Sony Can’t Be Serious About Not Having Enough IPs, Right?

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Shahmeer Sarfaraz

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The ideal platform for gaming has been an age-old question, one that every gamer has pondered upon. When multiple options spring up, choosing one can be tough, but one factor takes precedence over all others: the kind of games.

A platform without exclusives cannot stay relevant for long. In fact, PlayStation is so preferred precisely because of its exclusives. However, I can’t say the same for the current PS5 era devoid of impactful first-party exclusives. Still, that doesn’t erase all the good stuff Sony has access to.

Why it matters: Sony owns countless gems that more than deserve to be revived, yet the company claims not to have enough IPs. 

The “Not Enough IPs” Claim Of Sony Baffles Me

The current era might be barren, but it wasn’t always like this. Sony, in the past, was responsible for some of the best games of its time. However, that’s what you and I believe. The tech giant itself thinks otherwise.

Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki recently released a rather peculiar statement. He mentioned that Sony doesn’t have access to enough original IPs, whether for games, films, or animation. 

Let me ask you this: can you believe this nonsense? Apologies, let me put this another way. Does Sony seriously believe this? The films and anime part aside, I’d like to think Sony has some pretty impressive franchises. Why this insulting statement, then?

Guess Sony somehow forgot their IPs from the PS1, PS2 and PS3 era 😑
byu/Its-yea-boi-Bender inMauLer

Can This Treasure Trove Be Ignored?

So, let’s beat this illogical point with logic, then. Gravity Rush, Parappa the Rapper, Infamous, Ape Escape, God of War, Jak and Daxter, Astro, Killzone, Siren, Resistance, SOCOM, Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted, Shadow of the Colossus, Ico, Knack, Syphon Filter, Warhawk, the list goes on and on.

Do you mean to tell me all of these are not “enough IPs?” How can Sony even say that? I still find that hard to believe. Perhaps if it takes a break from remaking The Last of Us, it can see the worth of these undeniable gems.

I am so tired of Sony neglecting all of their amazing IPs… Infamous, Sly Cooper, Twisted Metal, Jack & Daxter, etc…
byu/ThiccNickGaming inTwistedMetal

All of Japan Studio’s IPs, like Gravity Rush, Ape Escape, Astro, Siren, Knack, etc., were extremely creative gems the gaming industry needs these days. Is the reception of Astro Bot not proof of this? Sony even has Bloodborne practically at its disposal, as FromSoftware is more than willing.

There are little franchises that capture the true essence of an OP superhero in a freely interactable sandbox like Infamous. Creative platformers like Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper will always be appreciated, and Sony could do something truly magical with a new Killzone, Resistance, SOCOM, or Warhawk. 

It’s An Insult To These Gems

I didn’t even include the more popular titles of the PS4 era. Games like Horizon, Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, etc. are still immensely popular. But no, Sony would much rather pursue a live service only to fail.

I have many qualms with Sony’s current direction, but the past is a different story. Saying, “I don’t have enough stuff to work on,” all the while sitting on these magnificent gems is nothing but an insult to these games’ legacy I won’t tolerate.

It’s like a parent refusing to acknowledge their own kids despite their achievements. Imagine how frustrating and infuriating that would be for the kids. Sony’s doing the exact same thing.

Besides, it’s hurting no one but its own reputation and the feelings of its fans. Imagine waiting for a new Infamous or Syphon Filter for years and then hearing Sony say it has nothing to work on. Yeah, that’ll be both heartbreaking and enraging.

Play to your Strengths, Sony

Thus, instead of antagonizing its player base, Sony needs to make good use of the treasure it possesses. Do you know what makes Astro Bot such a big deal? It has meticulous and beloved references and easter eggs to Sony’s glorious past, a reminder of what gaming embodied back in the day.

A inFAMOUS Easter Egg in Astro's Playroom!
byu/ClaimSlow2743 ininfamous

Claiming this while Astro Bot is currently proving otherwise is pretty ironic if you ask me. Astro should be proof enough of how attractive these past works are; Sony can accomplish greatness with some of these long-abandoned franchises. 

This is why I believe the proper course of action is to revive some of these works and let the people be the judge, instead of more live services or saying “We don’t have enough stuff.”

Shahmeer Sarfaraz

Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.