A little over a week ago, we asked you some questions about Cross Buy. The aim was to find out how our readership felt about Sony’s platform-spanning scheme in which you could buy a game and receive versions for your PS3 and Vita, or PS4 or any combination of Sony devices.
We expected much of what we saw from the responses you gave us but what we weren’t quite expecting is just how decisive these results were. It turns out that a large proportion of you think that Cross Buy helps to influence your decision to buy a game, you’re prepared to spend a little more for it and you even favour Sony over other platforms because of it.
Let’s get on to the results.
If a game on the PSN Store is Cross Buy (pay once, play on PS3/PS4/Vita), how likely are you to buy it:
If a game on the PSN Store is not Cross Buy, how likely are you to buy it:
Would you be inclined to pay a slightly higher price for a game if it was:
Should other platform holders offer a similar scheme to Cross Buy (i.e. Nintendo with Smash Bros. or Microsoft on 360 and One)?
Does Cross Buy influence your decision to buy products from Sony rather than on other stores like Xbox, Steam, etc.?
So there you have it. Those results, while not strictly scientific, seem to show a ringing endorsement for the scheme. They also demonstrate, it seems, that Cross Buy actually acts as an incentive to buy certain games and perhaps even pay a little more for them.
We’ll be back later this week with another little poll to quiz you with. Don’t forget, if there are any subjects you’d particularly like to see polled, drop us a comment and we’ll consider it for the future.
tonyyeb
My answer for “If a game on the PSN Store is Cross Buy (pay once, play on PS3/PS4/Vita), how likely are you to buy it” was “Not influenced”. If however, save games were such that when finished playing on the PS3 and then loading the game on the Vita it was like carrying on, then I would be much more likely to buy a cross buy game.
gernboes
Most crossbuy games have that function (if not all, im not sure…) Its called Crossplay, and there are even games that have crossplay but not crossbuy. So if you buy both, it works just the same.
gernboes
Sorry, its called cross save, crossplay is something else…
tonyyeb
Obviously this feature isn’t clear enough otherwise I would have probably done that. Something for Publishers/Sony to work on.
ron_mcphatty
It’s a good idea, one I’m sure would be straightforward for Sony to implement with the Plus Cloud save system already set up! Konami’s Transfafaffing is much less faff than I’m implying (it was a typo, but I’m sticking with it), the MGS collection synchronises in seconds over their servers so I’ve had both my PS3 and Vita signed in and running MGS2 and magically moved the save over from the former to the latter… so I could continue VR missions on the throne. Brilliant.
ashw92
Some interesting results there. I love Cross Buy as an idea and it definitely makes me more inclined to pick up a game if I can play it on either platform, I do wish cross save was more prevalent though.
I think it would be quite interesting to have a look into DLC in a poll in the future, how common purchases are and perceived value. Also I think it would be particularly interesting to hear people’s thoughts on Season Passes. It would be quite interesting to see how many people actually buy them and whether they think they were worth the investment or whether they regret it later.
salvodaze
Missed this one, had I not, I would have said “Much more” and a Vita, PS3 and PS4 owner. Cross-save is almost equally important.
So if you don’t mind me asking, how many votes did you get in total for the poll?
tactical20
I don’t really understand the 3.5% (or 12.9% for that matter) in the 2nd pie chart? Who is more likely to buy a game if it’s NOT cross buy?!
freezebug2
You always get a few soiled ballot papers lol, otherwise the mind boggles!
BrendanCalls
There must be a logical reason, but I can’t think of it
gazzagb
Perhaps people that think when buying a cross buy game, they’re paying more as essentially they’re buying two games.
As a result, they might be more inclined to buy a game that isn’t cross buy as they don’t think they’re being charged extra for no reason. Still seems odd though.
MA77_G0D
Why is it that all I see are variations of Pac Man? I think I may need help…
– MjA –
hol
It’s little things like cross-buy that make you feel valued as a customer, I really enjoy Zen Pinball & having purchased all the tables on my PS3, it was great to get them free on my Vita, it was a nice surprise to find I got the PS4 versions free too. 3 versions for the price of 1! :)