In early October, I procured a copy of Horizon: Zero Dawn for PC from CDKeys, in expectation of the remastered version’s release later that month. As soon as Sony took down the original game from Steam, I made a prompt purchase to avoid the key market drying up. Considering an extra $10 I spent on top of the $12 for the key, I considered the remaster a worthwhile investment.
My prediction turned out to be accurate; surprisingly enjoyable was the end result. Despite its mechanical aspects being somewhat old-fashioned, the experience of roaming through the wilderness, dismantling robot components in slow-motion fashion reminiscent of a modern-day tribal Max Payne, was incredibly entertaining. However, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that there were no trophies available on Steam for the sequel; it may seem an odd grievance, but I have a fondness for achievements and collectibles.
As a predominantly Windows PC and Xbox gamer, I want to clarify that my gaming preferences don’t equate to any bias against Sony. In fact, one of my all-time favorite games, just trailing behind Red Dead Redemption in the number two spot, is Uncharted 4. Remarkably, this game has been accessible on PC for quite some time. However, it’s exactly that accessibility gap that I find myself grappling with.
In a somewhat reluctant move, similar to a child being taken away from a store after misbehaving, Sony’s PlayStation has been gradually releasing its games for personal computers (PC). These releases, typically without much fanfare and sometimes with significant delays, have become more frequent over time. Notably, this year, one of their most successful titles, Helldivers 2, was simultaneously launched on PlayStation 5 and PC. This experiment could potentially reshape their overall strategy.
Released in February, Helldivers 2 achieved significant success primarily on PC platforms. In fact, it’s been calculated that by March, more than 60% of the game’s sales were made through PCs. This marks a first for a major PlayStation exclusive title, where the primary platform of sale isn’t their own hardware. This trend is expected to grow in the coming years, and indeed, it’s already evident with Xbox as well.
The future of PlayStation games is on Windows PC
In simpler terms, what does this imply for future PlayStation games? Is there a reason for PlayStation to be concerned about the competition from PC gaming? This question was actually asked during a shareholder meeting back in November. Please note that since this is a translation from Japanese, some nuances might have been lost or slightly altered, as indicated in the original document provided by Sony themselves.
A shareholder inquired, “It appears your lineup for the second half includes numerous PS5 exclusives among third-party software titles. Is this strategy designed to facilitate the shift from PS4 to PS5? I’m concerned that more users might switch to PCs instead. How do you evaluate the potential risks and benefits in this situation?
Sony stated, “We’re near the end of the PS5’s lifecycle, and the selection of exclusive games for the console is growing. Furthermore, we’ve noticed that the transition from PS4 to PS5 is progressing positively. Interestingly, users tend to buy more software when they upgrade to the PS5, which we view as a good sign. Concerning users moving towards PCs, neither have we identified any significant shift in this direction, nor do we currently consider it a significant concern.
Instead of focusing on the shareholder’s observation about the large number of third-party exclusives Sony released this year, let’s concentrate on the primary issue. It appears that Sony is unfazed by a possible future where PC games could become more prominent. At least, they don’t seem concerned about it…not yet. Here are some important insights from the language employed.
To put it simply, while the PlayStation 5 is selling well, it’s lagging slightly behind the PlayStation 4 in terms of total sales. Many PlayStation 5 users are likely transitioning from the PlayStation 4, or other consoles like Xbox One. There might also be some PC gamers switching to consoles. It’s also worth noting that Nintendo Switch players often move on to PlayStation as they grow older. However, overall, the console market isn’t expanding, according to analysts like Newzoo and Circana. As costs rise, companies like Sony and Xbox are looking for new ways to distribute their high-profit software.
Year after year, Steam’s user numbers keep smashing previous records. Just three weeks ago, it reached a staggering 39,319,632 simultaneous online players. Yesterday, the number was just 200,000 shy of that figure, indicating this high player count is commonplace. By 2025, we can expect to see 40 million users on Steam, likely by March.
To put it into perspective, on just one day (Christmas), the NFL attracted an unprecedented 64 million viewers. In contrast, Steam manages to pull in about twice that number daily. This is truly mind-boggling and should make console gamers sit up and take notice.
Ignoring the booming mobile market, which is already dominant and expected to expand further, PC gaming persistently experiences growth without a significant drop-off in recent years. Given that PlayStation console sales are lagging behind their previous model, what does this imply about their future game releases? The answer could be the frequently debated concept: releasing games simultaneously on PC, also known as day and date on PC.
PlayStation moving to “day and date” PC launches is coming
As a tech enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the shift in PlayStation release strategies, and it seems to me that we’re moving away from those days of staggered releases. Now, don’t get me wrong, this change isn’t happening overnight, but with each passing year, we’re edging ever closer. Last year, the resounding success of Helldivers 2 compelled the company to announce that they would be launching live-service titles globally simultaneously. Who knows what game tomorrow will bring, causing Sony to reconsider their approach yet again?
Here’s a simpler way of expressing your thoughts: I own a PlayStation 5, but I usually wait for games to be released on my Windows PC. Since there are upcoming releases, I might as well wait for them on my preferred system. Some great titles have been exclusive to the PlayStation, but many have eventually made their way to PC too. For instance, Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei, both sequels set for release in 2025, have already had their predecessors launched on PC. In fact, Kojima Productions even released Death Stranding on Xbox as well.
At some stage, Sony might decide to venture into experimenting with a single-player game initially released for PlayStation, but what would happen if it becomes an enormous hit? Given Sony’s history of changing strategies, it’s not impossible that they could do so again.
Returning to Horizon: Zero Dawn, it initially saw approximately 56,000 simultaneous players on Steam, marking a decent achievement for Sony. However, Uncharted and The Last of Us Part 1 experienced less success in comparison at launch. The reasons behind these contrasting debuts can be attributed to several factors such as performance and replay value, but there’s one significant disparity that deserves attention: the release scheduling.
It took quite some time for Uncharted to reach PC, leaving many potential players either having already played it or losing interest by then. The Last of Us Part 1 was essentially an enhanced version of a game that had been around for a decade. PC gamers are accustomed to enhancing their own gaming experiences through mods or free updates. It’s hard to justify paying for something that’s often available for free, unless it’s offered at a discount like Horizon: Zero Dawn was on sites such as CDKeys or GreenManGaming.
Not only is the cost of game development increasing, but marketing expenses are rising as well. If you’re investing tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in marketing, maximizing your return means ensuring your game is ubiquitous at launch, capturing attention, sparking discussions, and outsmarting social media algorithms. Launching games on a niche segment of the market can now be detrimental, as more publishers are recognizing. Companies like Square Enix, known for pursuing platform exclusivity deals in the past, are now turning their backs on such agreements.
Each year, PlayStation consistently earns more revenue from other platforms compared to the previous year. By 2024, it’s quite likely they came extremely close to, if not surpassing, a billion dollars in earnings. To boost profits and optimize margins, it seems logical for them to keep refining their release schedule until simultaneous PC launches on the same day become standard practice. Let me assure you, this change may be closer than many anticipate.
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2025-01-05 14:09