Summary
- Sony isn't worried about losing PS5 users to PC.
- Historical PS5 sales are mostly on par with the PS4, even though the newer console doesn't have the promise of permanent exclusives.
- Sony plans to get more "aggressive" with PlayStation PC ports in the future.
Sony remains confident that its PlayStation console user base will not migrate to PC in significant numbers, despite the increasing trend of porting first-party titles to the PC platform. This perspective was articulated by a Sony official during a Q&A session with investors in late 2024, emphasizing that no such trend has been observed and it is not seen as a major risk.
The company's journey into PC gaming began with the release of Horizon Zero Dawn on PC in 2020. This move was bolstered by Sony's acquisition of Nixxes, a leading PC porting studio, in 2021. While porting PlayStation exclusives to PC broadens their audience and revenue potential, Sony believes it does not significantly undermine the appeal of their hardware.
Sony's confidence is backed by solid PS5 sales figures. As of November 2024, the PS5 has sold 65.5 million units, closely mirroring the PS4's sales of over 73 million units in its first four years. This comparison suggests that the availability of games on PC has not notably impacted PS5 sales, which Sony attributes more to supply chain issues during the pandemic than to the lack of permanent exclusives.
Looking forward, Sony plans to further intensify its PC porting strategy. In 2024, Sony President Hiroki Totoki announced plans to become more "aggressive" with PlayStation PC ports, aiming to reduce the time between PS5 and Steam releases. This shift is exemplified by Marvel's Spider-Man 2, set to launch on PC just 15 months after its initial PS5 debut, a significant decrease from the over two-year exclusivity period of its predecessor, Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Additionally, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, another current PlayStation exclusive, is slated to arrive on Steam on January 23. Sony has yet to announce PC versions for several other high-profile PS5 exclusives, including Gran Turismo 7, Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade, and the Demon's Souls remake.
With this strategic approach, Sony continues to navigate the balance between expanding its gaming ecosystem to PC while maintaining the allure of its PlayStation console.
