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For the past few years Sony has gradually opened up to the PC market, bringing many of its biggest hits to PC. This has given players access to titles such as God of War, Horizon and Spider-Man without needing to buy a PlayStation console. However, signs are now emerging that the company may be heading in a completely new direction. Recent comments from Sony representatives and information from industry insiders suggest the future of PC ports may look different from before. Everything points to the Japanese giant intending to protect its most important franchises more strongly.
Sony may make its biggest role-playing games exclusive
The future of PlayStation games on PC returned to the spotlight after comments by the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Hideaki Nishino. In an interview with Japanese media the executive said that decisions about target platforms will be made depending on the nature of each game. That means Sony does not intend to apply a single model across all its productions. According to the president the priority is to maximise the potential of each title. Although there was no official declaration of a complete withdrawal from the PC market, the remark was taken as a sign of possible changes. Even more of a stir was caused by information shared by well-known journalist Jason Schreier. According to his sources, during an internal meeting Sony's management reportedly set out a clear future direction. The company allegedly wants to keep its biggest role-playing titles exclusive to PlayStation consoles. The reason given is the disappointing financial results of some PC ports. Sony also believes that exclusive titles are one of the main arguments in favour of buying a console. That helps the PlayStation brand retain its uniqueness and compete more effectively with other platforms. If these reports prove true, PC gamers could lose access to many future hits from Sony's internal studios.
Online multiplayer games will still come to PCs
That does not mean, however, a complete withdrawal by Sony from the PC market. According to available information, the company still intends to pursue a multi-platform strategy for games focused on online play. Online titles need as many active players as possible, so being present on several platforms at once is hugely important for them. The larger the community, the easier it is to sustain interest in a game over the long term. Sony is well aware of this, especially after its recent investments in the live-service segment. This is why multiplayer projects are still expected to appear on both PlayStation and PC. Such an approach increases the user base and potential revenue from microtransactions and additional content. At the same time the company can preserve exclusivity for its biggest story-driven productions, which help build the value of the PlayStation ecosystem as a whole. In practice this could mean splitting the portfolio into two clear groups. The first would be single-player games available only on Sony consoles. The second would be multiplayer projects released on as many platforms as possible. For now, Sony has not officially confirmed such a plan, so these reports should be treated with some caution. Nevertheless, statements from company representatives and insider reports suggest that PlayStation's strategy may be undergoing a significant transformation.
New information suggests Sony may limit the number of its biggest games released on PC. According to unofficial reports, story-driven titles will remain exclusive to PlayStation, while online multiplayer games will still appear on PCs. If these plans are implemented, it could signal a return to a much more closed strategy than in recent years.
source: techpowerup
