Sony Downplays PC Risk as Simultaneous PlayStation and Windows Game Releases Loom

Back in early October, I snagged a PC code for Horizon: Zero Dawn from CDKeys. I was gearing up for the remaster coming out later that month and wanted to secure a copy before Sony pulled the original game from Steam. With the remaster only costing an extra $10 on top of the $12 I spent on the key, it seemed like a no-brainer to me.

I wasn’t wrong; the experience was absolutely fantastic. Sure, mechanically, it might show its age a bit, but I tremendously enjoyed diving into the wilds, dismantling robot enemies like some post-apocalyptic Max Payne. I can’t help but wish the sequel included Steam trophies, but hey, I just love collecting shiny achievements.

Though I primarily game on a Windows PC and have a soft spot for the Xbox ecosystem, I hold no grudge against Sony. Uncharted 4, which sits right after the original Red Dead Redemption on my all-time favorites list, is another title I enjoyed thoroughly, thanks to its PC availability. And that right there is a part of the broader conversation.

Sony, much like a child reluctantly leaving a toy store, has been dragging its feet bringing its games to PC. They’ve done so with little fanfare and often taken years to launch. The situation, however, is starting to change. This year, their significant release, Helldivers 2, launched simultaneously on PlayStation 5 and PC, potentially setting a new precedent for their future strategies.

Released in February, Helldivers 2 thrived on PC, with an estimated 60% of its sales coming from this platform by March. For the first time, a major PlayStation exclusive found its biggest audience beyond Sony’s hardware. It’s a trend that might snowball in the coming years, similar to what’s happening with Xbox.

This shift raises an important question: what does the future hold for PlayStation games? During a shareholder meeting in November, this very topic was brought up. Of course, the discussion underwent translation, which means a bit might have been lost, but the essence stayed clear.

A shareholder queried, “With numerous PS5 exclusives in the lineup for the latter half, is there a risk that more users will turn to PCs?” Sony’s response acknowledged an ongoing trend of users upgrading from PS4 to PS5, with software purchases increasing as well. They didn’t see a massive risk in users shifting to PC, at least not yet.

Sony’s stance indicates little fear about PC’s growing influence, though PlayStation 4’s transition rate to PS5 may lag a bit behind its predecessor. While new players might emerge from the Nintendo circuit, most likely the surge in PlayStation 5 users is coming from current owners of PlayStation systems or from other consoles like the Xbox One. Yet, with markets not growing extensively, especially as costs rise, platforms like Sony and Xbox need to seek new outlets for their high-margin games.

Meanwhile, Steam’s user numbers keep climbing, consistently setting new records. With a future projection of 40 million concurrent users by 2025, it’s a staggering figure that rivals other forms of media attention, such as the NFL’s record viewership.

With PC gaming on a steady incline alongside a declining console market, one wonders how PlayStation will adapt. Could “day and date” releases on PC become the norm?

I believe the era where there’s a gap between PlayStation and PC releases is closing. Although it won’t happen immediately, we’re fast approaching that point. The success of Helldivers 2 already made Sony reconsider aspects of their approach, pushing them to embrace multi-platform live-service launches. When another hit lands, it’s sure to redefine their strategy once more.

As a PlayStation 5 owner, I often find myself patient enough to wait for PC launches. With a few exceptions, most major titles eventually make their way there. For 2025, we’re expecting sequels like Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei to follow predecessors to PC, potentially even Xbox for more comprehensive income.

Sony asserts they’ll prioritize PlayStation launches for single-player experiences, but what if they test one on simultaneous platforms? If it turns out to be successful, they’ll have yet another reason to adjust their approach.

Take Horizon: Zero Dawn as an example. When it arrived on Steam, it hit 56,000 concurrent players, a decent showing. In contrast, Uncharted and The Last of Us Part 1 faced struggles. Factors like performance and replayability affected these launches, but release timing was a crucial factor. Uncharted, arriving after years of anticipation on PC, was perhaps too late. By then, interest had waned, unlike PC gamers, who frequently mod and enhance games on their own.

Amid escalating costs, both in development and marketing, ensuring a game hits all platforms simultaneously is an increasingly attractive option. Publishers are realizing the benefits of abandoning exclusivity in favor of reaching a broader audience. Square Enix and others are shying away from exclusive deals, preferring the wider reach.

PlayStation continues to see growing revenue from other platforms year after year. I’d wager that in 2024, they hit nearly, if not over a billion. To drive those profits even further, aligning their release schedules with PC launches is the logical next step. Trust me, it’s just around the corner.

So what are your thoughts? Is Sony inching closer to simultaneous PC releases? How about appearances on platforms like the Nintendo Switch 2 or Xbox Series X|S? Feel free to share your views in the comments below.