Recent statements from Hermen Hulst, CEO of PlayStation Studios, have sparked discussions regarding Sony’s strategy for single-player games on PC. During a town hall meeting, Hulst reportedly confirmed that major narrative-driven titles from PlayStation studios will now be exclusive to the PlayStation platform, echoing earlier reports from Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier.
Shifts in Game Release Strategy
This shift indicates a significant change in Sony’s approach, particularly for its flagship single-player intellectual properties. While titles like Horizon Hunters Gathering may still see releases on both PC and PlayStation consoles, the trend appears to favor exclusivity for major studio productions. Notably, Helldivers 2 is also set to launch on Xbox, suggesting that some PlayStation-backed games could potentially venture onto other consoles in the future.
However, this decision seems to apply primarily to major PlayStation studios and their single-player franchises, rather than all single-player titles associated with Sony. For instance, the highly anticipated Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is unlikely to make its way to PC, similar to the fate of the Uncharted series.
In a related note, the recently released PS5 shooter Saros will not be available on PC, as confirmed by Schreier. This is a departure from Housemarque’s previous title, Returnal, which enjoyed a successful PC launch.
Independent Titles and Future Releases
Interestingly, the upcoming title Kena: Scars of Kosmora, a sequel to Kena: Bridge of Spirits, is set to be published by PlayStation Publishing on Steam and the Epic Games Store, while still being listed under Sony Interactive Entertainment on the PlayStation Store. This title, developed by independent studio Ember Lab, highlights the nuanced approach Sony is taking with its publishing strategy.
While Kena began its journey on PS4, PS5, and PC in 2021, its sequel is anticipated to follow a similar path, although it remains to be seen how the new exclusivity direction will impact its release. In contrast, titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Stellar Blade illustrate the complexities of timed exclusives and third-party collaborations, where developers are actively seeking to publish their games across multiple platforms.
The multiplayer game Horizon Hunters Gathering, developed by Guerrilla Games, is expected to launch on PC as planned, further emphasizing that the exclusivity policy may not extend to all genres. However, any future mainline entries in the Horizon series featuring protagonist Aloy are unlikely to see a PC release under the current strategy.
This new direction also suggests that anticipated titles like Ghost of Yotei, a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, will remain exclusive to PlayStation, leaving PC gamers eager for the next installment with limited options. Similarly, Marvel’s Wolverine, the next superhero action game from Insomniac, is expected to follow suit.
While some industry experts debate the effectiveness of releasing PlayStation games on PC simultaneously, the consensus seems to lean toward a more cautious approach for AAA titles. The evolving landscape of gaming continues to unfold, with Sony’s strategic decisions shaping the future of its beloved franchises.
