PlayStation Will Eventually Abandon Console Exclusives & Follow Xbox's Strategy

Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler recently commented on console exclusivity, saying that he would be surprised if PlayStation won't abandon it in the future.

[-Foxtrot]

I hope not, what would be the point? Microsoft I get because it's part of their bigger vision, they haven't been doing the best with Xbox console sales in a long time and then bought two publishers. The company is changing course especially thanks to Gamepass but with Sony, they don't really have any need to do it.

If that happens then it really would feel pointless having a console and you'd be best sticking with a Nintendo console and PC.

The way I see it if Nintendo are doing alright keeping their exclusives to themselves and you have a good share of the market then there's no real point.

[blackblades]

It wouldn't be pointless, people still enjoy having console and don't wanna mess with PC. Wouldnt be much of a difference of what it is now honestly. I doubt Sony would do that and I wouldn't listen to anyone that doesnt work at Sony.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Once again people are putting what they want/hope will happen vs what actually makes sense in reality.

It doesn't make sense for Sony to go this route unless they don't view themselves as running a successful business currently.

[Eonjay]

The only reason why Microsoft went third party is because they purcachased giant third party publishers.

[crazyCoconuts]

The reason MS is going third party is because the opportunity cost of exclusives outweighs the conversion potential. I didn't think that was the situation when it was a closer race.

[piroh]

Moon studios CEO - maker of Ori... I smell indirect PR by MS.

How would it help Sony to port their games on dying platform? They would sell 5 copies more. Logic missing.

[mkis007]

If anything MS has made that route impossible for sony. They own the mid end console market. There currently isn't really a high end market (which i believe could be an avenue for xbox if they still want to make hardware and be competitive in their own niche). If there is nothing to sell it's own console how would their business model cope? Xbox no longer needs console sales; being multiplatform is a better business model for them now because of the sheer volume of studios they have.

Playstation had no incentive to launch day and date on pc as long as they want to have consoles. The only way around it would be console features that are not anywhere else, like dualsense...but even that can be adapted to pc.

[peppeaccardo]

it is not going to happen. Only ports to PC but not on other consoles.

[darthv72]

Its already happening. Ports of MLB on XB may not be published by sony but they are still developed by their studio. And Lego horizon is also on switch and was developed by a sony studio.

[wesnytsfs]

@darthv72, Its a shame the Show is not on PC. I remember when the PC was the best place for baseball.

[The Wood]

No darth, Lego is a lego game and MLB was contractional due to the license but god loves a tryer

[Software_Lover]

They will because of investors. Same as Microsoft and any other company. We are our own worst enemies.

[1Victor]

Wow spring cleaning time came early this year that they are recycling 10+ years old articles.

[hiawa23]

This may happen given the skyrocketing costs of making these games and the time it takes to make them, as the current model doesn't seem sustainable to anyone except Nintendo, so I expect Sony at some point will follow MS. This just seems like basic reality math to me. This seems to be a matter of when not if. Nintendo will probably continue as they are.

[Mr_cheese]

Eventually covers eternity, so who knows

[VariantAEC]

Joke article. There is no evidence PS will release games on PC and Nintendo or other competitor's HW day and date as a rule of thumb. At least none yet.

[Lightning77]

I remember awhile ago I can't remember if it was an article or what but they said this gen will be less about platform wars and more about IP wars. Having your IP on everything and software on other platforms. The race to see who's software will come out on top.

As for Sony, maybe I don't see Yotei, Intergalactic, Wolverine etc going over any time soon. I can see their LS games doing it. In fact, prediction time I think Fair Games will be on PS5 (of course) PC and Series X|S. I think the few LS games they have now, they want to reach as many platforms they can. SP stuff as I said no. Dont I think it'll happen ever? That's the thing in this industry, never say never.

[LoveSpuds]

Of course, you are ignoring the fact that Xbox gamers have been conditioned to not buy games and rely on Gamepass.

This does introduce the question of whether is financialy worth supporting Xbox, especially when they have to make a version of a game which will run on the Series S. All that effort for not much return?

[Lightning77]

Ignoring? They show up to the 1st party I just listed and those games don't stay on the charts(because GP). On average yes they much rather play through GP most of the time but they seem to show up for the most anticipated games, for the most part.

With Ubisoft not doing well and EA starting to suffer MS is trying to position themselves to be a major third party publisher and release games to everyone. So financially they'll be OK.

[CrashMania]

What would Sony have to gain from putting their games on Xbox consoles, where software sells poorly as everyone waits for gamepass? PS5 continues to shift magnitudes more consoles, they don't need the dwindling xbox userbase. The most I could see is eventual day and date with PC, I don't think that's out of the realm of possibility. Otherwise I don't think Sony is in a rush to gut their console and software sales by throwing everything on a sub service day 1 and porting games to their direct competitor.

Anyway judging by the guys tweet and replies he's an obvious xbox stooge, considering MS bankrolls his games, hardly unbiased.

[Lightning77]

Let's just say if something like that were to happen those Sony games on Xbox would definitely not be in gamepass. Sony doesn't believe in the subscription model the way Xbox does not by a long shot. Boxed physical sales is the core of Sony's buissness and Xbox crowd would have to buy it.

Also Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon, Starfield and Indy all charted. The Xbox Crowd buy games, they dont stay long on the charts but they show up. Depends if the games are advertised most importantly if they're good. Still the normal metric for games success.

[Gamingsince1981]

I agree, it makes no sense

[thesoftware730]

See that is the problem, the "magnitudes" of consoles constantly remain the same 120-160 mill, it's not growing or going up...but game development cost and time is skyrocketing.
The only ways around this situation is to offset the cost to consumers, by increasing the cost of games and consoles, at this rate, games will cost $90-$100, and consoles pushing $800-1k.

So it's either the cost is offloaded to consumers or, they get the games to more people by going multiplatform with certain games, they already started with PC, but that won't be enough if the game development cost don't stabilize or is reduced somehow.

10 mill copies sold just to make a profit on some games is not a rack to hang your hat on for to long.

[CrashMania]

But again, how does theoretically releasing games on Xbox solve that problem? If I'm not mistaken Sony said the PS5 is their most profitable generation yet.

So why would Sony release games on Xbox? We've seen the damage of over a decade of a lack of exclusives outside of halo and Forza, day 1 PC and going all in on gamepass has done to the Xbox brand, why would Sony do the same and damage their brand? Not even having CoD on gamepass has moved the needle for Xbox, in fact console sales dropped even more.

It makes no sense, maybe day and date with PC eventually, but PS games on Xbox? There's nothing to gain there and it would damage the brand. This whole narrative of 'Sony too11!!!' just because Xbox has been floundering for years is just silly.

[Chevalier]

Thats what releasing games on PC is for. That's already the biggest market. Wtf are they going to gain from releasing on Xbox?! The system that requires TWO versions and no one buys games even? Ton of work for little payoff. Would be better to release games on the Switch 2 if anything. Xbox is a dead console

[Knushwood Butt]

'The only ways around this situation is to offset the cost to consumers, by increasing the cost of games and consoles.'.

You forgot increasing the cost of subscriptions.

[Reaper22_]

What would sony have to gain? That would be money. Even if they put more games on xbox and they end up in gamepass. They still get paid. Sony push for GAAS is all about extending revenue for games.

[thesoftware730]

Crash,

Money is what Sony would gain, as mediocre as it sounds in comparison to PS sales, 30-40 million users is a base that can spend money, be it on game sales, or MT. Look at Square, they are ditching the exclusive deals and pledging more for Xbox/multiplatform releases.

I am not suggesting Sony will put all of its exclusives on Xbox, but they should, and probably will start to port smaller(Lego: Horizon) games, and more than likely Live service games. When you say "hurt the brand," I think you overestimate internet jargon for reality in how people spend money and time, hardly to no one would have skipped Helldivers 2 on PC or PS if it had been released on Xbox, I would argue that the game would have a larger base at this point.

Even in a hypothetical situation, let us say they released Helldivers 2 on Xbox right now. Would people jump ship from PS? Or would X number of Xbox-only fans be added, and would they spend money on MTX for a simple port job? It could potentially add an additional million or more users, again, for a port job.

We often get what we want mixed up with actuals, many people said PS games on PC wouldn't happen and it would make having a PS console obsolete(that was a big dig at MS as well)...well here we are, and while not day and date with PC, nothing has changed except Sony are making more money. The whole "Hurt the brand" and console bragging is a hyperbole view from internet die-hards that usually have on rose-tinted sunglasses.

My brother and most of the people I play games with are not on gaming websites and threads like we are, and they could care less if one game is also on another system or vice versa.

[Lightning77]

"Not even having CoD on gamepass has moved the needle for Xbox, in fact console sales dropped even more."

MS themselves in court said they didn't expect to move Xbox sales. Why would would they if the game is multiplat? Nobody's gonna switch ecosystems for one game. Leaving their friends, trophy's etc for a yearly game? Not happening again MS even called it themselves. With Xbox it's about growing the ecosystem more than anything.

[Michiel1989]

what would any console maker have to gain from making a console when the industry is finally far enough for streaming games to be relevant? I don't see it happening in 20 years, but eventually it will happen.

[Christopher]

People are speaking into the ether what Microsoft wants to happen, not what Sony has said. One indie dev isn't going to capture Sony's business plan with his opinion of what he hopes they will do.

Why would Sony ever give up their market share and money that comes with it? Why would they compete in a market where they are not #1 versus a market where they are? Why can't they maintain a console market and put their games out on other markets?

[crazyCoconuts]

Totally agree, it wouldn't make sense to back down from exclusives, especially since the cost of making a game exclusive goes down the more dominant you are. How much does Sony need to pay a publisher to not put a game out on a platform with dwindling users that don't buy the game anyway, compared to how much MS would have to pay to keep the game off of PS. Xbox has probably passed the point of no return and it's in Sony's interest to finish the play.
I'd expect them to set their sights on PC next, because what else is left?

[badz149]

why only Sony and PS? why not include Nintendo too in this conversation? it's clear as day why so stop the cope and just live in the moment

[Jingsing]

Because there is a double standard when it comes to Nintendo. The most vocal people online are PC users and they want all Xbox and PlayStation games but at the same time they are willing to let Nintendo keep their games on their platform which means they only have to buy a Nintendo console. If all things were straight and honest the so called gaming press should be encouraging Nintendo to do PC releases but like you say it is never in the conversation. If all the online commentators are fine with Nintendo not doing PC releases then I don't want to hear people pushing Sony into either.

[goken]

Probably because MS sees PS as a competitor, while nintendo isn’t really fighting for the same market.

[andy85]

Why would they? Xbox are doing it because they have to. You really think the likes of Spiderman and God of War will go to Xbox. PS's whole thing is selling consoles, why give up the main reason they win every generation to the opposition

[thesoftware730]

Because it's the same amount of consoles every gen, it ain't growing...but you know what is? Games and services dev cost.

You need to understand this is a business, and if they don't find a way to increase profit internally to offset the rising cost, then we, the customer will pay for it, $90 games, and 1k consoles, will be in our future. The PS 5 Pro is just the start, and it's working, no way PS6 will be less than $800.

[Doomeduk]

2024 game of the year contender wukong not on Xbox and doesn't seem like the dev is in any rush to get the game on the Xbox system

[andy85]

Except it will. And it won't be more than 600 either nevermind 800. The Pro is priced at 700 because it's an optional console that isn't required to play one game. If you price a new generation at 800+ that's actually required to play some games you lose every single one of the casuals. No parent is stumping up double the cost of last gen for their kid. They made that mistake to a lesser scale with the PS3 price. You also need to understand that it's a business and a 'required' console with a base price of 800 is suicide

[isarai]

Doubt it.

[Chocoburger]

Doesn't make sense, decreasing people's desire to buy their own hardware, and thus intentionally giving up much of their profits.

[franwex]

I too have ponder this. Maybe some games that aren’t exactly tied to Sony, such as whatever Bungie makes.

[Profchaos]

Xbox had to go multiplat they sold less than the previous two generations what's worse is they are currently only 5 million more than the original Xbox which was deemed a necessary failure to get a foot in the door of the industry.

The only console in recent times to have done worse is the Wii U and that was a whole thing.

So yeah they have been forced into the multi plat situation and they are trying to push the narrative of games costing to much of that was the case we would see games scoped down not just instant multi plats everywhere.

I find it highly unlikely we will see Mario on PlayStation as a example or god of war on Xbox.

They are in last place and it's not even close they have lost every single time with the exception of the first half of the 360 they now combine Xbox free users in pc in their statistics and many other shortcuts to inflate the numbers to investors the reality is there's not as many paying subscribers for their services

[RauLeCreuset]

"So yeah they have been forced into the multi plat situation and they are trying to push the narrative of games costing to much of that was the case we would see games scoped down not just instant multi plats everywhere."

This option doesn't come up enough in these conversations.

I try not to play the come on N4G and make a prediction game. As the saying goes, the best way to avoid public humiliation is to avoid being louder than thunder and dumber than lightning. However, a lot of the predictions for PS abandoning console exclusives are not making it make sense for PLAYSTATION to do so.

It makes sense for Xbox because Xbox has failed as a closed console platform and compounded their situation with a series of attempted solutions that eroded the viability of their closed console ecosystem. Sony could reduce costs by simply not developing games if it came to it. Xbox bought too many studios for that to be an option and can't fall back on being a console manufacturer first.

[thesoftware730]

Profchaos,

While your comment has rings of truth, you are completely ignoring that the landscape has changed over the last 20 years, with innovations in game distribution, mobile gaming, cloud, services, MTX, DLC, Live-service games, PC ports, sub-services, digital-only releases, and multiplatform games there are far more ways for companies to make money/profit than the standard sold box metric, this is a fact.

Some might have said that Blockbuster would never go out of business..Netflix begs to differ.

Landscapes change, and there is always more than one way to skin a cat.

[Profchaos]

Yeah I agree that the landscape has changed but hardware is still an important factor in maintaining first party status.

The Xbox has regressed a total of 66.97% from their peak during the 360 era 85.7mill to the series consoles currently at 28.3 all predictions don't show much of a increase before 2025 ends and they have declared new gen hardware is coming next year so don't expect a change again in 26.

Why does first party status matter when you made some good points around the landscape changing but maintaining first party status ensures the first party a 30% cut of all sakes from their storefront.

So Microsoft going third party but retaining some huge IP mean they are giving Sony and Nintendo a percentage on every sale from games to mtx.

Xbox can still be profitable but they will no longer retain all the profits and control the ecosystem like they have for 20 years.

As Shu put it recently we stopped trying to compete with juggernauts like COD because we were still making a huge amount of those third party games and could focus on making unique experiences.

[thesoftware730]

Profchaos,

Again I agree with you on some points, like hardware still being a good factor, but in MS case the situation is different, each gen, they sell 30-40 million consoles, that is the diehards Xbox fans that will most likely remain with the ecosystem, and a great deal of their GP subs, so if that is the average cap, that 30% they share out to other platforms becomes lucrative because they retain the same 30-40 million while adding the 70% from other sources, they lose nothing.

Now, if they were to have a hit with the next console/handheld and move big numbers, I can almost assure you they would backpedal on their current need for multiplatform releases.

In a nutshell, they still reach the 30-40 mill a gen, and retain 100% profit from their average base, while adding 70% of games sales from other sources, and 70% is the lions share.

[MaximusPrime_]

I wouldn't be surprised. All 3 gaming companies need money.

[MarvelzDJ]

I‘m not sure if this is going to happen. They release their games on PS5 first so either people who really want to play them are going to double dip when it comes to PC later or actually get a PS5 and then they‘re in their ecosystem where they take a 30% cut of every penny you spend. Also everyone they lure in might subscribe to PS+ at one point. That’s where the money is at

[rlow1]

Interesting, the market has changed and it’s not about the western market. It’s about emerging markets that either don’t have a console or can’t afford it en mass like western markets. Those markets are much more use to streaming, phone and portable. That’s why Sony has been slowly moving the goal post from we believe in generations to now releasing on other platforms. But they see the writing on the wall. They need a way to reach those markets and traditional console won’t cut it. If you stay stagnant and just keeping what you’re doing, eventually you become the niche market.

[Chevalier]

Its not Playstation that is moving goalpost. It's Xbox trying to remain relevant. Playstation will be selling over 100 million consoles again like usual. Something Xbox could only dream of. It's funny seeing Xbox fans falling over backwards 🤣 making excuses like a bunch of idiots. But it's understandable Xbox fans are eating crow so often it's their main course now

[rlow1]

Well the same can be thrown back at you. Show me your proof that they aren’t doing well and making profits. I’ll be waiting for your magical numbers to appear.

Everyone on here always calls Phil a liar on sales and such. That’s their so called proof that somehow he’s covering up Xbox doing terrible. He has already said that PS won the console wars and admitted that they had to change strategies to exist. That’s what competition does, forces you to adapt. That’s like saying your favorite sports team doesn’t have to adapt.

How success is defined today isn’t about just console sales. There are so many avenues to play now. Yes MS shifted priorities from just consoles to an all platform strategy. But to say that Xbox is tanking based on console sales which they don’t report on. Is not acknowledging that they are no longer tied to a sole strategy. Which makes your statement misguided.

“Games selling so bad they NEED to release on other platforms or risk all these big franchises dying”

So where are your numbers to support that statement? Even if what you said is true. Doesn’t negate that today they are doing well over multiple platforms. Their engagement numbers are the best they have ever been.

https://www.purexbox.com/ne...

Here’s an article to support that…..where’s yours???

[Chevalier]

Engagement numbers don't mean much. Again show me the sales numbers?! Which Halo, Gears, Forza game broke 10 million sales in the last decade? NONE. Maybe you forgot Xbox stopped announcing sales of consoles. Sales of games and anything to move to 'engagement ' numbers for gullible idiots.

You're probably the type of person that shows off a car daddy bought you when you didn't earn it. Your 'engagement ' numbers is the equivalent of telling people you had some miles driven on your car. It's not a meaningful stat.

As for facts to back it up? Xbox FTC reports already proved Gamepass heavily cannibalize sales. Also this is Playstations most profitable console too.

[Asterphoenix]

Well at the moment Playstation and Nintendo is still doing fine and still selling well if it continues to be the case in the future it will stay like that for some time. Xbox is not doing good on its own and that's why they're taking the current route .

[rlow1]

Do you really believe they’re not doing good? Their games have been selling well and they have a good lineup this year. I think they will do very well this year or at least a notable improvement.

[Chevalier]

Selling well? Oh really. Pls tell us what the 'sales' are like?! Or right you can't because theres literally NOTHING to support that wishful thinking. Games selling so bad they NEED to release on other platforms or risk all these big franchises dying

[Kosic]

I don't see playstation/Sony releasing games to Xbox consoles. But having it on pc and ps6, means it's not exclusive and double dips in 2 markets that don't really compete with each other.

[lucasnooker]

As long as exclusives sell consoles they are going nowhere!

[aaronaton]

Where do Nintendo sit in all this? Do they get a free pass and are allowed to retain exclusive games? This is why this opinion on exclusivity simply doesn't work.

[InUrFoxHole]

Love the denile and xbox focus. Drop those heads in the sand all you want. Its coming. Told you before. Also can anyone explain to me how having exclusives is great for the consumer?

[Elda]

Exclusives is what gives a console it's identity & differentiation from other consoles. If all consoles played just multiplats including releasing all of their first-party titles on other consoles what's the point of having multiple consoles on the market. If that was the case then it should be one console that played PS, Nintendo & XB games but that's not the case Sony & Nintendo will continue to have first-party console exclusives.

[InUrFoxHole]

Your arguement makes no sense to me, unless you're the company. As a consumer why would I want to be locked down to specific consoles for specific games? This seems to only benefit the company.

[Knushwood Butt]

Consumer friendly Phil!
Don't make me laugh.

[InUrFoxHole]

Quick question....
We already know you don't think spencer is consumer friendly.

1. Is being able to play the games you want, where you want consumer friendly or no?

[Gamingsince1981]

"1. Is being able to play the games you want, where you want consumer friendly or no?" No one wants to play the xbox games on xbox that's the only reason they are coming to other platforms, it's not because of good guy Phil "the liar" Spencer and him doing it for consumers.

[Knushwood Butt]

It depends on the context, but in terms of offering the consumer more options, then yes, that much is consumer friendly.

However, for example, locking the consumer into that ecosystem and then raising the cost, is not consumer friendly.

[Elda]

Your reply makes no sense to me knowing generations of video game companies always sold their consoles with first-party exclusives including 3rd party exclusives developed specifically for their consoles only. It's called....business.

[Elda]

Sony will not have solely PS exclusives but it will remain on having most of its exclusives PS console exclusives meaning they'll eventually release on PC & that is it.

[staticall]

If they'll go the way of Microsoft, they should expect their console sales to plummet. What's the point in owning a console if every game they have, i can play on PC or other manufacturer consoles? And probably for cheaper too.

Next, if every game is coming to competitors' consoles, they the game have to «fit» into the lowest common denominator. Imagine, some years from now on, Microsoft releases another Xbox Series S that has less memory and worse GPU, for instance. Your games have to work fine on that, no matter if you like that or not, so you have to develop a game keeping that in mind. The quality might suffer.

Personally, i think that Microsoft are digging their own grave by going to Playstation. Of course Xbox fanboys will act like «PS fans are port begging», but truth of the matter is, this is damaging their brand - Xbox - and they're now stuck in a vicious cycle. They have to bring in more money for investors, so they have to release games on the rival console. They've sold their games, more than on their own hardware probably, Sony got their fair share of revenue. So now Xbox is being pushed by investors into releasing more games and spend less money on their own hardware (because why would they do that? Xbox fans don't buy their hardware, judging by sales numbers).
So they're giving more money to Sony, making their direct competitor stronger and lose even more hardware sales, pushing them away from selling consoles further and further. In my opinion, this will damage everyone - Xbox might go full 3rd party publisher without a console and Sony will become arrogant and the only console manufacturer for more hardcore audience. In my eyes, it's a lose-lose situation in the long run.

[rlow1]

Why just focus on Sony? Xbox brand is now unhinged from the console. That’s a done deal, but their strategy of allowing you to play on any device reaches a larger audience. Which translates to more sales and money. You’re correct about the identity that’s tied to the console. It’s definitely been tarnished. But now that you can play on most devices out there. I don’t think people care. They’ll embrace the brand because of the games and not the console. Why buy a console in the first place? To play games and at the end of the day that’s what’s most important…..the games.

[staticall]

@rlow1
> Xbox brand is now unhinged from the console
And that's not a good thing, IMO. How much money they wasted now on Xbox brand, marketing it and making consoles? That a lot of waste now.

> Why buy a console in the first place?
You know, that's a good question. To me, console games (i mean exclusives here) are the reason to buy the console; to me, they used to be associated with:
- Games that take full advantage of the hardware (only one console, much easier to do some cool stuff, like MGS 1 and save reading);
- High quality, no (or almost no) bugs, everything is buttery smooth;
- Everything can be played offline and online is just a cherry on top;
- Every game comes out complete (meaning, no early access type of deal, when devs can abandon the game later on).

Consoles gave us a ton of great games and very popular franchises. Probably most the best games i've ever played (MGS, Drakengard 3, Demon's Souls, Shadow of the Colossus, 3D Dot Game Heroes, both GoW - Gears of War and God of War, etc) are console exclusives. That's the main reason i'm buying a console. Don't have to install anything, just hook up, pop a disc and play. Many are used to this simplicity as well.

Thinking about this now, most of what i used to like/expect are going away slowly, which is kind of sad. I don't like the direction we're heading, that's all probably.

As for the consoles themselves, you have to keep in mind that:
Consoles are pushing technology forward, like Bluray and making stuff like SSD and liquid cooling more popular, increasing adoption rate
They spend a lot of time and money on R&D, build factories to manufacture them and employ a ton of people to work on them; that might go to waste
Nowadays, consoles are tied to their online services, without consoles those will also go to waste to be forced upon people, making you «install Steam to install Xbox/PS/other launcher, connect online, to launch the game», aka, making experience worse.

If they're going away, that might send a bad ripple across the whole industry. I might be melodramatic, i do understand that.

[Knushwood Butt]

'They’ll embrace the brand because of the games'.

What's the point of exclusives again?

[46player]

Says the person with zero business knowledge. 😂😂😂

[ravens52]

Speculate much? 🤦🏾. Instead of all these predictions, how about we wait and see.

[Reaper22_]

Most of you said the same thing about PC but look where we are now. Never say never. If you asked me , Sony would be smart to release some of older titles on xbox. Uncharted collection and maybe a few others. I believe it will happen because the development costs are already ballooned so much that selling millions won't even make a profit. Just imagine 10 to 20 years from now what the cost will be. And no matter how many consoles you sell it isn't gonna make up for the losses. At the end of the day it doesn't matter to me because if I like a game I will play it regardless of the console it's on.

[DivineHand125]

It would be better for us gamers if they did. Imagine if you can play your games anywhere and take your saves with you.

It may be a while before Sony comes around because they are going out of their way to block their games from being sold in over 150 countries on steam. It will be the share holders that will push them to consider this route if the financials decline.

[gold_drake]

im not sure if they will actually.

for nintendo and sony, the console market is still relevant and strong. and exclusives sell consoles.

MS console game is weak to non existent and going third party with their 1st party games is how they make more money.

so lets not compare the two when their situations are vastly different.

[bigfish]

Don’t think it’s likely to happen, Microsoft went the gamepass route and if Sony was unsure of their footing in the console market and lacked confidence in the PlayStation brand they could have followed suit and done a similar subscription service even if it was to test the waters, but they seem resolute with their console model, if anything seeing MS suffer with the subscription numbers has probably validated Sonys decision to stick with the console model.

[jznrpg]

Let’s put our games on a dying platform. Totally makes sense. Why would they help their flailing competitor while hurting themselves. It makes zero sense for Sony.

[WelkinCole]

I can see live service games going mp because it needs multiple platforms to make them work like Helldivers 2 but these are rare.

For the bread and butter though which are AAA story driven games that cost a lot of money it will be nuts for Sony to put them on a subs model day one as they will definately lose money if they do that. Release it 1 year later on PC perhaps once they know sales is saturated on the PS so going for extra sales on the PC will do no harm. You notice though that Sony does not have a consistent strategy for releaseing their AAA games on the PC and I think that is by design so that those on PC can't fully count on Sony 1st party games getting released on PC at a peredictible schedule as Sony has been releaseing their games on PC on a case by case basis.

Bottomline is Sony is still dominating in the console space and they are still making great money from the trandtional model.because the console market still has not shifted yet. As long as the bulk of console gamers are willing to buy AAA games at 70 a pop and that we get to own that copy of the game for our game collection or resell I think everything will be fine

I am not sure the console market will ever move to a SaaS model or GaaS model that the music and movie industry to some degree have embraced. There is a bigger diffence in the gameing market to the movie market as it is to the music indistry. AAA games are long and are expensive as oppose to music or movie consumers that to cost much less. For console gamers investment its exensive and we like to own the games instead of it being basically a rental on a GaaS model. MS is finding this out the hardway. Google tried as well and it was a complete failure while Sony and Nin are still dominating in their own respective segment.

[babadivad]

They already have.

[Blaze929]

Unless people want $99.99 games for a STANDARD edition as normal, it will likely happen. Costs are rising and they need a way to manage that. PlayStation games on PC is just the start. Look at Rise of the Ronin, under performed according to Koei. Same with Horizon Forbidden West

[P_Bomb]

“Same with Horizon Forbidden West.”

Regardless of Yoshida’s wishes, HFW passed 8 million a year after release. That’s still very good.
https://www.ign.com/article...

Twas the subscription model that did it no favors year two https://gamingbolt.com/hori...

[spoonard]

Microsoft went third party because they couldn't compete with Sony or Nintendo straight on. They are trying to make a niche for themselves to fill. Sony is hugely successful in doing what they are doing, including making fantastic exclusive games. There is no change coming.

[S2Killinit]

But PlayStation doesn't have the need to do that with all of their titles. MS cant sustain without releasing on their competitor’s systems. That is not the case with PlayStation.

[8bitAssassin]

Like I've said. P.C should never have console exclusives. There's way too many reasons why. They are not; nor never been the majority of who supports them anyway.

[anast]

The headline doesn't match what was actually said. Click bait.

They aren't abandoning their position until they have carved out their space in the streaming and platform side of things. This is why they are demanding that gamers be logged onto their platform on PC to play their games.

[blacktiger]

Then merge, no point of competing

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Why would they need to?

Xbox didn’t have the playerbase to turn a profit on big development projects.

Sony DOES have the large market needed to justify investments in big AAA projects.

[Dandizzle]

I swear retarded content like this is why I've been visiting n4g less.

[YourMommySpoils]

It's the slow move for all companies to eventually abandon the consoles themselves too. It's sad, but that's what may eventually happen.

[TrueRican69]

Sony will not do that Xbox doing because they trying to fix they epic fails with they system they doing bad. Unless PlayStation we doing good on sells.

[mudakoshaka]

Not for Gran Turismo they won’t.

[BlaqMagiq1]

Sony has zero reason to. Their consoles are selling great and they have great sales on PC. Their current way of doing things is why they're thriving in the console and gaming space right now. Xbox's console sales are horrible right now which is why they ran to Sony to put their games on PS. PS has everything to gain in this situation.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

So, not sure why , but I think comparing DVD players to video game consoles is not a good comparison. For the most part , besides Sony , most DVD manufacturers were not trying to make movies . And about console exclusives . The more people who can play a video game that was exclusive, the better . Cheers .

[X-23]

Why would Sony abandon one of it's main selling points just to follow suite behind a company who isn't doing as well as them in the Gaming Division? Most of this "Non exclusivity" approach from Microsoft only exist because they're hardware sales aren't doing well so they need to present their games on other platforms in order to boost sales.

The article should really be titled "I Wish PlayStation Would Eventually Abandon Console Exclusives & Follow Xbox's Strategy", meanwhile I believe Sony should probably just keep doing what they've done all along to stay successful.

[TheColbertinator]

I'd rather Sony keep their mediocre games away from other consoles. Why should Xbox or Switch owners pay to uphold the failing business of Sony? I say nay.

[Knushwood Butt]

My phone is an xbox, get with the times.

[Reaper22_]

Its all on the shareholders. If it's what they want it's gonna happen. Maybe not the exact same way the Microsoft is doing it but one way
or another it'll happen.

[Malacath]

I doubt it.

The install base of Xbox is so small in much of the world that Sony wouldn't benefit at all from making their games multi-platform.

Also there is literally no reason to choose an xbox over a playstation any more unless you really want game pass

Playstation plays xbox first party titles as well as Sony first party titles.

Xbox plays the first party xbox titles but can't play the Sony ones.

Xbox only has gamepass while Playstation gets all the games that will never go on xbox. Unless you really want game pass then the playstation is the better purchase.

Why would Sony make their console a less attractive purchase just to release their games on a platform with a small install base?

The way things are going, Xbox hardware will disappear and we'll only have Sony and Nintendo consoles in future

[smashman98]

I think by and large this wont happen before console go the way of the dinosaur. I think we'll see sony eventually move to day and date PC and console releases. Then I expect to see cloud gaming become more mainstream. Finally when console players are eclipsed by cloud and pc then maybe I could see sony proliferating the rest of the console market.

That being said Sony has allowed lego horizon on switch. I know Death Stranding on Xbox is a bit of an outlier considering sony hasn't retained the publishing rights for it I still think it is an interesting point of examination.

[rokos]

The way I think it would play out is: Playstation would wait for a couple more years to see how the multiplatform strategy will play out for Microsoft and if people are accepting it across.
What they might do is to reduce the exclusivity window to 3-4 months after release for the single player games as they would use them to sell hardware when people think they are missing out on their favorite franchise. Someone might say most people will wait but not all, we are seeing how some gamers are paying 50% or more on top of the RRP of a game just to play it 3 day in advance.
This move would also allow them to make more money as if their game launches for their platform they do not have to share the revenue with other platform holders (Steam, EGS, Nintendo etc).
For Live Service I believe the launch has to be simultaneous for all platforms since the games have a low cost barrier of entry and the profit is made by microtransactions, thus reaching the highest number of people would be a priority.

[neomahi]

Never say never, but Nintendo needs to lead, if PlayStation has any pride. Remember, Xbox is doing this because up s*** creek and got stuck. Everyone seems to this as Xbox as some kind of prognosticator or something, but they don't know what else to do. They're not heroes, they're cons.

When SEGA went belly up, did Nintendo and PlayStation say: Hey, that's a good idea, let's do that? No

[Rainbowcookie]

Why would they they have been killing it with console sales ? Exclusives drives those sales. Nintendo and Sony would never do what Microsoft's doing at the moment , because there is no need. They would do a later Pc release for extra sales when normal sales have stopped. Microsoft needs to keep investors happy and recoup costs on companies they bought.