Sony wants to expand “PlayStation Studios games beyond PlayStation hardware” — hiring to partner with Xbox, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and more

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Over the last year, I’ve been part of a team making bold moves in our strategy for Xbox first-party games. This has involved a shift where games such as Forza Horizon, originally exclusive to Xbox, are now being released on other platforms as well.

In that period, Xbox’s decision to abandon console exclusives seemed like a farewell symphony for the struggling platform. At first glance, Microsoft’s Xbox hardware sales appeared dismal due to intense competition from PlayStation and Nintendo. However, as time passed, the situation began to change subtly.

Although overall hardware sales are low, Xbox is experiencing a surge in console usage hours due to an array of top-notch games and ventures into new markets via Xbox Cloud Gaming. With millions of active users, even competitors like PlayStation have chosen to publish Helldivers 2 on the Xbox platform. It seems that Team Blue isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

According to a recent job posting on PlayStation’s GreenHouse hiring platform, Hazzador on X indicates that PlayStation may soon follow in the footsteps of Xbox by broadening its distribution of first-party games like God of War, The Last of Us, and Horizon Zero Dawn beyond their own platform. This could potentially include platforms such as Steam and even Xbox itself.

“Executing the global commercial strategy for PlayStation Studios software titles across all digital platforms beyond PlayStation hardware“

The job advertisement is seeking a Senior Director for Multiplatform and Account Management, with a focus on roles related to Xbox and PC platforms in particular.

The chosen candidate will head a team consisting of high-level managers who communicate directly with Xbox and Windows PC platforms such as Steam and the Epic Games Store, aiming to strengthen sales and connections.

The candidate will be responsible for managing the mid-term commercial strategy for PlayStation Studio games on platforms other than PlayStation itself. Their role involves expanding long-term revenue and increasing our game’s audience base across these non-PlayStation platforms.

Additionally, the summary clearly outlines that PlayStation Studios software will be distributed “beyond PlayStation devices.” This includes platforms like Steam, Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, mobile devices, and even Xbox consoles as well.

In this position as the Senior Director of Multiplatform & Account Management, you’ll be reporting directly to the Vice President of Commercial Management. Your key responsibility will be to spearhead and carry out the global business strategy for PlayStation Studios software titles across various digital platforms beyond PlayStation hardware. These include Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, Nintendo, and mobile.

Your role will focus on maximizing the profitability of our titles, ensuring seamless cross-functional collaboration, and leading a top-tier team dedicated to expanding our reach, managing mid-range commercial planning, and maintaining strong relationships with platform partners.

The game industry has changed

Sony has been hinting to investors for quite a while now that it aims to increase its profits, and one effective method to accomplish this is by selling more software. Since the gaming community is less inclined than ever before to change platforms, it seems logical that Sony could generate significant high-profit income by offering some of their older games on Xbox. There are still tens of millions of active Xbox gamers, many of whom might never have played titles like Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, or others that would likely be highly popular among Xbox users.

The exceptional quality of PlayStation’s games contributes to their higher price tags. Adding more classic games to Xbox wouldn’t significantly impact PlayStation’s established hardware presence, as users have already invested in building comprehensive digital game libraries. Similarly, long-term Xbox players with substantial investments in the platform are unlikely to switch to other services, where most gaming hours and earnings are concentrated.

It seems plausible that Sony might consider bypassing Steam entirely and publishing their games directly on the next-gen Xbox, given the rumors of its compatibility with Steam’s library. This move could potentially be motivated not only by the desire to eliminate the middleman but also by a better revenue share deal offered by Microsoft. Only time will reveal the truth behind these speculations.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s increasingly important to connect with people in their preferred environments to break through the clutter. This could be platforms like Netflix, TikTok, or games such as Fortnite and Roblox. Being omnipresent and adaptable across various channels increases your odds of capturing attention significantly – at least in this rapidly evolving market.

I’m excited to witness future developments in this field over the next few months. In fact, I’ve gone ahead and pre-ordered Helldivers 2 on Xbox.

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2025-07-26 03:39