PC market Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Ex-President of SIE Pushed Sony To Port First-Party Games To PC

Sony is considering expanding its PlayStation-exclusive titles to the PC platform, influenced by Shuhei Yoshida, the former President of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Yoshida argues that releasing games on PC can maximize revenue by reaching new audiences, particularly in regions like China where console gaming is less popular. He highlights that porting games to PC is less expensive than developing new titles, providing a significant financial incentive. However, he acknowledges that PC versions typically release a few years after their console counterparts, which may concern existing PlayStation owners.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Faster loading times and more are coming to GTA V on PC, as we slowly wait for news of GTA 6

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, highlighted the increasing importance of the PC gaming market as anticipation grows for Grand Theft Auto 6's release this autumn. A substantial update for Grand Theft Auto 5 will be available on March 4th, introducing new vehicles, performance upgrades, ambient animal encounters, GTA+ Membership for PC players, a Career Progress feature, and a revamped Landing Page. The update aims to enhance the player experience and includes improvements such as anti-cheat protections and voice chat moderation. Additionally, there are discussions about allowing players to modify the map in GTA 6 using mechanics similar to those in Roblox and Fortnite.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Ex-Sony Exec Says PC Ports of Old PS5 Games Are Almost Like Printing Money

Sony has been expanding its portfolio of classic games onto the PC platform, driven by the recognition of the potential market and financial benefits. Shuhei Yoshida, former head of PlayStation Studios, advocated for this shift, noting that releasing games on PC allows access to new audiences, particularly in regions where consoles are less popular, such as China. He highlighted that porting games to PC is cost-effective compared to developing new titles, providing additional income to invest in new projects. Despite concerns from some fans about the impact on the PlayStation brand, Yoshida mentioned that many titles are released on PC years after their console launch, ensuring that console owners have experienced the games first.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Monster Hunter lead producer agrees PC gaming is key for Japanese games: “There are more players than ever playing on PC, including in Japan”

Japanese developers, particularly Capcom, are increasingly recognizing the potential of the PC platform, as evidenced by their commitment to simultaneous PC releases for the Monster Hunter series, specifically with the upcoming launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto noted the growing significance of PC gaming, highlighting the opportunity to attract new players. The beta for Monster Hunter Wilds achieved a peak of 463,798 players, surpassing the numbers of Helldivers 2 and exceeding the launch peak of Monster Hunter World at 334,684 players. Capcom has made adjustments for PC gamers, including lowering system requirements and introducing a benchmarking tool. The director of Monster Hunter Wilds participated in beta testing anonymously, engaging with players without revealing his identity.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

Stellar Blade’s developer expects the PC version to sell better than the PS5 one

Shift Up expressed optimism about the upcoming PC release of Stellar Blade, expecting it to surpass the PlayStation 5 sales, which have exceeded 1 million copies globally. The studio attributes this expectation to the growing popularity of gaming in Asia and a larger base of PC gamers. They noted that in the AAA game market, PC devices have a higher market share than consoles. Shift Up is observing trends in the Asian gaming industry, particularly in the single-player action game segment, and is preparing for a strategic release for sustained success in the PC market. To enhance the PC version's performance, they are implementing optimization, improving user convenience, adding supplementary content, and tailoring marketing strategies for PC gamers. They are also ensuring compatibility with ultra-mobile PC environments like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. Shift Up's approach includes continuous updates to build a strong global community around the Stellar Blade IP.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

GTA 6 PC Launch Teased By Rockstar Games’ Parent Company CEO

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, indicated that GTA 6 may eventually be released on PC, despite its initial exclusive launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in Fall 2025. Historically, Rockstar Games has released titles on consoles first, with PC versions arriving later, as seen with GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. Zelnick acknowledged the importance of the PC market, stating that PC sales can account for over 40% of a game's total sales and noted the growing significance of PC gaming in their strategy. He also mentioned the potential for a delay in GTA 6's release into 2026. Take-Two's share price recently reached an all-time high, reflecting investor optimism about GTA 6.

AppWizard

February 10, 2025

Take-Two CEO hints at GTA 6 release for PC

Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, indicated that a PC launch for GTA 6 may occur after its initial release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, following the pattern of previous Rockstar titles. Historically, Rockstar has released games on select platforms first before transitioning to others, as seen with Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V. Zelnick acknowledged the growing importance of PC gaming but confirmed that GTA 6 will debut on consoles first. He believes that the game's popularity will drive console sales, and if it later launches on PC, many players would likely repurchase it for modding and exclusive features. While a PC launch has not been officially confirmed, it is expected to follow a successful console debut.

Winsage

February 10, 2025

Bill Gates says he’d “hide from the press” if former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer traded “the new and hot OS” for Windows 10

Mark Cuban humorously compared the hypothetical trading of Mavericks player Luka Dončić to Microsoft trading Windows 11 for Windows 10 during a conversation with Bill Gates. Gates reflected on his journey with Microsoft, admitting he didn't recognize the company's success until the late 1990s. As Microsoft plans to phase out Windows 10 by October 14, 2025, it still holds a 60.33% market share compared to Windows 11's 36.65%. Many users prefer Windows 10 due to factors such as the current state of the PC market, strict system requirements for Windows 11, and reported design flaws in Windows 11. A public interest research group has filed a petition against ending support for Windows 10, citing that over 40% of users still rely on it. Microsoft remains committed to its timeline, but users can extend support for Windows 10 through the Extended Security Updates program for an additional year.

AppWizard

February 10, 2025

The PlayStation Network outage proves PC gamers were right to resist its mandatory sign-in requirement

Review-bombing campaigns have arisen from cultural debates about trans characters, queer developers, and liberal writing consultants. A recent incident with Helldivers 2 has shown that these campaigns can also highlight legitimate consumer concerns, specifically regarding the PlayStation Network's (PSN) sign-in requirement. Sony and Arrowhead initially stated that a PSN sign-in would be implemented, which seemed minimal at first. However, players expressed frustration over the exclusion of gamers in regions with Steam access but not PSN. Sony has since abandoned its PSN ambitions on PC while continuing to exclude certain countries from Helldivers 2. The justification for "player protection" appeared disingenuous, as it seemed aimed at funneling users into the PSN ecosystem, which requires sharing personal information. Recently, the PSN experienced a 24-hour outage, raising concerns about the implications of a mandatory sign-in for games like Helldivers 2 and single-player titles. Sony seems to struggle with understanding the PC gaming audience, entering the PC market reluctantly due to its growth and console stagnation. The company must earn the loyalty of PC gamers, who may resist being tied to a service that charges for online access to games they already own. The PSN has a history of significant cybersecurity breaches, and the details surrounding the recent outage remain unclear, with Sony not providing clarity on any potential compromise. Mandatory sign-ins to services like PSN represent a significant imposition that consumers should avoid due to genuine risks.

Winsage

February 9, 2025

Windows Central Podcast: What’s next for Windows 11?

The Windows Central Podcast features hosts Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden discussing the evolving landscape of Windows 11, including anticipated features and the integration of Selenium. They reflect on the Copilot+ PC's complexities and user satisfaction. The upcoming Build 2025 event is confirmed, with high expectations for attendees. The podcast also covers the rivalry between Qualcomm and Arm regarding Snapdragon laptops and its implications for the PC market.