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Over the past few years Sony has gradually opened up to the personal computer market, bringing many of its biggest hits to PC. As a result, players have gained access to titles such as God of War, Horizon and Spider-Man without having to buy a PlayStation console. But now there are signs the company may be taking a completely new direction. Recent statements from Sony representatives and information from industry insiders suggest the future of PC ports may look different than before. Everything points to the Japanese giant planning to more tightly protect its most important franchises.
Sony May Make Its Biggest Role-Playing Games Exclusive
The issue of PlayStation games on PC resurfaced after comments by the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Hideaki Nishino. In an interview with Japanese media, the executive said decisions about target platforms will be made depending on the nature of each game. That means Sony doesn't intend to apply a single model to every title. According to the president, the most important thing is to maximize a title's potential. Although there was no official declaration of completely abandoning the PC market, the remark was taken as a sign of possible changes. Even more attention was sparked by information shared by well-known journalist Jason Schreier. According to his sources, during an internal meeting Sony's leadership reportedly clearly defined its future course of action. The company reportedly wants to keep its biggest role-playing games exclusive to PlayStation consoles. The reason is said to be the disappointing financial results of some PC ports. Sony also believes that exclusives are one of the main reasons to buy a console. This helps the PlayStation brand maintain its uniqueness and better compete with other platforms. If these reports prove true, PC gamers could lose access to many future hits from Sony's internal studios.
Online games are still expected to come to PCs
However, this does not mean Sony is completely withdrawing from the PC market. According to available information, the company still intends to pursue a multiplatform strategy for games focused on online play. Online titles need as many active players as possible, so being available on multiple platforms at once is hugely important for them. The larger the community, the easier it is to sustain interest in a game over a long period. Sony is well aware of this, especially after its recent investments in the live service segment. That's why multiplayer projects are still expected to appear on both PlayStation and PCs. This approach allows them to grow the user base and potential revenue from microtransactions and additional content. At the same time, the company can retain exclusivity for its biggest single-player, story-driven titles that build value for the entire PlayStation ecosystem. In practice, this could mean splitting the portfolio into two distinct groups. The first would be single-player games available exclusively on Sony consoles. The second would be multiplayer projects released on as many platforms as possible. So far Sony has not officially confirmed such a plan, so these reports should be treated with some caution. Still, statements from company representatives and insider reports suggest that PlayStation's strategy may be undergoing a significant transformation.
New reports indicate Sony may limit the number of its biggest games coming to PC. According to unofficial sources, story-driven titles are expected to remain exclusive to PlayStation, while online multiplayer games will still be released on PC. If these plans are carried out, it could signal a return to a much more closed strategy than in recent years.
source: techpowerup
