Since its release, fans have been quick to question the amount of third-party support that the PlayStation 3 will eventually receive, worrying that Microsoft would herd most of the big names into its stables. Sony knows this, and that’s why they took the opportunity at their keynote during the 2007 E3 Media & Business Summit to let the world know who’s on their team. They’re hoping to pull gamers down off the fence and into their yard to play.
Sony was excited to say that over 100 new third-party titles will be released this year for the PS3, bringing the total number up to 160 titles available in North America. Developers like Capcom, Electronic Arts, Konami, Namco Bandai, Activision, Ubisoft, and more are on board, ready to make games for the system.
We told you earliertoday about how NCsoft will be creating online titles for the PS3. The word “several” was used, and refers to online titles for both the PS3 and the PSP. This could mean big things if NCsoft teaches Sony a bit about how the whole online thing works. Perhaps Sony hopes to pull in some of the 60 million users that follow NCsoft’sLineage. That couldn’t hurt.
We also mentionedthat Epic was working with Sony earlier. They announced a “multi-stage” agreement to make Sony systems purr. Their opimization of the Unreal 3 engine for Sony’s systems will not only benefit the PS3-first titleUnreal Tournament III, but will also help out 20 other games using this engine already in development for the PS3.
Ubisoft and Free Radical are bringing the exclusiveHazeto the PS3 this holiday season. This first-person shooter will feature multiplayer action for the PlayStation Network, and will help strengthen Sony’s new title front.
Of course, the big announcement for Sony is the exclusive on Hideo Kojima’sMetal Gear Solid 4. It’s been up in the air for so long, but now Sony has the ball, and from what we could see at the keynote, Sony was pleased as punch to be announcing that.A new trailerwith the new English cast was shown, and plans for a simultaneous worldwide release were announced.
There’s no denying that Sony neededMetal Gear Solid 4, even if Sony acts like they really didn’t. Jack Tretton has said that he would like the PS3 to be desired as a console that has a wealth of gaming choices rather than banking on a single title, but it seems they got that single “system seller” anyway.
WillMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriotswith itsglorious chest-stomping goodnessbe enough to move PS3s now? Did the recent price drop help? Are you still on the fence? Do you still need to see more?
