Console exclusivity is big in gaming. It’s a big reason why consoles still compete with gaming PCs despite lower specs, and it’s especially relevant as we get closer and closer to the release of the next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles. The games that Sony and Microsoft choose to promote as their console exclusive titles will likely be the deciding factor for many in choosing the system they choose to purchase, and these companies know it.
That being said, exclusivity can also be a source of ire – I can definitely recall many times I’ve been frustrated with my inability to play certain titles because of it. This inconvenience is something Sony is definitely aware of – a fact that is made clear in their latest corporate report.
“Competition from online PC games and players from other industries is expected to continue to intensify. The fundamental growth strategy will be to innovate and evolve the PlayStation Platform,” reads the report. “We will explore expanding our 1st party titles to the PC platform, in order to promote further growth in our profitability.”
It’s quite unlikely that we’ll be getting any first-party PlayStation 5 titles on PC anytime soon, but as the older PlayStation 4 begins to phase out, a large possibility is Sony releasing former exclusives from the console on PC. While they’ve adamantly stuck with the console exclusivity formula for many years, Sony has recently shown surprising flexibility when it comes to porting their titles to PC.
In recent times they’ve allowed several formerly exclusive titles to come to PC, like Horizon Zero Dawn, Death Stranding, Persona 4 Golden, or Detroit: Become Human. Microsoft may already have a strong start on the PC market thanks to the Xbox Game Pass for PC, but as the digital entertainment landscape continues to shift, I’m sure Sony will find ways to adapt.