Reasons behind Sony’s new strategy on bringing more PS exclusives to PC
Days Gone will become the next PlayStation exclusive to be released on PC. Sony wants to expand its audience, but there are a few other reasons for the company to bring its games outside its platform.
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan talked about the upcoming release of the Days Gone PC version in an interview with GQ.
He says that Sony’s first-party studios are now in “better shape than they’ve been before.” It gives them an opportunity to bring some of the previously exclusive games to PC.
There’s an opportunity to expose those great games to a wider audience and recognise the economics of game development, which are not always straightforward. The cost of making games goes up with each cycle, as the calibre of the IP has improved. Also, our ease of making it available to non-console owners has grown. So it’s a fairly straightforward decision for us to make.
CEO at Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sony already discussed plans to release some of its first-party games on PC last year. Horizon Zero Dawn was released in August, 2020, selling over 700,000 copies in the first month. Following the successful launch, the company is about to release Days Gone on PC this spring.
Releasing exclusive past-gen games on another platform may motivate some users to buy PlayStation 5 in the future. According to analyst Daniel Ahmad, it is also a great opportunity for Sony to monetize its back catalog. He also lists a few other reasons behind the company’s new strategy:
- Sony doesn’t lose anything by putting these back catalog games on PC, as they’ve already hit peak sales on PS4;
- PS4 is based on x86 architecture, so porting to PC isn’t as difficult as it used to be for older console first games;
- Sony doesn’t view PC as a competing platform.
Microsoft has benefitted from a similar strategy, with Halo MCC, Flight Simulator and Sea of Thieves in the top 40 best selling games on Steam in 2020, despite the existence of Game Pass.
Move also benefits markets where PC gaming is bigger than console, such as China and SK.
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) February 23, 2021
Jim Ryan also shared other plans for 2021:
- New PS VR which Ryan calls a “completely new VR format for PS5.” The device will have an easy single-cord setup, with dev kits about to be sent out soon.
- Gran Turismo has been delayed to 2022 due to the complications from COVID-19.
- Sony is feeling “pretty good” about Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Horizon Forbidden West. The games are still scheduled for 2021.
- Ryan didn’t say anything about the upcoming God of War sequel. However, Jason Schreier thinks that the game won’t be released in 2021.
- Sony will bring back Play At Home, with 2016’s Ratchet & Clank available for free in March.
