Support NeoGAF

[Metnut]

Why doesn't Sony have any RPGs? Looking at the bestselling single player games on PC they tend to be RPG's. Cyberpunk, The Witcher 3, BG3, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring, KCD2, Hogwarts (borderline RPG, massive IP), Starfield.. Then ARPGs like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2. Fucking Veilguard which is labeled a flop still beat every single Sony single player game so far in terms of CCU on Steam. Although of course that IP has history on PC to boost it and was a day 1 release.

Action adventure games, linear or open world seem to do less well on PC in general. Unless you are Rockstar, but they are in a league of their own in terms of IP popularity.

All of these games (other than Starfield) are on PS5.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Why doesn't Sony have any RPGs? Looking at the bestselling single player games on PC they tend to be RPG's. Cyberpunk, The Witcher 3, BG3, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring, KCD2, Hogwarts (borderline RPG, massive IP), Starfield.. Then ARPGs like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2. Fucking Veilguard which is labeled a flop still beat every single Sony single player game so far in terms of CCU on Steam. Although of course that IP has history on PC to boost it and was a day 1 release.

Action adventure games, linear or open world seem to do less well on PC in general. Unless you are Rockstar, but they are in a league of their own in terms of IP popularity.

I think you're stretching the definition of RPG when you want to and narrowing it when you want to.

God of War, Horizon, and Spider-Man are just as much RPGs as BMW or Elden Ring.

I know where you're generally going with the question and to better answer your question, it's because they don't have any studios with that background. And the reason they don't is because there studios are baked in console development and this isn't a traditional console genre. By the time these became popular on console too, most studios had larger ownership.

So the question becomes, are you going to force your studios to make a game like this or who are you going to buy to make one?

Not many great options to buy. Microsoft bought Zenimax, EA owns Bioware, CDPR isn't for sale, I'm guessing larian isn't either.

 

[yurinka]

It's hilarious that they raised this because the answer is one of the most decisive statements by Sony in favor of PC ports. Just setting themselves up for the biggest self-own:

https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/library/presen/er/pdf/24q2_qa.pdf

Yes, the PS userbase has been growing during the PS5 lifetime, as we can see in the record PS MAU this and the previous year, or having achieved to sell for the first time >20M consoles in two years (2023, 2024) and in a row or having over 40% of PS5s sold to new users.

Combined with seeing every year a huge growth in off-PS 1st party revenue, and PC ports having a huge profitability as Totoki said, doesn't make sense to stop their PC business:
https://bsky.app/profile/zhugeex.com/post/3li5nkh6vjc2s

 

[RJMacready73]

If Sony go same date release on PC, they can kiss my purchase of a PS6 goodbye, I'll be switching to a hopefully by then console like steam/Xbox PC box for under the telly, like a woman I only got room for 1 in my life

 

[HogIsland]

If Sony go same date release on PC, they can kiss my purchase of a PS6 goodbye, I'll be switching to a hopefully by then console like steam/Xbox PC box for under the telly, like a woman I only got room for 1 in my life

You say it like it wouldnt be a great thing

 

[RJMacready73]

You say it like it wouldnt be a great thing

Well I'd lose access to my PS+ account I've had since PS4 release, I've hundreds of games on that account but if Sony ditches the exclusivity then there's no reason to not switch when a PC provides a far better experience graphically and gives you access to so much more, the only reason I haven't is because it doesn't come close to that console like experience and if MS had any gumption they'd be making a small form factor Xbox/Slash PC Box for their next console, Xbox is pretty much dead next generation but an Xbox/PC hybrid, now that's a winning combo

 

[Neofire]

You say it like it wouldnt be a great thing

I agree individuals such the individual you responded to want the console to just go away because they simply are PC elitist. It would be a disaster for Sony and the industry if they abandoned the PlayStation ecosystem and brand. Exactly what's happening to the Xbox and it's sending shockwaves through the videogame community.

 

[ArtHands]

All of these games (other than Starfield) are on PS5.

The thing is Sony need first party games of such caliber to migrate into PC territory easier.

 

[HogIsland]

Well I'd lose access to my PS+ account I've had since PS4 release, I've hundreds of games on that account but if Sony ditches the exclusivity then there's no reason to not switch when a PC provides a far better experience graphically and gives you access to so much more, the only reason I haven't is because it doesn't come close to that console like experience and if MS had any gumption they'd be making a small form factor Xbox/Slash PC Box for their next console, Xbox is pretty much dead next generation but an Xbox/PC hybrid, now that's a winning combo

If exclusives games are the only thing preventing you from "a far better experience" and "so much more", then exclusives are even worse than I'm saying.

I'm not even talking about PlayStation shutting down. This idea that we need exclusives to justify the existence of a console is totally backward.

 

[ProtoByte]

Yes, the PS userbase has been growing during the PS5 lifetime, as we can see in the record PS MAU this and the previous year, or having achieved to sell for the first time >20M consoles in two years (2023, 2024) and in a row or having over 40% of PS5s sold to new users.

Combined with seeing every year a huge growth in off-PS 1st party revenue, and PC ports having a huge profitability as Totoki said, doesn't make sense to stop their PC business:
https://bsky.app/profile/zhugeex.com/post/3li5nkh6vjc2s

It would make perfect sense.
<900 million is a drop in the bucket, and will cut into the PS5's last half and the PS6. When you account for the fact that the vast, vast majority of that is coming from Helldivers 2 and Destiny's last expansion, it's really not impressive at all.

 

[yurinka]

It would make perfect sense.
<900 million is a drop in the bucket, and will cut into the PS5's last half and the PS6. When you account for the fact that the vast, vast majority of that is coming from Helldivers 2 and Destiny's last expansion, it's really not impressive at all.

These $841M/year is around the same money their 1st party games make on console.

Their off-PS 1st party revenue has been growing a lot every year, pretty likely in a year or two their 1st party games will be making more money outside PS than in PS.

$841M is money to fund the entire development and marketing (not only a year: all the 4-9 years) of almost 3 games like Spider-Man 2, or four Concords.

And no, the vast, vast majority isn't coming from Helldivers and Destiny because in 2023 they made $492M from it (the off-PS revenue keeps growing a lot year after year as they keep adding games to the catalog). In any case, so what? Helldivers and Destiny are also Sony PC games.

 

[daninthemix]

It would make perfect sense.
<900 million is a drop in the bucket, and will cut into the PS5's last half and the PS6. When you account for the fact that the vast, vast majority of that is coming from Helldivers 2 and Destiny's last expansion, it's really not impressive at all.

Source: my own anus.

 

[ArtHands]

If exclusives games are the only thing preventing you from "a far better experience" and "so much more", then exclusives are even worse than I'm saying.

I'm not even talking about PlayStation shutting down. This idea that we need exclusives to justify the existence of a console is totally backward.

If the only justification to get a console is the exclusives, then that means there is next to no reason to have a console.

 

[HogIsland]

If the only justification to get a console is the exclusives, then that means there is next to no reason to have a console.

I really don't understand people who say this: "removing exclusives takes away reason for the console", OK, maybe there's no reason for the console then?

For the record, I actually disagree with this, and agree with Playstation CEO Hideaki Nishino:

with mobile devices, there are many games that show advertisements, and PCs are difficult to set up, but with PlayStation, once you turn it on, you can experience the content you bought straight away.

'PCs are difficult to set up', argues PlayStation co-CEO as he sticks up for his precious console's honour

Well, maybe you're difficult to set up, buddy!

www.pcgamer.com

That experience is the reason for the console and NOT exclusives. Hopefully Steam Deck is the first step toward PCs surpassing the easy experience of a console. At that point, the answer is not to push exclusives harder. The answer is to lean into ubiquitous access to games.

 

[Arsic]

All these companies initially take loss on hardware, correct? So it makes sense to get out of hardware to sell the software where the big bucks are.

Xbox’s strategy could pay off in the long run if they play it right, but their poor leadership could just as easily drown them.

Sony and Nintendo have far more IPs of value now and can coast on selling hardware for much longer to leverage their first party line ups.

 

[HogIsland]

All these companies initially take loss on hardware, correct? So it makes sense to get out of hardware to sell the software where the big bucks are.

Xbox’s strategy could pay off in the long run if they play it right, but their poor leadership could just as easily drown them.

Sony and Nintendo have far more IPs of value now and can coast on selling hardware for much longer to leverage their first party line ups.

This is correct. Breaking into China is even more daunting, where there are only a few million PS5s:

Why it's impossible to track console sales in China

Earlier this year, Sony announced it has sold 670,000 PlayStation 5 units in mainland China – but the actual install ba…

www.gamesindustry.biz

PC is an easy win for Playstation games, with no downside.

 

[yogaflame]

I think the best thing Sony can do to please the fans and not alienate them, and to attract more new PS console customers, is 1st party games to remain fully exclusive to PS console and will not be ported to PC. While 2nd party games, will be PS console exclusive but also available to PC..

 

[ArtHands]

I really don't understand people who say this: "removing exclusives takes away reason for the console", OK, maybe there's no reason for the console then?

For the record, I actually disagree with this, and agree with Playstation CEO Hideaki Nishino:

'PCs are difficult to set up', argues PlayStation co-CEO as he sticks up for his precious console's honour

Well, maybe you're difficult to set up, buddy!

www.pcgamer.com

That experience is the reason for the console and NOT exclusives. Hopefully Steam Deck is the first step toward PCs surpassing the easy experience of a console. At that point, the answer is not to push exclusives harder. The answer is to lean into ubiquitous access to games.

Yah. I have no idea why console fanboys conveniently pretend the plug and play advantage they love throwing around, suddenly doesn’t exist when we talk about exclusives as selling point for console.

Unless the plug and play advantage they were talking about is being played up, and they know inside their heart that it is not as appealing as they would like.

 

[evanft]

It really is hilarious seeing the reactions from some people to Sony's strategy of bringing games to PC. I don't feel like writing in actual paragraphs so here are some bullet points

• Being a fan/supporter of a giant international corporation that doesn't care about you is one of the most fundamentally stupid things I can think of. Sony cares about money.
• You should buy a console and use it because it meets your needs at the price point it's offered. Games coming to different platforms does not make your platform worse. If the only thing that makes a platform worth buying into is the games being held captive from other platforms, then it's not a very good platform.
• PC ports are essential for preservation. Any game not ported to PC is essentially frozen in time on its original hardware until someone creates an emulator.
• The people who care so passionately about this, especially those over on Icon Era or other internet shitholes, are mentally ill. They lack a proper grasp of reality or any sort of reasonable critical thinking skills. I think the core is that they don't have much, if any, identity outside of the products they buy or media they consume. Any threat to that or change is seen as an attack on their entire world view, so they throw a temper tantrum.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Setting up a PC takes 2000 dollars. Not everyone wants to invest that kind of money.

 

[daninthemix]

Lol at the existence of this thread.

Lol at the continuing of this thread.

 

[yurinka]

If the only justification to get a console is the exclusives, then that means there is next to no reason to have a console.

No, exclusives on PS always have been a pretty small percentage of sales and playtime.

There are many reasons: not having to worry about if new games will run well decently on your device for an entire generation, less money spent on hardware, more plug & play and direct hassle free experience, having build a big library in previous generations, etc.

 

[Hudo]

It really is hilarious seeing the reactions from some people to Sony's strategy of bringing games to PC. I don't feel like writing in actual paragraphs so here are some bullet points

• Being a fan/supporter of a giant international corporation that doesn't care about you is one of the most fundamentally stupid things I can think of. Sony cares about money.
• You should buy a console and use it because it meets your needs at the price point it's offered. Games coming to different platforms does not make your platform worse. If the only thing that makes a platform worth buying into is the games being held captive from other platforms, then it's not a very good platform.
• PC ports are essential for preservation. Any game not ported to PC is essentially frozen in time on its original hardware until someone creates an emulator.
• The people who care so passionately about this, especially those over on Icon Era or other internet shitholes, are mentally ill. They lack a proper grasp of reality or any sort of reasonable critical thinking skills. I think the core is that they don't have much, if any, identity outside of the products they buy or media they consume. Any threat to that or change is seen as an attack on their entire world view, so they throw a temper tantrum.

This should be a sticky.

 

[Sentenza]

It really is hilarious seeing the reactions from some people to Sony's strategy of bringing games to PC. I don't feel like writing in actual paragraphs so here are some bullet points

• Being a fan/supporter of a giant international corporation that doesn't care about you is one of the most fundamentally stupid things I can think of. Sony cares about money.
• You should buy a console and use it because it meets your needs at the price point it's offered. Games coming to different platforms does not make your platform worse. If the only thing that makes a platform worth buying into is the games being held captive from other platforms, then it's not a very good platform.
• PC ports are essential for preservation. Any game not ported to PC is essentially frozen in time on its original hardware until someone creates an emulator.
• The people who care so passionately about this, especially those over on Icon Era or other internet shitholes, are mentally ill. They lack a proper grasp of reality or any sort of reasonable critical thinking skills. I think the core is that they don't have much, if any, identity outside of the products they buy or media they consume. Any threat to that or change is seen as an attack on their entire world view, so they throw a temper tantrum.

Yes.

 

[ArtHands]

No, exclusives on PS always have been a pretty small percentage of sales and playtime.

There are many reasons: not having to worry about if new games will run well decently on your device for an entire generation, less money spent on hardware, more plug & play and direct hassle free experience, having build a big library in previous generations, etc.

Then there shouldn't be any issue for Sony to release day 1 on PC. Since it is a negligible portion of sales and playtime and doesn't impact anything much.

 

[lh032]

If the only justification to get a console is the exclusives, then that means there is next to no reason to have a console.

Im a pc gamer long time ago.

Console is just a convenience platform to play games on, plug and play and games runs well.
I dont need expensive hardware to run games at 120 fps or more.
without exclusivity i will still stick with console.

Take a look at the PC gaming scene around you, its going to get worse, Overprice GPU (and you know the pricing is going to get way worse), bad optimization, shader compilation, cheaters, tons of shit going on.

my ps5 pro cant wait to play Mhwilds, sadly alot of gaming PC is going to struggle to run the game

 

[yurinka]

Then there shouldn't be any issue for Sony to release day 1 on PC. Since it is a negligible portion of sales and playtime and doesn't impact anything much.

It's different to port some of their exclusives, many of them with over a year or two of timed exclusivities. They are seeing that this doesn't damage them.

Launching all their games day one is a different thing. I think it could hurt their consoles sales. In any case, I assume they'll continue testing different distances until they find the sweet spot for them. They did it with GaaS, with remaster, with Lego (not sure if forced).. little by little they test day one stuff.

So if it doesn't hurt, they may end releasing some SP game of a Sony IP day one on PC. And time later, another, and if they continue seeing that there is no negative effect in any console KPI, they'll continue until all their stuff gets released day one on PC.

In the moment they detect that there is some negative effect on their console business, they'll scale back going back to keep distance. Same goes with other things like pricing.

They keep trying things and taking note until they find the right sweet spot for them.

 

[rm082e]

If Sony go same date release on PC, they can kiss my purchase of a PS6 goodbye, I'll be switching to a hopefully by then console like steam/Xbox PC box for under the telly, like a woman I only got room for 1 in my life

Is the current delay between PS console launch and PC launch for Sony titles a big factor for you?

As a PC guy who only bought PS4 and PS5 for the exclusives, I just don't care enough about playing day 1 to justify a PS6. I'll just wait for ports from now on.

 

[RJMacready73]

Is the current delay between PS console launch and PC launch for Sony titles a big factor for you?

As a PC guy who only bought PS4 and PS5 for the exclusives, I just don't care enough about playing day 1 to justify a PS6. I'll just wait for ports from now on.

Yeah I absolutely love Sony's first party efforts Horizon, TLOU, Uncharted & GOW and there's no way I could wait a few years to play the next installment of TLOU or Naughty Dogs new game so I'll stick with PS for now, I have a top spec Alienware laptop for work and the hassle to get it up and running to play games is just not worth it for me, I prefer that grab a controller hit a button and I'm in the the game and PC just isn't like that

 

[bigdad2007]

If Sony go same date release on PC, they can kiss my purchase of a PS6 goodbye, I'll be switching to a hopefully by then console like steam/Xbox PC box for under the telly, like a woman I only got room for 1 in my life

Steam and MS are never partnering up. Steam literally is making a Windows competitor more mainstream. Windows and MS office are by far the bread and butter of MS. The games division isn’t shit compared to that. The last thing they will do is make running Linux more accessible to normies.

 

[ArtHands]

Im a pc gamer long time ago.

Console is just a convenience platform to play games on, plug and play and games runs well.
I dont need expensive hardware to run games at 120 fps or more.
without exclusivity i will still stick with console.

Take a look at the PC gaming scene around you, its going to get worse, Overprice GPU (and you know the pricing is going to get way worse), bad optimization, shader compilation, cheaters, tons of shit going on.

my ps5 pro cant wait to play Mhwilds, sadly alot of gaming PC is going to struggle to run the game

See, here are your justifications and why it is fine for consoles to not have exclusives. Even if Sony releases day 1 on PC, people will still buy a consoles because of your reasons.

 

[drotahorror]

I prefer that grab a controller hit a button and I'm in the the game and PC just isn't like that

People still think this way in 2025? Insane technology and innovations at our fingertips, and you can't figure out how to start a game on a computer?

 

[NeonDelta]

People still think this way in 2025? Insane technology and innovations at our fingertips, and you can't figure out how to start a game on a computer?

Although PC gaming is leaps and bounds better than it used to be and generally you can just instantly load a game and start playing it’s not always the case.

E.g
I can start the last of us in seconds on my ps5 but last time I loaded it up on my PC I had to wait 20 minutes or so for shaders.

If people only have limited time to play like over a lunch break or an hour before work then this is very frustrating.

Same with the constant restarts when trying to play cod campaign on their stupid launcher app thing.

 

[RickMasters]

Spider-Man 2 is set to release on PC in only 3 days, but:

- pre orders not available.
- no marketing besides of the initial trailer (from october);
- nothing about system requirements;
- the Steam page for the game was disable in some regions (Japan).

@oxb.bsky.social

Not an answer but in Japan the store page is disabled entirelv. It sure is strange. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2651280/Marvels_SpiderMan_2/?cc=jp

bsky.app

To be clear, I think Spider-Man 2 will be coming to PC, but it's strange that Sony is not giving a fuck about it.

I wouldn’t think too much into it…..

 

[Zathalus]

Setting up a PC takes 2000 dollars. Not everyone wants to invest that kind of money.

Nah.