Exclusives. For many, they’re one of the worst things about videogames. Not being able to play some great big, anticipated game because somebody in a suit gave somebody else in a suit a comically large hessian sack full of cold cash (with a Dollar sign painted on it, obviously) is annoying stuff. Thankfully, at least Tomb Raider is coming to platforms other than its initially announced one.
But what else? What games that are exclusive to other platforms would you love to play on yours. Of course, it’s incredibly unlikely that whatever first party games you have in mind will end up on the system you favour. You’ll likely never play Super Mario 3D World on the PlayStation4, and you’ll never see Uncharted 4 on PC – but there has to be a million or so third party exclusives you’d love to see on other platforms.
Two from this new generation instantly spring to mind, as both of them are reasons to get a system. The first is the incredibly fun, but unfortunately fleeting Sunset Overdrive. Made by the silly chaps at Insomniac, it has some of the best weapons you’ll see in a game, even if it is puerile in its storytelling. It’s the single (at the moment!) Xbox One exclusive game that’s tempting me to pick up the system, until Quantum Break is out, that is.
On the PlayStation side of life? It’s easy. Bloodborne. FROM software’s diabolicially difficult Souls game is a far, far better third-party exclusive than something like The Order: 1886.
The Wii U, as we know, has pretty much no third party anything, and the one game that I’d love for others to play from its library is apparently headed out of exclusivity anyway. Yes, it’s the wonderful ZombiU. As for the PC? Much the same thing. The game I’d love to jump over already is: Obsidian’s excellent Pillars of Eternity.
But what of you fine gaming lot? What games – first, second, third party – would you love to no longer be exclusive to their home platforms?
Last Updated: July 24, 2015
Lollies the Laughing Lollipop
July 24, 2015 at 10:36
I wanna play Pokemon on my PS4, Fucking let me play POKEMON ON MY PS4 NINTENDO DAM U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WitWolfy
July 24, 2015 at 10:50
Maybe one day with CFW in the distance future?
Alicewhitea
July 25, 2015 at 00:20
GFJUHG
Top PickPOint Of Success ::1:: @7se9 nk…..
http://www.NationalReviewOfCashMakinHere….
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Ottokie
July 24, 2015 at 10:41
Any of the Digimon Worlds on my PC, (I miss my childhood gaming self xD)
Sageville
July 24, 2015 at 10:43
I can understand a studio not having the resources or time to make games available across all platforms” and then punt exclusivity, but if you going “Timed Exclusive” then that feels anti-consumer to me.
Ir0nseraph
July 24, 2015 at 10:44
I can still live with “Timed exclusive” what really makes me mad is certain DLC locked to a system.
Sageville
July 24, 2015 at 10:46
Well, DLCs in general make my testes hurt…
Ir0nseraph
July 24, 2015 at 10:49
XD
Dutch Matrix
July 24, 2015 at 10:49
You have testes? But I feel your hairy sacks when it comes to DLC and the hate for it
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2015 at 10:49
Doesn’t do wonders for my bum either.
Pariah
July 24, 2015 at 10:43
I actually think exclusives have a place. As you said, they are often system sellers. I think their existence is a fantastic thing for the console or gaming market in general. Imagine if those PS4 exclusives could be played on a PC or Xbox. How many fewer systems would be sold (this works in all directions) – and if the companies aren’t selling systems then they don’t have a reason to make a new one.
I think we as gamers have gotten too entitled. We demand what we want, when we want it and how we want it. While I agree that we should be getting a good degree of what we want, I don’t go to a Toyota dealership to buy a Volkswagen.
Ir0nseraph
July 24, 2015 at 10:52
Damn and there you go and make sense of it all now :).
As evil as it is, it is indeed a necessary evil.
Audacity (or-das-it-eeee-eee)
July 24, 2015 at 11:01
Yeah, reading the article I actually did forget about the healthiness (real word?) of competition, still, a Final Fantasy X/X-2 and XII remaster on Xbone would be pretty great
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 24, 2015 at 11:12
I understand the logic behind exclusives, and it makes complete sense. For the supplier/seller it’s a great incentive, as you say, to sell their platform. But in the end it only swings the few people who either can’t make up their minds or who are fortunate enough to be able to all the platforms.
You’ll search long and far to find pc gamers who will change to console because of an exclusive, but some folks may opt for a PS instead of an Xbox for this reason.
PS. You’d be silly to go to a Toyota dealership to buy a VW. Toyota only stocks good cars.
Pariah
July 24, 2015 at 11:15
Sure, but me as a PC gamer I have incentives to buy both a PS4 and Xbox for games I can’t play on my PC. And then I still have to choose which platform. But remember one thing, we in SA are very price sensitive, we don’t have big budgets and shit is expensive here. In the US though, a lot of people can afford both platforms – and in those cases are where what I was talking about becomes relevant. Why would they buy 2 systems, when they’d just choose one and play everything anyway?
Also, spot on. Toyota make excellent cars.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 24, 2015 at 11:24
Yes. That I agree with that completely. If I (as a pc gamer) am on the lookout for a console, exclusives would sell it to me. Just like it actually has in the past.
HvR
July 24, 2015 at 11:44
Yes, that is a part of the gaming life. Console makers “investing” in their product creating or expanding IP exclusive to their console to make it a more attractive product. Even buying old IP out right and reviving it on their platform is understandable.
However when publisher or game dev makes IP exclusive that previously was not or change platform exclusivity (or worse timed exclusive) or keeping part of the game exclusive through DLC for some backhand payment that is taking your loyal customer bending them over and shoving an umbrella up their ass.
Pariah
July 24, 2015 at 11:48
Steffmeister covered this above, and I do agree. Taking a cross-platform title and making it exclusive is a dick move. Yet it’s still really good business practice, even if the fans get screwed over in the process. A good degree of those fans may just cave and buy the other console. Good business. Bad fan service.
HvR
July 24, 2015 at 11:52
Depends on which side it falls, can be bad business if the game sales suffer. (which I hope it does to snuff out this tactic)
I think in a certain sense proper platform exclusivity can be a good thing as it pushes the performance and creative boundaries between console makers making them part with more of the profits to make the gaming experience better. Previous gen Forza versus GT is a good example. Less exclusivity is maybe why I find the latest gen still a bit lack luster suffering from sequel-hiarea.
Pariah
July 24, 2015 at 11:56
Well, it could be bad business for the developers, but not for the console makers (who are the main reason exclusivity exists anyway). But those console makers offer financial incentives to make a game exclusive that wasn’t previously, or to convince them to make their title exclusive to begin with (Titanfail anyone?). So there’s a lot of business that goes on behind the scenes that we don’t get to see the numbers for. Small studios could easily be swayed by a nice large guaranteed lump sum, not relying on potential sales. This could allow them to make more games in future if sales aren’t super stellar for whatever reason. Again, still a good thing for us as gamers.
I don’t know, I know fans don’t like being screwed over, and I do agree that already established cross platform games should not go exclusive, but it’s often still good for us as gamers, as well as the devs and console manufacturers. I just see far more win than lose.
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2015 at 10:44
Exclusive sequels is the dirtiest phrase imaginable. Give me WIIU games on PS4. I’ll play anything interesting from XBOX on PC for now.
Dutch Matrix
July 24, 2015 at 10:54
Yeah. That Bayonetta was a dick move in all the dick moves possible
Ir0nseraph
July 24, 2015 at 11:02
All I see is “for now” :), come on double dip already.
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2015 at 11:15
FNB has a R359.00 X 24 deal……..I mean NO!
Ir0nseraph
July 24, 2015 at 11:20
XD
Get a few drinks, and then look at the offer through beer goggles 😛
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2015 at 11:33
I’ve never been that drunk O_o Just waiting for a nice bundle maybe in December.
Ir0nseraph
July 24, 2015 at 11:42
Never you say, you either skip that step or you are the MAN.
December should have some good specials.
Derrich Schleich
July 24, 2015 at 10:52
God Of War – with nice HD textures on the PC MASTER RACE
Steffmeister
July 24, 2015 at 10:55
Everything I want is on PS4 or PC…the 2 systems I own. If I stayed with xbox I would have missed out on The Last Of Us….. enough said.
Steffmeister
July 24, 2015 at 11:00
Exclusives are okay, its taking a franchise that was on all platforms, and then making it exclusive to one.
The people that supported the IP in the beginning are being given a big middle finger…
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2015 at 11:01
This!
Sageville
July 24, 2015 at 11:03
Preach it brudda!
Pariah
July 24, 2015 at 11:08
This I can agree with.
oVg Reality is an illusion
July 24, 2015 at 11:08
NO!
EXCLUSIVE SEQUEL IS A DIRTY WORD.
Especially if the reboot was a success thanks to higher sales on the other platforms.
RinceThis
July 24, 2015 at 11:39
THIS^
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 24, 2015 at 11:55
Exclusive sequels is pure evil
oVg R2million Swimming Pool
July 24, 2015 at 12:24
Squarenix really fucking dropped the ball on this one and they know it. Why else are they revealing the release dates of the other platforms before the Bones version is even released.
Just think how much money they would have made if it was released before Uncharted Trilogy or Uncharted 4 let alone Fallout 4.
NOOBS by the time the GOTY version is released in December 2016 the MODERN 2016 Holiday line up will drown out LARA like Titanfall is.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 24, 2015 at 12:46
Quite true
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 24, 2015 at 11:08
Exclusive is not a safe dirty word. We can’t use that in the bedroom.
Jac7
July 24, 2015 at 11:13
Ah man, I had so much to say, but then I remembered it’s Friday and I’m already drunk. Let’s just agree to get drunk and agree on something for once. I don’t know what I’m saying, but this is my favourite site :’)
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 24, 2015 at 11:14
Bastard!
I’m still working until 5
Jac7
July 24, 2015 at 11:15
I’m taking it easy today. Jameson said I should.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 24, 2015 at 11:24
I envy you. But ENJOY!
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2015 at 11:16
Enjoy! XD
Deceased
July 24, 2015 at 11:22
The Last of Us on PC with the graphics that it was intended to have…
Ottokie
July 24, 2015 at 11:33
I still have a working Ps1 with all the games 🙂 but I what I really want is a game designed for PC.
MakeItLegal
July 24, 2015 at 11:35
i wish university had programs for young game designers to have access to old ps1 and ps2 titles rework and re release them at a fraction of the cost
RinceThis
July 24, 2015 at 11:39
As @disqus_skMjf7V9ps:disqus said, one thing having an exclusive IP, but moving from one platform to another for a sequel is a DICK move.
Ghost In The Rift
July 24, 2015 at 11:45
Red Dead Redemption on PC…….DONE!!
Pariah
July 24, 2015 at 11:49
Well it’s not coming to Xbox again. Too much CoD over there.
Ghost In The Rift
July 24, 2015 at 13:10
Just got to hope for a remaster then i guess lol
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 24, 2015 at 15:00
Indeed