Summary
- Sony isn't concerned about losing PS5 users to PC gaming.
- PS5 sales are comparable to the PS4, despite the absence of permanent exclusives.
- Sony aims to ramp up its efforts in porting PlayStation games to PC in the future.
Sony remains confident that its PlayStation console users won't migrate to PC in significant numbers. This perspective was highlighted in a recent discussion about how PC gaming fits into Sony's overall publishing strategy.
In 2020, Sony started to bring its first-party titles to PC, beginning with Horizon Zero Dawn. The company's commitment to this approach has grown stronger, particularly after acquiring Nixxes, a renowned PC porting studio, in 2021.
Although porting PlayStation exclusives to PC could theoretically dilute the appeal of Sony's hardware, the company isn't worried about losing PS5 users to PC. A Sony official mentioned during a Q&A session with investors in late 2024, "In terms of losing users to PCs, we have neither confirmed that any such trend is underway, nor do we see it as a major risk, so far."
PS5 Sales Remain Strong Despite PC Porting Efforts
Sony's stance is supported by the PS5's sales performance. By November 2024, the PS5 had sold 65.5 million units, closely mirroring the PS4's sales of over 73 million units within its first four years. The slight difference in sales can be attributed more to the PS5's availability issues due to the global pandemic rather than the lack of permanent exclusives. With consistent sales across generations, Sony views PC ports as having a minimal impact on the PS5's value proposition.
The PlayStation maker plans to continue and even intensify its PC porting strategy. In 2024, Sony President Hiroki Totoki announced plans to be more "aggressive" with PlayStation PC ports, aiming to reduce the time between PS5 and Steam releases. This strategy is evident with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, set to launch on PC on January 30, just 15 months after its initial release. The previous game, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, took over two years to become available on PC.
Additionally, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, another current PlayStation exclusive, is slated to hit Steam on January 23. Sony has yet to announce PC versions for several other high-profile PS5 exclusives, such as Gran Turismo 7, Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade, and the Demon's Souls remake.
