

Jigsaah

Gold Member
Summer is slow for gaming and the tradional media is dying. Drama creates clicks as they cling on for life.

Sony is fine.
I'm not worried about Sony being fine or not. That was never the question. I'm saying is the media casting this fake outrage as a catalyst for an eventual hero narrative for Sony in the future.
 

Jigsaah

Gold Member
As someone who works in the video game journalism world and runs his own place i can tell you right now if you really think this is done on purpose to dramatically increase the impression of upcoming Sony events then you are silly and dead wrong.

It's simply being done to create negativity and generate more than normal traffic and drama to make something called $$$. Get real and don't be so naive.

This thread is a perfect example how Sony and media sites are now getting free publicity due to people overthinking and just being drama queens. Hilarious.

1 - Sony is not in trouble.
2 - Games are coming.

3 - Chill out and enjoy your current games.

4 - Learn to form your own opinions and stop following other peoples blindly like a dumb sheep.

5 - You will forget about this as soon as Sony showcases God of War Ragnarok, next Naighty Dog project and other unannounced titles.

TLDR - Don't be such a silly goose.
I like being silly :messenger_pouting:

No but ok I get it, so the media is not as beholden to Sony as I have always believed it to be last gen? Therefore, there is no ploy for them to wait for Sony's hero music to play and come save the day. Gotcha.

I'm not being a drama queen. I may be overthinking it though. So it's just games journalists being leeches off of negative energy. That just sucks. For everybody.
 

SafeOrAlone

Banned
Well...all the date fudging, poor communication regarding cross-gen, the obnoxious Jim Ryan comments, trying to shut down online stores, the size of the dang thing. That's just the start of it.

Let's face it: Playstation is sort of annoying lately. There is a reason they are being called out. Let's hope they get the message.

But I always reiterate lately, because of "console war" sensitivity, that I have a deep love for Playstation. For example, Shadow of the Colossus, Last of Us, Spider-Man, Death Stranding...those are some of my very favorite games of all time.
 

Jigsaah

Gold Member
Well...all the date fudging, poor communication regarding cross-gen, the obnoxious Jim Ryan comments, trying to shut down online stores, the size of the dang thing. That's just the start of it.

Let's face it: Playstation is sort of annoying lately. There is a reason they are being called out. Let's hope they get the message.

But I always reiterate lately, because of "console war" sensitivity, that I have a deep love for Playstation. For example, Shadow of the Colossus, Last of Us, Spider-Man, Death Stranding...those are some of my very favorite games of all time.
I'm indifferent personally. I play PC the most, but wouldn't call myself a fanboy. I just like looking at how these trends are happening and though I agree some of the criticism is warranted, some just feels like dogpiling. Honestly, Xbox is also pretty versed in this type of treatment, especially last gen but it feels like games journalists just seem to lack sincerity anymore.

Even when it comes to social issues. That last tweet from Jason Scherier that blew up? About the all white guy studio? I question whether he was really all that concerned about it. Just feels like virtue signaling for the sake of attention.

Tinfoil hat not included

What if many Gafers are just too sensitive to every not great news regarding Sony, even if it is justified?
I think some Gaffers are definitely too sensitive to negative news about Sony. It's kinda why I made the thread. Seems to be the trend to jump on Sony nowadays. Some of it is warranted...other times it feels like it's really not.
 
Last edited:

LiquidMetal14

hide your water-based mammals
It makes me laugh because this is the same kind of stupidity that happened before they're in the PlayStation 3 days when they deserve the ass-kicking they got but then got their shit together. The difference is they're just going in stride and have the best next-generation system with the best games thus far but you have to make articles about I don't know how things feel or let's worry about Japan which doesn't matter as much anymore or the vent makes a noise that scares my cat at night.

I own every major system except a Nintendo 1 right now and can tell you that it's a good time to be in the industry and it's clear that Sony is in the driver's position other than the fact that they can't produce enough systems much like you can't hardly find a graphics card.

What about the other day when somebody posted that threat above variable refresh rate as if it matters when the games are running really smooth and optimized. And this is coming from somebody that has a high-end graphics card with a high refresh rate LG TV. I have the best setup ever in order to gauge all this and let me tell you this, the smoothest experiences I've ever had are on this current generation of systems thank God to all the performance modes and worth of the developers and console manufacturers have done to enable these features which have made such a major improvement to our quality of life in terms of the technical side of things.

Appreciate that and stop worrying about a non issue because things are quiet as if the machine isn't still churning out some amazing things.
 

Marty-McFly

Banned
1439536505043.gif


No offence but this is laughable. Embarrassing. Comical even. The amount of negative news pieces around Nintendo and particularly Xbox have been astronomical compared to Sony until recently.

There was an article yesterday about Sony not having a single game in the top 30 in Japan and that was the first time that happened since the days of the Famicom. It's newsworthy. People still freaked out because they couldn't stand anything being said about their plastic box. This thread demonstrates the same delusional mentality. Sony fans building them up in their minds to the point where any negativity must actually be positive is some way or clickbait because their almighty Sony can actually do no wrong :messenger_tears_of_joy:

Eh people will always take potshots at the market leader, it's just internet drama.

Ignore the click bait and the fake insiders and get back to enjoying videogames.

Sony hasn't been the market leader for years. Actually, Switch is on pace to outsell all of their consoles historically, XSX is rebounding with some major moves like the Bethesda purchase and Gamepass. Sony are still doing fantastic, but they've lost tremendous market share since the days when the PS4 dominated the Xbox One and Wii U.

This news probably stings, but this cultism surrounding Sony where you would outright deny reality is exactly the same delusion that is driving the fan fiction narrative in the OP.
 
Last edited:
I like being silly :messenger_pouting:

No but ok I get it, so the media is not as beholden to Sony as I have always believed it to be last gen? Therefore, there is no ploy for them to wait for Sony's hero music to play and come save the day. Gotcha.

I'm not being a drama queen. I may be overthinking it though. So it's just games journalists being leeches off of negative energy. That just sucks. For everybody.
Ehhh. I don't know if I'd say the journalists being leeches or not. Are some of them are? Yeah for sure. But not all.

You would be doing same thing if you were in their position because it brings the money.

I never understand why people always pretend that they are devine and holy and that everyone else besides them is some sort of a scumbag.

It's usually same people who complain about YouTube thumbnails or clickbaity titles that always work and bring money. Once again, you would be doing same thing, so let's not play the pretend game. And no I am not upset or speaking about you specifically but more in general terms of how people tend to react to such things.
 
Last edited:

Topher

Gold Member
I think a big part of all this is that Sony simply sucks at PR. They don't get engaged enough with the community and say things that are easily taken out of context and used against them. And their messaging is often just wrong. Demon Souls Remake was announced for PS5 and PC and then just PS5. Spider-Man was PS5 exclusive and then it was PS4 as well. These are simple cases where they should have been upfront and/or correct the first time around.

What Sony does do right and continues to do is make great games and that is where the focus should ultimately be. Jim Ryan is never going to be as slick as Phil Spencer. There is just no way. But as long as the games keep coming like they have consistently the last 5 or 6 years, I'm fine with that. And I think most PlayStation fans are as well.

As far as the gaming media, let's be clear. Most of them are just regular folks who threw up a WordPress blog. We are not talking about quality journalists like Abriael_GN Abriael_GN in the vast majority of cases. You have a few well-respected sites and then a shit-ton of wannabes who are playing pretend. They want attention and for many creating spectacle is one way of getting it. It is called "click bait" for a reason. Having said that, Sony needs to not make it easier for these hacks.
 
Last edited:

Jigsaah

Gold Member
Ehhh. I don't if I'd sat uts journalists being leeches or not. You would be doing same thing if you were in their position because it brings the money. I never understand why people always pretend that they are devine and holy. It's usually same people who complain about YouTube thumbnails or clickbaity titles that always work and bring money. Once again, you would be doing same thing, so let's not play the pretend game. And no I am not upset or speaking about you specifically but more in general terms of how people tend to react to such things.
I don't know if I would. I suppose if I had no control over what got placed online and the editor was directing me to write hit pieces on Sony or Microsoft, then I probably would choose not to work for them. I don't think gamers dislike game journalist innately. Games Journalists earn the vitriol they get because of the negativity they feed off.

I think if I had agency over something like this, I would try to be as objective as I could, maybe offering my own opinion at times and distinctly listing it as my own opinion. All in all I think I would try to be fair. Because I think that this is what gaming needs right now. That's why I think podcasts like Sacred Symbols do so well. They are obviously Sony fans, but not Sony fanboys. They can look at things objectively and give fair opinions where it's appropriate.
 
Last edited:

skit_data

Member
Sony played the quiet game last year as well, its possible that they have changed stance from ”pretty bad PR” to ”silence…silence… bomb drop… repeat” because tbh it does seem to work pretty well outside of some articles being written and then completely forgotten as soon as they show something.
 
I don't know if I would. I suppose if I had no control over what got placed online and the editor was directing me to write hit pieces on Sony or Microsoft, then I probably would choose not to work for them. I don't think gamers dislike game journalist innately. Games Journalists earn the vitriol they get because of the negativity they feed off.

I think if I had agency over something like this, I would try to be as objective as I could, maybe offering my own opinion at times and distinctly listing it as my own opinion. All in all I think I would try to be fair. Because I think that this is what gaming needs right now. That's why I think podcasts like Sacred Symbols do so well. They are obviously Sony fans, but not Sony fanboys. They can look at things objectively and give fair opinions where it's appropriate.
Fair enough.
 

Jigsaah

Gold Member
No offence but this is laughable. Comical even. The amount of negative news pieces around Nintendo and particularly Xbox have been astronomical compared to Sony until recently.

There was an article yesterday about Sony not having a single game in the top 30 in Japan and that was the first time that happened since the days of the Famicom. It's newsworthy. People still freaked out because they couldn't stand anything being said about their plastic box. This thread demonstrates the same delusional mentality. Sony fans building them up in their minds to the point where any negativity must actually be positive is some way or clickbait because the almighty Sony can actually do no wrong.



Sony hasn't been the market leader for years. Actually, Switch is on pace to outsell all of their consoles historically, XSX is rebounding with some major moves like the Bethesda purchase and Gamepass. Sony are still doing fantastic, but they've lost tremendous market share since the days when the PS4 dominated the Xbox One and Wii U.

This news probably stings, but this cultism surrounding Sony where you would outright deny reality is exactly the same delusion that is driving the fan fiction narrative in the OP.
I was pretty sure the title would give away my sarcasm. The point of making the thread was moreso to discuss the trend. I just wrapped with a bunch of silly string. If I was really some type of conspiracy theorist I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss what I said in favor of the responses I've received from others on the thread.

Find the hidden meaning in the hidden meaning sir.
 

93xfan

Banned
A bad article or two leads to making up a conspiracy theory that they intentionally want to look bad and then look good?

Edit: see the OP clarified
 
Last edited:

Hobbygaming

has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
No offence but this is laughable. Comical even. The amount of negative news pieces around Nintendo and particularly Xbox have been astronomical compared to Sony until recently.

There was an article yesterday about Sony not having a single game in the top 30 in Japan and that was the first time that happened since the days of the Famicom. It's newsworthy. People still freaked out because they couldn't stand anything being said about their plastic box. This thread demonstrates the same delusional mentality. Sony fans building them up in their minds to the point where any negativity must actually be positive is some way or clickbait because their almighty Sony can actually do no wrong.



Sony hasn't been the market leader for years. Actually, Switch is on pace to outsell all of their consoles historically, XSX is rebounding with some major moves like the Bethesda purchase and Gamepass. Sony are still doing fantastic, but they've lost tremendous market share since the days when the PS4 dominated the Xbox One and Wii U.

This news probably stings, but this cultism surrounding Sony where you would outright deny reality is exactly the same delusion that is driving the fan fiction narrative in the OP.
Kathy Bates Lol GIF by Team Coco
 

Hobbygaming

has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
I think a big part of all this is that Sony simply sucks at PR. They don't get engaged enough with the community and say things that are easily taken out of context and used against them. And their messaging is often just wrong. Demon Souls Remake was announced for PS5 and PC and then just PS5. Spider-Man was PS5 exclusive and then it was PS4 as well. These are simple cases where they should have been upfront and/or correct the first time around.

What Sony does do right and continues to do is make great games and that is where the focus should ultimately be. Jim Ryan is never going to be as slick as Phil Spencer. There is just no way. But as long as the games keep coming like they have consistently the last 5 or 6 years, I'm fine with that. And I think most PlayStation fans are as well.

As far as the gaming media, let's be clear. Most of them are just regular folks who threw up a WordPress blog. We are not talking about quality journalists like Abriael_GN Abriael_GN in the vast majority of cases. You have a few well-respected sites and then a shit-ton of wannabes who are playing pretend. They want attention and for many creating spectacle is one way of getting it. It is called "click bait" for a reason. Having said that, Sony needs to not make it easier for these hacks.
I fully agree with your assessment

The only important areas where Sony is lacking is PR and communication about their showcases
 
Top Bottom