Before the PlayStation 5 came out, no one would believe you if you told them that the industry-leading console manufacturer, PlayStation, would eventually change its stance and start releasing its best-selling exclusive titles on PC. Fast forward to today and we’re living in such a world.
On March 21, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition will launch on Steam and Epic Games Store. It includes the award-winning sequel’s lone post-launch story expansion alongside the base game and several improvements that aren’t available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. But it appears it’s the PC release of Ghost of Tsushima, the “other” award-winning game by Sony from 2020 that’s really drawn a ton of attention online.
On Reddit, a post titled “How the turntables” is mocking this shift in strategy, garnering more than 10,000 upvotes, as of the time of writing. However, if you look elsewhere, the response is more multifaceted. In fact, some see this as a positive sign. The increase in frequency allows more gamers to experience these titles regardless of their platform or budget. This is in line with the growing acceptance of cross-platform availability of games and cross-play, which has become a crucial component of any successful multiplayer game.
Sony’s new strategy, as articulated by president Hiroki Totoki, is to expand its first-party titles beyond consoles. This strategy aims to increase profitability by making these games available on PC and mobile, potentially reaching a wider audience and boosting revenue. This approach builds on the foundation laid by former PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, who emphasized console exclusivity followed by PC releases, typically after several years. However, under Totoki’s regime, PlayStation is hinting at a shorter waiting time, possibly allowing Sony to surpass its goal of having PC and mobile games comprise half of its first-party portfolio by 2025.
Unfortunately, some are still against the idea of PlayStation exclusives migrating to PC. Critics argue that the move to PC could dilute the PlayStation brand’s appeal by diminishing the allure of exclusive titles.
Regardless of your stance, it’s clear that Sony’s change of heart has sparked discussions about the relevance of console exclusivity in an increasingly platform-agnostic industry.
The financial benefits are hard to deny as well. Die-hard fans willing to pay for early access on consoles likely still will, while the PC release allows Sony to capture additional sales from PC-centric gamers – a win-win situation amidst the company’s recent struggles.
With many games developed on PCs and hardware becoming increasingly comparable, there may come a day when Sony will release games simultaneously on both platforms. Already, we’ve seen this happen with Helldivers 2, which has so far been one of the year’s best-selling games. With several more live service titles still in the pipeline despite the recent cancelations, who knows?
