Thu, Aug 16, 2012 | 17:44 BST
Sony in talks with third-party publishers for Cross Buy promotions
Sony is currently in discussion with third-party publishers to adopt the Cross Buy scheme. The service, which gifts free Vita games to player who have bought a compatible PS3 title, is not a reaction to discount trends across the gaming market, says the company.
Speaking to GI, European boss Jim Ryan claimed it is Sony’s responsibility to sell the Cross Buy initiative to other developers.
“We’ll obviously encourage third-parties to adopt it but ultimately whether or not a game includes Cross Buy is a publishing decision and it will be at the third parties’ discretion whether or not they want to go down that route.”
“We’d obviously like to encourage it, whether it’s Cross Buy or cross functionality across the two devices,” he added. “It’s like any of these things, the platform holder has a burden of responsibility to blaze a trail and if it works out others will follow.”
Cross Play initially appeared with Motorstorm RC, and has since made an appearance on a number of first-party titles. Ryan believes the scheme has a positive knock-on effect for the entire brand.
“It advances the overall PlayStation eco-system, and it can’t harm because we have in excess of 20 million players and obviously they are into PlayStation and that’s a pretty sensible place to start when you’re looking to get people to buy in to Vita.”
With this said, Ryan was quick to say Cross Buy and PS Plus discounts aren’t a reaction to cut-price products across the wider gaming spectrum.
“It’s definitely not a reaction to anything anybody else is doing,” he said. “There are two aspects to this. These are really rather challenging economic times in the UK and Europe and it’s our responsibility to sharpen the value proposition and value that we offer to our consumers as much as we possible can.
“And in the digital space PlayStation Plus is something that we’ve launched and taken a lot of learnings and we think we’ve got a great opportunity to grow big business there and really offer lots and lots of value to our consumers.”
12 
Posted in: PS3, Sony
Tags: cross-play, Gamescom 2012, Jim Ryan, Sony
12 comments
#1
SlayerGT
16/08/12, 5:36 pm
Cross play, cross buy, cross save..this shit is getting confusing.
#2
Nick Akerman
16/08/12, 5:45 pm
Oops, I said Cross Play! But yes, underlines your point perfectly.
#3
CycloneFox
16/08/12, 8:04 pm
Cross Buy: Buy a game and get PS3&Vita versions of it, (If the versions differ, for PS Mobile or PSOne games, the versions are the same anyway and don’t need Cross Buy) (Can be implemented for retail- and download-games)
Cross Play: Play cooperative or competitive between Vita&PS3, (Or sometimes even steam or android)
Cross Save: similar to transfarring, share saves between PS3&Vita,
Cross Control: control PS3 via Vita, like Wii U, and use Vita hardware like camera, touchpad, second screen, etc.
I like any of those features. Especially if a game covers it all, like Sly Cooper for example.
#4
ejams
16/08/12, 8:07 pm
I had a question regarding this; if I was to get Playstation All-stars for Vita, would I get the PS3 version free or is it only the other way around? (Buy PS3 one, get Vita version)
#5
CycloneFox
16/08/12, 8:12 pm
@4: Normally, if cross buy applies for a game, it should go both ways arround.
#6
SlayerGT
16/08/12, 8:15 pm
@3 Thanks for that. I mean, is Sony coining these terms. Are these gonna be logos on the boxes? Don’t get wrong I’m pomped for any of it. I’m just curious.
#7
OlderGamer
16/08/12, 8:18 pm
This is a really big deal. If they can get this worked ok, it could drive sales.
#8
HighWindXIX
16/08/12, 11:05 pm
Does anyone know whether Cross Buy will only work if you buy the game on PSN or if they will have a way to buy a physical copy and still get the deal?
#9
Kaufer
17/08/12, 1:59 am
“For all of you that purchase the PlayStation 3 version of PlayStation All-Stars – at retail or digitally through the PlayStation Network – you will be able to download the PS Vita version of PlayStation All-Stars from the PS Network at no additional cost.”
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/08/14/playstation-all-stars-gamescom-reveal-dante-sackboy-spike-ratchet-and-clank/
#10
TheBlackHole
17/08/12, 9:33 am
Of course it’s not a reaction to discounting, it’s a reaction to piss-poor Vita sales.
Mr Developer – you know those games you made for our two systems, well… could you give one away for free please because the console isn’t selling very well. what’s that? No, we don’t give you any extra support or remuneration for doing this. Thank you.
#11
TheBlackHole
17/08/12, 9:35 am
@5 That’s insane – surely you’d never buy the PS3 version as it’d always be more expensive?
#12
DrDamn
17/08/12, 10:22 am
@10
Yes of course it is, that’s why it was first done on a launch title…