Certain PlayStation games are reportedly no longer planned for PC releases, as Sony makes a strategic shift.
Major video game publisher Sony is reportedly planning to return to a console-exclusive strategy for first-party PlayStation games after six years of releasing titles across multiple platforms, according to a Bloomberg report.
The company is said to be scaling back plans on PC releases, reportedly due to weaker sales of PlayStation titles on PC, alongside other theorised factors.
PlayStation to revert to console exclusivity (for most first-party games)
For most of its history, Sony operated on a PlayStation-exclusive model for its games before adopting a more multi-platform approach in 2020. This move saw the company bring several of its iconic franchises–including God of War, The Last of Us, and Horizon Zero Dawn–to PC via Steam. However, after six years of this open approach, Sony is pivoting to its prior console-only publishing model.
The good news is that the company will continue releasing certain online and multiplayer titles across multiple platforms, such as the upcoming shooter Marathon and the fighting game Marvel Tokon. However, single-player titles are planned to remain exclusive to PlayStation, including 2025's Ghost of Yotei and the upcoming action RPG Saros. This also confirms that Ghost of Yotei's planned PC release for this year have been scrapped.
Games developed externally by other studios, but published by PlayStation–such as Death Stranding 2 and the upcoming Kena: Scars of Kosmora remain on track for PC releases this year.
Possible reasons behind the strategy shift
This return towards console exclusivity may stem from relatively poor sales of PlayStation titles on PC in recent years. There have also been concerns about potential brand damage, with suggestions that a multi-platform approach could reduce the appeal of PlayStation consoles–including the next-generation PS6, which is expected to arrive within the next few years.
In addition, staggered release schedules, where games launch on PC months or even years after their PlayStation debut, may have contributed to confusion among players.
Pressure may also have increased following the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 last year, which achieved record-breaking launch sales and reportedly outpaced the PS5 during its early launch period. Nintendo’s upcoming major releases–including next-generation Pokemon titles and entries in The Legend of Zelda series–remaining exclusive to its platform may also have influenced Sony’s strategic shift.
