It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

[MrArlingtonBeach]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

The thing I have to continue to tell myself is that golf games are a niche part of the even the sports video game world.

The fact that PGA 2K21 sold north of 2 million copies was astonishing, and was driven by factors like a global pandemic that forced people to get outside and do things like golf, or stay inside and watch something on TV...and it just so happened golf was one of the first sports to return after lockdown. Therefore, the virtual version of that sport that just so happened to release smack dab in the middle of the pandemic was going to get an unexpected boost, especially since video games became even more popular when we couldn't really leave our homes to have fun.

I look at 2K's other sports juggernaut, NBA 2K. Their NBA 2K22 game sold at least 8 million copies, from what I can gather. So those bigger sports titles sell somewhere around 4x what the last PGA Tour game did. And a new NBA 2K game comes out each and every year, unlike 2K's golf game. So, to me, PGA 2K21 did about the best as can be expected in any scenario for a golf video game - no matter if it was because of their "marketing", or by random chance and factors out of their control.

I would think that these companies realize that, and will try to do their best to put themselves in position to be as successful as possible this go-round, too, knowing that the pandemic won't have the same effect it did back in 2020. I don't think 2K releasing a golf game around the Masters, at the same exact time EA is releasing a game with said event in it, would be a sound decision. That's why EA is holding strong to a Spring release window. And since the last 2K golf game came out in August and did amazingly well, I'd think they'd try to catch lighting in a bottle again by doing the same thing for 2K23.

[golfnut67]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

A thought on the visuals/graphics of the current 2k game...to me, the actual courses, nature, grass and textures isn't the issue with 2k21...it's the players faces, the dorky, stagnant crowds, stuff like that.

Sure, the trees and the courses would look much better in a new engine, and I'm assuming they will be stunning in the EA game. But I would be happy if the actual gameplay was the same or slightly improved somehow, and just spend more time making the actual golfers and crowds look more realistic, add other visual things like caddies, other players standing around, etc., along with taking the content and PGA career mode to another level. Surely they can do this in the Unity engine?

[scagwi]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

A thought on the visuals/graphics of the current 2k game...to me, the actual courses, nature, grass and textures isn't the issue with 2k21...it's the players faces, the dorky, stagnant crowds, stuff like that.

The current game is weird this way..

I see some shots and angles and lighting where it look pretty darned good!

Then I can seem some times when it looks like, no joke, PS3 era stuff.

No matter what, I hope they found a way to spice it up a bit so that it holds up for the years ahead.

[bigkev]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

It will take a lot more than Augusta, great graphics and gameplay to sell this new EA game well. And it will take the most hardcore golf gamers to buy a new generation console just to play golf games. Many were burnt and very angry after buying the last gen consoles and ending up with Rory. Lots of expected contents to be added for anything close of even TW12. Contents on 2k/HB is everything, they even have Societies to compare with the old Country Clubs on TW13/14.

And that's without those who refused to buy anything EA, and those snubbing the game because it has an arcade mode, mid-air spin so gamers can shoot rounds of -28 and better compare with the supposedly 'real deal' at HB.

[scagwi]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

It will take a lot more than Augusta, great graphics and gameplay to sell this new EA game well. And it will take the most hardcore golf gamers to buy a new generation console just to play golf games.

You're talking about a game not coming out for 9-10 more months still.

At some point, the "requires next gen console" isn't a negative, and in fact starts to become a big positive (not being held back by really old last gen hardware in 2023 and beyond)

btw: I'm just one person, but "Augusta, great graphics and gameplay"...umm.. sounds pretty awesome to me! lol

In all seriousness, to each our own.
I'm very happy the 2k game will be a going concern so that folks can slot into whichever digital vision for this sport one prefers.

[bigkev]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

I'm more afraid EA won't reach 1M sale and dropped the game again. Rory sold 800K and got dropped. And this time, there's competition with a game in both new and old generation consoles + PC with unlimited contents, where they can almost have a PGA season either on the TGC Tour or as a Society.

[scagwi]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

I'm more afraid EA won't reach 1M sale and dropped the game again. Rory sold 800K and got dropped. And this time, there's competition with a game in both new and old generation consoles + PC with unlimited contents, where they can almost have a PGA season either on the TGC Tour or as a Society.

A valid concern.

I'm not really worried about it personally, specifically because of Rory!
They have the template of what not to do here..

Rory was exceptionally devoid of content, particularly in the context of the games that immediately preceded it.

I do think we should be fair and point out that 2K stopped doing much work on 2k21 a long time ago also -- they are by no means a saint on keeping up fixes and continuing with new content, etc. They haven't "abandoned golf" or anything, as EA did post Rory, but it's not great to do what 2k did either..

[MrArlingtonBeach]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

A valid concern.

I'm not really worried about it personally, specifically because of Rory!
They have the template of what not to do here..

Rory was exceptionally devoid of content, particularly in the context of the games that immediately preceded it.

I do think we should be fair and point out that 2K stopped doing much work on 2k21 a long time ago also -- they are by no means a saint on keeping up fixes and continuing with new content, etc. They haven't "abandoned golf" or anything, as EA did post Rory, but it's not great to do what 2k did either..

I agree with you in terms of 2K/HB not fixing bugs and such, but in terms of content they did release a fair amount of random stuff for a while, even if some of the items were silly and totally cartoonish. They added some Travis Matthew items, added Puma stuff, and some other new items for free. Plus, they did have the two Clubhouse Passes, Season 2 of which ran until June 2021. So it was fully supported in terms of content for almost a full calendar year. And then Season 2 was re-implemented again in Oct. 2021, too, when 2K21 hit PS Plus.

It would be nice if EA learns from the mistakes from Rory, but they have also been out of the golf space for 7 years now. That's a long time...and they are fully committing to a completely next-gen game at a time where the consoles of that generation are still not a household thing. They have to nail this with everything kind of fighting against them.

And don't forget, they still pump out their other games year after year and can't seem to get things like Madden Franchise back to where they were before they messed that mode up years ago.

I do have high hopes for EA's golf game, but I also am realistic and won't just say that "oh, they have Augusta and next gen graphics, so it's gonna be a great game!". Just like I also won't let 2K rest on their laurels as the only player on the block...they need to up their game to put something out there that will be able to compete with whatever EA releases.

[scagwi]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

EA.... and they are fully committing to a completely next-gen game

I realize I've been stating that as fact and I don't even know if it's true.
Has EA specifically said current gen consoles only?

[MrArlingtonBeach]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

I realize I've been stating that as fact and I don't even know if it's true.
Has EA specifically said current gen consoles only?

They are calling it a "Next-Gen Golf Game" on their site. There's also this in their FAQs:

"What platforms will EA SPORTS PGA TOUR be available on?

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR will be available to play on next generation platforms. We’ll have more information to share soon."

[scagwi]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

They are calling it a "Next-Gen Golf Game" on their site. There's also this in their FAQs:

"What platforms will EA SPORTS PGA TOUR be available on?

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR will be available to play on next generation platforms. We’ll have more information to share soon."

Thank you
Good to see

For a new game in 2023, it's time to leave last gen behind (PS4/XB1)

[kehlis]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

I think you're darn close on what to expect...same engine, just everything a bit better, especially with content and PGA mode. I'm cool with that. Just make the 2k21 game better in every way, even if it's the same engine.

It really seems crazy that they would wait until the beginning of 2023 to release this. Everything to me is pointing toward a late summer/fall release, or right before the holiday season. Why in the world would they not try to take advantage of a few months before the EA game comes out.

I know I said this before but for anyone who read Tiger's book they know he hasn't historically put his name on a product without being involved. And he has always had his hand in every aspect of the game.

Don't be surprised if he is able to influence as many changes as he can. The book talks about how he had a hand in every part of EA's game and was pissed at some of the aspects they put in (spinning the ball in mid air anyone???).

Now it's very possible he just wants to get back at EA and put his name on any golf game other than theirs because of their divorce but knowing him he will want some say.

Since the game moved from the Golf Club to 2K its drastically turned me off. I will try and be optimistic that the delay is due to some larger changes but not sure what the scope would be.

All I know is that I'm not in a hurry to get next gen anytime soon and even then it will only be for golf games at this point. The other games don't necessarily move the needle for me (sports only before anyone asks).

[MrArlingtonBeach]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

Thank you
Good to see

For a new game in 2023, it's time to leave last gen behind (PS4/XB1)

EA really had no choice to go next-gen with their golf game at this point...making a brand new golf series and putting it on last-gen consoles would be kind of silly. 2K can keep their game on PS4 and XB1 because they already have established a base there and have done the development of previous games on those systems (as well as PC).

But the thing is, the console shortage side of things, which is out of EA's hands, is going to be a problem for them.

There's an absolute massive player base on XB1 and PS4. As of February, there are 17.3 million PS5s that have been sold, and there have been around 12 million Xbox Series X/S consoles sold. Comparatively, 117.2 million PS4s have been sold, and 51 million XB1s have been sold.

The basic math means there are a tons more people who have PS4/XB1...and if there's a new golf game for those systems, more people will buy it than anything on the new systems. Sure, things might change between now and next Spring, but Sony is painted a fairly gloomy picture in terms of how many PS5 systems will be available into next year.

All this to say that a niche sport game coming out on systems that have not been able to meet consumer demand means that the sales for EA's game might not be all that great, no matter how good the game is. Especially when those who still play on older consoles are going to get a golf option anyway, meaning they'd be less likely to jump in quickly to get a next-gen console just for a golf game.

I would be extremely interested to sit in EA's corporate meetings to know exactly how many copies of their PGA Tour game would need to sell for it to be a success, both in critical terms as well as in financial terms...that Augusta/Masters license can not be cheap!

[scagwi]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

The basic math means there are a tons more people who have PS4/XB1.

That's always true, for quite a while, when console generations turn over.

Your point is right about EA. They are building new and going current gen only makes sense.

2k, conversely, to your point as well, may as well maintain last gen compatibility..

The only caveat there is ... for how long?
At some point it does hold back technical and graphical aspirations.

It might be seen as early to cut the cord now...but I could also make the argument that the basic game/look is getting a little bit ho-hum and a whole new direction with Tiger might be the right time to cut bait and go all current gen and with an eye toward the future.

You have to look at these things as platform building also. You definitely want to be competitive at a base level over the long term.

If 2k release something that's just "ok" in a few areas visually...and then just mere months later they possibly get totally out-classed - it would be a disaster for them business wise.

I think they'll do one more version mostly as is, but polished some more (the upcoming release) and then make the jump... I fully agree with you about 2k/EA and the different spots they are in.

[bigkev]

Re: It now seems logical we will get PGA Tour 2k23 this year

2K can keep their game on PS4 and XB1 because they already have established a base there and have done the development of previous games on those systems (as well as PC).

But the thing is, the console shortage side of things, which is out of EA's hands, is going to be a problem for them.

There's an absolute massive player base on XB1 and PS4. As of February, there are 17.3 million PS5s that have been sold, and there have been around 12 million Xbox Series X/S consoles sold. Comparatively, 117.2 million PS4s have been sold, and 51 million XB1s have been sold.

The basic math means there are a tons more people who have PS4/XB1...and if there's a new golf game for those systems, more people will buy it than anything on the new systems. Sure, things might change between now and next Spring, but Sony is painted a fairly gloomy picture in terms of how many PS5 systems will be available into next year.

Exactly, the 2K/HB game will smoke the EA game out of the water in this case, no matter Augusta, better graphic and all.