One of the big topics of debate this generation is how multi-platform and exclusivity have changed from when we started in 2020 till now. Multi-platform releases were a big focus for the big three in gaming, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo. While for Nintendo, it’s been about giving its players more access to some of the more recent games, for Xbox and PlayStation, going multi-platform was part of their business strategy, until it wasn’t. Following the shift in XBOX leadership, exclusivity is now a major pillar in XBOX’s strategy going forward. PlayStation announced earlier this year that it would stop releasing its big, tentpole single-player games on PC. New Sony documents have provided more details regarding why they decided to go back to having its single-player first-party games console exclusive. Another big topic that has come up more recently is how AI has started to become a factor in the video game industry. The documents also highlighted PlayStation’s plans for the use of AI.

In an interview with Famitsu, SIE CEO Hideaki Nishino commented on the shift in strategy for PlayStation IP on PC. “We’ve always determined platform selection based on the characteristics of each title,” he said.

“If releasing a title on PC would maximize the gaming experience, we’ll continue to consider that option. Our current main policy is that, for single-player games developed in-house, we will further refine the value of the gaming experience that PlayStation can offer. At the same time, we believe it is important for live-service games to reach a wider audience through online multiplayer, so we continue to view releases on both PS5 and PC as the standard. Regardless of the platform, we will make decisions based on the principle of delivering the best possible gaming experience that maximizes each title’s unique features.”

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, who broke the news about PlayStation going back to console exclusivity for its IP, responded to Nishino’s comments:

“I guess they’re not going to lay this out publicly, but there’s no ambiguity in their strategy. During a townhall a few weeks ago, Hermen Hulst told staff that their single-player narrative games will be PlayStation only, and he explained that they were inconsistent with their PC releases, they didn’t make enough money, and they want to keep their IP aligned to their own platform. Confirmed this with two people who heard him say it. There’s no “case by case” here.”

Sony says that AI lowers the barriers to creation and increases the volume and diversity of content. AI-powered tools are automating repetitive workflows and improving productivity across software development, quality assurance, 3D modeling, and animation. AI is driving efficiency, personalization and customer value at scale, while continued investments in AI and machine learning are expected to push visual fidelity forward.

“Overall, AI is expected to unleash the creativity of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s studios, power a
more curated and consumer-centric platform, and enhance the PlayStation experience, supported by its
global player base, deep IP library, and integrated ecosystem,” Sony said.