Sony Addresses Potential Loss of PS5 Users to PC Gaming

Summary

• Sony remains unconcerned about losing PS5 users to PC.
• PS5 sales closely mirror those of the PS4, despite the absence of permanent exclusives.
• Sony plans to intensify its efforts with PlayStation PC ports moving forward.

Sony is not worried about the potential of losing PlayStation console users to PC, as stated by a company official. This perspective was shared during a recent discussion on how PC fits into Sony's publishing strategy.

Sony started porting its first-party titles to PC in 2020, beginning with Horizon Zero Dawn. Since then, the company has ramped up its efforts, particularly after acquiring Nixxes, a renowned PC porting studio, in 2021.

While porting PlayStation exclusives to PC can theoretically dilute the unique selling point of Sony's hardware, the gaming giant remains unfazed. During a late 2024 Q&A session with investors, a company representative noted, "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 Are Seemingly Unaffected By Sony's PC Porting Efforts

Sony's stance is supported by the latest PS5 sales data. As of November 2024, the PS5 has sold 65.5 million units, closely matching the PS4's sales of over 73 million units in its first four years. The slight difference can be attributed more to the PS5's availability issues during the pandemic than to the lack of permanent exclusives. With consistent sales across generations, it's clear why Sony views PC ports as having little impact on the PS5's value proposition.

The PlayStation maker is poised to continue and even intensify its PC port 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. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 exemplifies this shift, set to launch on PC on January 30, just 15 months after its initial release. The previous game, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, was exclusive to PlayStation for over two years.

In addition to Spider-Man 2, PC gamers can look forward to another current PlayStation exclusive, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, coming to 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.