Neon Doctrine's Iain Garner on working with PlayStation: “Their backend and process is straight out of the early 00s”

There are not many developers who openly share their experience of working with platform holders. But Neon Doctrine co-founder Iain Garner got so frustrated that he decided to “burn some bridges” with Sony.

Yuppie Psycho: Executive Edition

In his long Twitter thread published on June 30, Garner didn’t reveal the company’s name, calling it “Platform X.” However, it wasn’t hard to guess that he was talking about Sony, considering that it’s the “operator of a very successful console and does not have Games Pass.”

OK. I am mad enough to burn some bridges. Because honestly, what’s the point of a bridge that I am not allowed to cross.

So here is a thread about Platform X. I will not be defining Platform X but it’s the operator of a very successful console and does not have Games Pass! pic.twitter.com/OJ2ZJz9BNy

— Iain Garner (@NeonIain) June 30, 2021

What was Garner’s experience with Sony like? 

• According to Neon Doctrine co-founder, developers can’t manage their games on the platform, having to “beg and plead” for promotion. Garner said that the only way to get a guaranteed feature is to spend $25,000.
• Wishlists simply have no effects on sales, as the only thing that allegedly matters to Sony is “evaluation.” “How is this evaluation done? Dunno, they don’t share that, nor will they share the value they ascribe to my game,” Garner says.
• Before the launch, developers have to go through an incredibly difficult lotcheck, make a specific trailer, write a blog post, and submit forms for social media. On top of that, you can’t make a launch discount for your game without the platform’s approval.
• “It’s been literal years since we could put a title of ours in discount, and I spoke to some other very popular devs today and they had the same experience,” Neon Doctrine co-founder said.
• Garner concluded that PlayStation is “super successful and [has] awesome hardware but their backend and process is straight out of the early 00s.”

So for any gamers who have wandered in here. Next time you’re unhappy about your game never being discounted on Platform X or a game you want not launching on Platform X! Please go and complain to Platform X!

— Iain Garner (@NeonIain) June 30, 2021

Neon Doctrine is a publisher known for games like Yuppie Psycho, Vigil: The Longest Night, Lost Castle, and Simulacra.