Earlier in October, I snagged a PC code for Horizon: Zero Dawn from CDKeys, eagerly awaiting the remaster’s release later that month. As soon as Sony pulled the original game from Steam, I jumped on it, knowing the key market could evaporate quickly. For just $12, and with a measly $10 extra later for the remaster, it seemed like a no-brainer.
And boy, was it worth it. The remaster turned out to be fantastic. Sure, it might feel a bit old in terms of mechanics, but smashing through the wild, tearing apart robot bits in a slow-mo style reminiscent of a tribal Max Payne, is still a blast. My only gripe? I wish the sequel had Steam achievements. I know it might sound silly, but I just love collecting those little rewards.
I typically play on a Windows PC and within the Xbox ecosystem, but that doesn’t mean I hold any disdain for Sony. In fact, one of my top favorite games, right after the original Red Dead Redemption, is Uncharted 4. That’s another PlayStation gem that’s been on PC for quite some time, which brings me to an interesting dilemma.
Sony, much like a child grudgingly dragged away from a toy store, has been slowly trickling its games onto PC. Oftentimes, these releases happen without much buzz and sometimes take ages to reach the platform. However, this pace is picking up steam. This year, a major milestone was achieved with Helldivers 2, which launched simultaneously on PlayStation 5 and PC. This could be a strategic shift for Sony.
Helldivers 2 hit the scene in February and was a massive success, especially on PC. By March, it accounted for more than 60% of its sales on the platform. This marked the first time a major PlayStation exclusive sold more on a platform that wasn’t their own. Such a trend is likely to accelerate and reshape the landscape in the coming years, much like what Xbox has already experienced.
So, what does this signify for the future of PlayStation titles? Should the PlayStation team be concerned about PCs gaining ground? This question popped up during a Sony shareholders’ meeting in November. The discussion, originally in Japanese, might have lost some nuances in translation, as Sony mentioned.
One of the shareholders inquired, “It looks like you have a lot of PS5 exclusives lined up for the second half of the year. Is that to nudge users from PS4 to PS5? Could this push more players towards PCs? What do you perceive as the risks or opportunities?”
Sony’s response was insightful: “As we’re in the latter stages of the PS5’s console cycle, PS5 titles are increasing. Our numbers show that PS4 users are transitioning well to the PS5, and they tend to buy more games when they do. As for losing players to PCs, there’s no confirmed trend of this nature, nor do we see it as a significant risk at this point.”
Let’s overlook the shareholder’s concern about the plethora of third-party exclusives Sony pumped out this year and focus on the core issue. Sony seems unfazed by the possibility of PC taking over. At least, for now. But there are some crucial insights here.
They specifically mention the trend of PlayStation 4 users transitioning to PlayStation 5. A minor point, but worth noting, is that PlayStation 5 sales trail behind its predecessor’s figures. Although some PC users might shift to consoles, the bulk of PlayStation 5 buyers likely come from PlayStation 4 or other consoles like Xbox One. Sony has hinted before that Nintendo Switch players might eventually “graduate” to PlayStation too. Yet, the overall console market isn’t expanding as per analysts like Newzoo and Circana. With rising costs, giants like Sony and Xbox are searching for new avenues to deliver their lucrative software.
Meanwhile, Steam’s user numbers are smashing records yearly. Just three weeks ago, it boasted 39,319,632 concurrent online players. Yesterday, it was a mere 200K shy of that mark. Forty million users daily isn’t far off — perhaps by March 2025.
For comparison, the NFL saw a record 64 million viewers on Christmas day. Steam is capturing two-thirds of that everyday — a staggering figure signaling a shift console fans need to acknowledge.
Setting aside the mobile market, which is already huge and expanding, PC gaming’s steady growth hasn’t faltered. With PlayStation sales lagging behind its former console, what’s next for their games? The answer might be simultaneous PC launches, a hotly debated topic.
Soon, the era of staggered PlayStation releases will conclude. It may not happen overnight, but the trend is undeniable. The success of Helldivers 2 nudged Sony toward a multi-platform live-service launch strategy. Tomorrow, another blockbuster may compel them to rethink once more.
I own a PlayStation 5 but usually wait for game releases on my Windows PC. With titles inevitably moving there, why not play them on my preferred platform? Not to mention, most top-tier PlayStation first-party games eventually debut on PC. For 2025, among these are Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei, sequels to games already enjoyed by PC players. Death Stranding even made it to Xbox for a broader audience.
Sony claims to release single-player games on PlayStation first, but what if they experiment with a simultaneous PC release? And if it’s a hit, what then?
Remember Horizon: Zero Dawn reaching 56,000 concurrent players on Steam? A decent win for Sony. Yet, Uncharted and The Last of Us Part 1 struggled by comparison, due to the launch delays. The PC crowd is accustomed to revitalizing their experiences via mods at no cost. So, why purchase a game that’s a decade old unless it’s discounted like my Horizon purchase from CDKeys?
Marketing costs, much like development, are climbing. Pouring millions into promotional efforts requires maximizing returns, by launching games across all platforms simultaneously, dominating social media chatter. Sticking to a singular corner of the market hampers performance, a realization shifting publishers away from exclusivity deals.
PlayStation’s earnings from other platforms grow year after year. In 2024, they likely inched towards a billion in revenue, if not beyond. Naturally, for higher profits and margins, aligning release schedules to enable simultaneous PC launches just makes sense. Trust me, it’s nearly here.
What do you think? Is Sony inching towards simultaneous PC launches, and what about potential releases on platforms like Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
