PlayStation Studios Archives

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Stellar Blade now Sony’s biggest single-player game on Steam

Stellar Blade has become the most successful single-player game from Sony on Steam, achieving a peak of 192,078 concurrent players. It has outperformed other notable titles such as The Last of Us Part 1 (39,496 players), The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (30,690 users), God of War (83,529 users), and God of War Ragnarök (35,615 users). While Helldivers 2 holds the record for PlayStation-launched games on Steam with 458,709 concurrent users, it is a multiplayer game. Prior to its release on June 11th, Stellar Blade ranked as the sixth highest-grossing game on Steam in pre-orders. Herman Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, mentioned a cautious strategy for expanding first-party titles to the PC market. Sony has also faced challenges, including layoffs at its Bend Studio after canceling an unannounced live-service title.

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

PlayStation is being ‘really thoughtful’ about picking which games to port to PC, says studios boss

Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation studios, stated that Sony takes a careful and strategic approach to porting games to PC, typically delaying non-live service titles by at least a year after their console release to maintain the value of the PlayStation 5. Despite indications of a potential shift towards a more aggressive strategy, Hulst confirmed the company will continue its conservative approach to protect the unique value of the PS5. Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, emphasized the importance of monitoring player patterns and behaviors while expressing confidence in Sony's current strategy amidst competition in the industry.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

I’m glad Sony PlayStation finally got rid of PC game region locks

Sony has begun to reverse its policy of region-locking PC games, allowing titles such as Helldivers 2, God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 to be purchased in previously restricted regions. This change follows backlash against the region locks implemented over a year ago, which had led to negative reactions from players. While many restrictions have been lifted, seven countries—Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam—remain blacklisted.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Sony removes regional restrictions on four of its biggest games on Steam

Sony has lifted regional restrictions on four major games on Steam, allowing players in various countries to access them freely. The games affected are God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Spider-Man 2, and Helldivers 2. Initially, Helldivers 2 required a PlayStation Network (PSN) sign-in, leading to its removal from sale in 177 countries without PSN access. In contrast, the upcoming Spider-Man 2 and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, along with God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, will not require a PSN account, although regional restrictions still apply in countries without PSN services. PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst emphasized the importance of a careful approach to releasing PlayStation games on other platforms and the significance of single-player titles for showcasing console performance.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

PlayStation taking “measured” approach to bringing games to PC

Herman Hulst, head of PlayStation studios, stated that Sony is carefully strategizing the expansion of its gaming titles to the PC platform, emphasizing a "thoughtful" and "measured" approach. He highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards for single-player experiences, which are key to the PlayStation brand. Sony has already launched several first-party titles on PC, including God of War, The Last of Us series, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Days Gone.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Stellar Blade gets PC release date thanks to leaked PlayStation trailer

Korean developer Shift Up has confirmed the release date of their action game, Stellar Blade, for Windows PC on June 11, 2025. The PC version will feature enhancements such as ultrawide monitor support, advanced graphics technologies including DLSS 4 and FSR 3, and higher-resolution textures. Preorders are expected but not yet available. Stellar Blade was originally released as a PlayStation 5 exclusive in April 2024, selling over a million copies and featuring crossover DLC with NieR: Automata. The PC version will also be published by PlayStation.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC is a bug-filled web of disappointment

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, released by Insomniac Games, features new elements like additional collectibles, skill trees, and two playable Spider-Men, but does not significantly innovate beyond its predecessor. The game has been criticized for its lifeless open world, repetitive side activities, and a dual protagonist mechanic that feels superficial. The PC version suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, occurring approximately every 25 minutes, which detracts from the gaming experience. Despite its impressive visuals and refined core mechanics, the game is seen as lacking in narrative depth and engaging world design. It is available on Windows PC and PlayStation 5.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Former Sony exec finally says the quiet part out loud: putting PlayStation games on PC is ‘almost like printing money’

Console manufacturers have historically neglected the PC platform as a revenue source. Microsoft has shifted its strategy by releasing games on PC and PlayStation, while Sony has begun to release more PS4 and PS5 titles on Steam, including the successful simultaneous launch of Helldivers 2 on both PS5 and PC. Shuhei Yoshida, a former Sony executive, indicated that he had envisioned bringing Sony games to PC earlier but faced resistance within the company. He noted that releasing games on PC could attract players to buy PlayStations in the future and highlighted the financial benefits of porting games to PC, which is cheaper than creating new titles. Yoshida also emphasized the importance of the Chinese PC gaming market, citing the success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong. He speculated on the absence of Bloodborne on PC and expressed that he would have resisted Sony's shift towards live-service games if possible.

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 13, 2025

Every PC and Xbox game shown during Sony’s PlayStation State of Play February 2025

The PlayStation State of Play aired on February 12, 2025, showcasing various titles for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. - Monster Hunter Wilds is set to launch on February 28, 2025. - Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will release on August 29, 2025. - Sonic Racing: Crossworlds has a closed network test scheduled for February 21, 2025. - Digimon Story Time Stranger is in development. - Lost Soul Aside will launch on May 30, 2025, with preorders opening on February 19. - Borderlands 4 is set for release on September 23, 2025. - Split Fiction launches on March 6, 2025. - Directive 8020 will be released on October 2, 2025. - Onimusha: Way of the Sword is anticipated for 2026. - Hell is Us will launch on September 3, 2025. - The Lies of P DLC titled Overture will be available in Summer 2025. - Days Gone Remastered will be released on April 25, 2025, for PS5, with new DLC for PC. - Stellar Blade is coming to PC in June 2025. - Abiotic Factor will be released this summer on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass. - Tides of Annihilation will launch on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.