PlayStation Co-CEO Dismisses PC Gaming Threat, Emphasizes Console Focus

Most, if not all, of today's games, feature intricate 3D models with millions and millions of polygons, high-resolution textures, and sophisticated animation systems. These advancements require larger teams of artists and longer development cycles, driving up costs substantially. While programming expenses have also increased, it hasn't grown at the same rate as the artistic elements of game production, which is arguably the most marketable aspect of gaming.

Interestingly, not all successful first-party PlayStation titles follow the high-budget AAA model. Helldivers 2, one of the year's top-selling titles, was developed with a relatively modest budget compared to many blockbuster releases like Concord, for example. The same goes for Astro Bot, which is so far this year's runaway Game of the Year candidate and has received praise from everyone, including other Sony executives.

Sony's strategic and cautious approach to PC ports sees a game launch on their consoles first, followed by a PC release months or years later. This staggered release schedule allows Sony to maintain the appeal of its console while eventually tapping into the PC market. The strategy has shown promise, with older titles like Ghost of Tsushima finding success on PC long after their initial console release although titles like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Sackboy: A Big Adventure couldn't quite capture the same market.

Of course, this approach isn't without its drawbacks. What's another year of waiting for a PC gamer who has already waited for a year to play a former PlayStation exclusive if it means getting the same game for half the price?

Nevertheless, Sony seems aware that the PC and PlayStation markets are completely distinct from each other. PC gamers who spend thousands of dollars on their setups could've easily bought a PlayStation if they really wanted to play a game, but they're not as interested so they didn't. Thus, the PlayStation 5 Pro, with its premium price, isn't directly competing with an equivalently priced PC. Instead, it's for gamers who want the convenience of a console and access to much better hardware that's typically reserved for PCs.

So, while there's a significant audience of dedicated PC gamers who are unlikely to switch to consoles, there's also potential to generate additional revenue from this group through PC ports, especially if Sony can figure out how to release the same game on countries where PSN isn't available.

First-party titles, *God of War: Ragnarok*and Until Dawn, are coming to PC on September 19 and October 4, respectively. The latter marks the first time that a first-party exclusive that isn't an online multiplayer game that will be available on PlayStation and PC simultaneously, although it's technically a remake.