
Is the growing PC landscape a threat to PlayStation? Well, Sony doesn't seem fazed by it whatsoever, in new comments coming from a shareholders call.
One shareholder asked whether Sony's increased reliance on externally-made exclusives (like Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade) is to help boost the user transition from PS4 to PS5, and whether players might jump to PC instead.
"We are in the latter half of the console cycle for the PS5, and the number of PS5 titles has been increasing," Sony responded (translated from Japanese). "We have also confirmed internally that the transition of users from the PS4 to the PS5 is trending well. In addition, we see users tending to purchase more software when they switch to the PS5, which we see as a positive. 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."
So, in other words, Sony is feeling confident about PS5's position. While the console's sales are trending slightly behind PS4, players are gradually moving up to the current console, and when they do, they're buying more games. Software is where the company can make money back to compensate for hardware's tight margins.
As for PC, Sony doesn't seem to be worried about it in the slightest, probably seeing it more as an opportunity to strengthen its software gains.
In a dissection of this topic on Windows Central, it's pointed out that Sony might be relaxed about the subject of PC because it's planning to lean into it even harder than it does already.
Whether PlayStation die-hards like it or not, a big part of the company's strategy the last few years (and for the foreseeable future) is bringing its first-party games to PC. Sony has released numerous PS Studios titles on Steam and Epic Games Store, with most of them launching years after their console debut.
Generally speaking, though, this window is narrowing. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is the next to make the jump, and it's launching about 15 months later than the PS5 version. After that, The Last of Us: Part II Remastered comes to PC in April, about the same timeframe as Spidey.
This is in line with Hermen Hulst's affirmation that single player games will arrive later, while multiplayer games will come day one to PC and PS5.
Helldivers 2 is the prime example of that, but LEGO Horizon Adventures also arrived on PC immediately, so it seems there's some flexibility in Hulst's mandate. It's proposed by Windows Central that this may become more frequent as production and marketing budgets balloon in scale.
It's hard to disagree with this stance; we suspect PC will indeed become more important to PlayStation in future, alongside mobile.
Budgets in the multiple hundreds of millions are feeling rickety when you consider that the audience for game consoles isn't really growing, and subscription services have pretty much plateaued as well. It stands to reason that Sony will need to continue branching out in order to keep supporting its blockbuster projects.
There's a fear, though, that PC could be a bit of a monkey's paw for Sony. It might provide some extra sales via Steam and Epic, but there's an argument that players may simply opt to stick with their computers rather than buy a PS5, or a PS6 in future. If you don't need a PS6 to play Bloodborne 2, why buy one?
It's something Sony isn't concerned about "so far", which is good to hear, but the industry moves very quickly. What'll happen if the PS6 falls well short of PS5's sales, with more choosing a PC instead?
Microsoft has been bringing its games to PC for a fair bit longer than Sony, and to help keep Xbox going, it's also begun releasing its software on rival consoles. We all know that the company's console sales have been dwindling, but it's unknown how big an impact PC has had on that.
Meanwhile, Nintendo's first-party games remain exclusive but it's still branching out in various ways, like making movies and mobile games, as well as opening attractions like Super Nintendo World and the Nintendo Museum.
It's a tricky tightrope for Sony to walk, though official word from the higher-ups does seem to indicate it's confident in the future of its consoles. PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino recently said so, and along with the company's answer above, it's clear that PC is still strictly a benefit for the business.
But what do you reckon? Is Sony's PC strategy likely to do more harm to its console business than good in the long term? Would you skip PS6 in favour of PC if more of Sony's games are launch aligned across platforms? Discuss in the comments section below.
Are you concerned about the PC market's impact on PlayStation's console business? (908 votes)
- Absolutely, it's extremely risky for PlayStation
- Yes, there could be detrimental effects
- I don't know
- No, if anything it'll be a net positive
- Not at all, doesn't represent a risk in any way
Would you buy a PS6 if Sony started releasing all its games day one on PC? (927 votes)
- Yes, I'd still get one in favour of PC
- I'm not sure
- No, I'd opt for a PC instead
[source windowscentral.com]
Comments 119
PC players are always crying for PS games, so to me it's a net profit.
It’s consoles or nowt for us plebs thanks 👊
Well with the amount of consoles sold in Nov 2024 it seems Sony are doing good.
Though I think they are down in Europe about 4 million against PS4 in Europe, same time line.
My own experience, the first two years of PS5 felt like the PS4 days, amazing.
The second two years of PS5 felt a bit washed out from Sonys pure own in house studios campaign AAA game wise. A bit lacklustre and not as exciting type of thing.
Like they need cattle prodding and waking up a bit.
Yes, it only starts being risky when they treat PC like a PlayStation. Don't do that, Sony.
I’m a console gamer first and foremost. Far more convenient for me.
I just dont like PC espe Windows is the worst thing ever.
Hmm, I think their live service games should be multiplat, but their single player ips have sold quite poorly on pc (last I checked none have sold more than 5mil), that I wonder if its even worth the risk of losing sales from the PS store.
Sony is not and should not worried about pc.people will always buy a PlayStation console.people enjoy the controller and easy to use disc on a console.word up son
I've been saying it for years, but releasing the games on PC benefits Sony cause it's more sales.
Besides, you're still going to have people that only game on consoles, so they're not going to lose them by releasing games on PC.
I primarily play games on PC but will still get Sony's consoles, same with Nintendo.
I think a fairly important discussion is the argument of price and ease of use. In every other industry the trickier part is the one with the more expensive, less convenient alternatives. Netflix and Apple put a lot of their movies in theatres and a lot of their content on blu-ray. It doesn't really hurt their business model, if anything they're targeting an audience that either also has Netflix and wants a better, more expensive experience for some content or people that weren't their customers at all.
In this case, PlayStation is more of a Netflix than a Movie Theatre here. And Sony knows that.
Yeah I think they’re right, as much as hardcore players move to PC the bulk for console sales are casuals who just want to click and play and couldn’t care less about the PC.
And also, the sales performance for PS games on Steam has been nothing short of disappointing, in some cases such as Sackboy I actually wonder if they were able to recoup the cost of the port but even with big franchises such as God of War or Spider-Man I frankly expected them to do better, and this was all before the PSN requirement.
PlayStation doesn't have a real competitor in the current-gen console space so they are right to be confident. Xbox is a mess, Nintendo is content to dominate their chunk of the market with underpowered hardware, and PC gaming is expensive/comes with a lot of hassles.
Had a gaming PC 2 years ago. I’m back with Playstation, which I think speaks volumes. PC gaming has an absurdly high entrance cost if you want your games to look better than on console, Windows is still less convenient than console UI, the numerous game stores/launchers on PC are a nuissance, piracy is still an issue, a gpu can cost more than 5 PS5s, hdr is iffy. The value for money with consoles is hard to beat.
I think that PCs actually get too much hate regarding simplicity and price. I've never had to "tweak" much of anything with my games, just install on Steam and play, occasionally I need a mod or a patch for 32:9 resolution but that's different. And right now you can get a prebuilt PC with about the same power of a PS5 Pro for a little over $1,000, yes it's more money but it's upgradable and can be used for work/school.
I don't personally think we'll see a PS7, the PS5 Pro is dipping its toes in 8k so I think we'll see that more prominently in the PS6, but at that point the budgets for these games is going to go into the billions and the TVs will cost thousands.
If anything, I think the PS6 will feature upgradable parts, essentially making it a PC in a way. But now that Sony has gone and put pretty much all their PS exclusives on PC, they've definitely lost a large chunk of console supporters in exchange for sales of software on PC.
I don't think that's a problem for Sony. There will always be an audience who likes the simplicity of consoles and that "everything just works" without a lot of hassle. And a gaming PC is a whole lot more expensive, of course.
I've previously been a PC gamer first and foremost but now i'm a console gamer primarily so even if it made financial sense to move to PC I would likely stick to console. There's benefits to being on PC, but there are also benefits to being on console.
I suspect most people would stay where they are and it would be a net positive for PlayStation, but it is a little risky. Better to just have a delay to launch on PC later. NOT LEAST to prioritise development on PS5.
Please note the reply says ‘so far’ so they are aware.
Are enough casual gamers going to make the jump to PC? Probably not in the near future.
As long as a console remains cheaper than a similarly capable PC, I think many people will stick with consoles. That's the first reason. The second is simplicity. I can turn it on and immediately start playing or streaming a movie, and I don’t have to worry about whether the game I want to play will run on it. I agree that games look better on a more powerful PC, but from two meters away, I hardly notice the slightly lower resolution or less detailed textures. So, as it has been so far, in the future, I’ll stick to a console for gaming and my MacBook for work.
I've tried PC gaming a handful of times, and ultimately, it just feels like I'm still at my 9 - 5 setup Haha I so dislike using a keyboard and mouse. I love the extra feeling of escapism NOT being in front of a computer outside of work hours!
Don't ever plan to switch to PC. Prefer the simplicity of console.
Console (in $onys case) will never go out of business for the mere fact that it’s always a sizeable audience for its simplicity. some people genuinely can’t be bothered with a computer no matter how much better it is. As someone who likes gaming on both PC & console , i can’t be bothered to learn or use keyboard and mouse and the day controllers stop being supported on pc im back to just using consoles. Everybody has there personal reasons for how they play , which ultimately is the only thing that matters in the end
also $onys is putting there library on PC for one reason - $$$$$$$$ . Fanboys might be coping and seething , but they aren’t the ones raking in stacks of money either , so .
Until PC can truly offer the simplicity of the plug and play nature of console, there will always be a market for them. Personally I'm happy bouncing between Nintendo, Playstation, PC and VR with PSVR2/Quest 3 and will buy any Playstation 6 when it comes.
Xbox haven't been failing in the console space because they were putting all their games on PC. They put all their games on PC because they had already messed up their console business
Consoles forever, PC never.
@thechetearly you can use virtually any controller on PC as well
@ButterySmooth30FPS come on now 😂 nice name by the way 💀
With PC ports of AAA games lately having long shader cache compilation times on startup, shader compilation stutter and traversal stutter, I have felt pushed away from my PC to use my PS5 more. I even upgraded to an RTX 3090 to see if some games improved but issues stayed.
Would I buy a hypothetical PS6, with unknown performance and price point, over the hypothetical PC with nearly infinite range of performance and price points? How do you answer that, unless you're a fan boy of one or the other and wouldn't consider one of the options if it was free?
What's highly probably is the PS6 will be relatively inexpensive compared to a gaming PC, though that will still mean $600-800 US. And it will be reasonably performant, likely wildly outperforming any PC available at the same price on release day (and for a year or two later, most likely). Sure, I expect PC players will brag (honestly) that their PC runs rings around the PS6, even as the video card in their setup cost as much - probably more - than the PS6.
What else will we see in the PS6? Haptics that make the DualSense look clunky? PSVR3 support (or radically improved PSVR2 performance)? Hopefully some hall effect joysticks, please. I won't make any decisions until we see what we're getting, and how much it will cost.
The PC market is not a threat to the PS6 because its a different market and different type of gamer. Majority of people who game on console don't game on PC and those who game on PC always gamed on PC with a console if they have one just being 2nd way to game.
@IceClimbersMain a lot of ppl are still stuck in the early 2000s and early 2010s about PC gaming. i only started in 2022 and it was very simple for me too; bought a good pre-built , just plugged it in, and installed steam. i’ve probably had maybe two issues with playing some old games on it that was fixed with a quick google search by moving and/or installing a file or renaming it or something
I gave up on PC gaming some years ago as it was too much hassle, but that's much less of a problem nowadays. If PlayStation let Gran Turismo (along with all they have so far) on PC, and continue w****** about as they have been of late I'll gladly source a GPU and go back to PC gaming. To be honest a PC would be more useful than a console anyway.
Nothing against pc's or pc gamers but they are no threat to consoles. The 2 can and have been co existing for decades. The 2 go hand in hand as far as I'm concerned.
As price points increase, that’s where the risk lies in folks jumping ship to PC, right? That was the conversation that seemed to come out of the Pro launch, anyways. We’ll see how many of those console gamers put their money where their mouth is and go PC instead of PS6 if it’s deemed too expensive. Personally, the convenience and “ready to play” factor of consoles will always win out for me in the end, but I imagine there are lots of people comfortable enough with computers to go that route, especially if PlayStation exclusives are launching on PC simultaneously.
Consoles have got more complicated, but I still generally appreciate their convenience. While we do have to deal with patches and graphics settings and stuff, the reality is, when you play a game on the PS5, it tends to work.
I know PC gaming has improved a lot, but I still don't want to have to bother with drivers and stuff like that. I don't get much time to play, so I want to spend any time I do have actually playing.
That said, I do think the versatility of PC is becoming a threat to PlayStation.
Sony needs to keep being creative and finding ways to make gaming on PS5 and beyond unique. It achieved that with the DualSense but it needs to continue to innovate.
I used to game on PC and spend more time fiddling with various settings than playing a game.
TBH, though, with my PS5 and Xbox, I spend more time in the TV/console settings trying to get each game to look perfect with HDR, 120hz, and various Game Modes than I would like to.
Well, the common folk won't be getting PC's any time soon for their common games. But you can easily argue that PC is cutting more in to the console market for games that aren't Sport and Shoot, so the need for exclusives is semi-vital on that front.
If Steam OS or some universally more "console like" OS start hitting prebuilt PC's and you get more PC's designed specifically for living room/media room gaming, free from the tyranny and sh*tness that is MS Windows workplace-centric OS ruining everything, and also then get games from all publishers, then it could be even more people leaving the console space behind.
The simplicity of having a dedicated device hooked up to your main TV that you can turn on and start playing something in minutes just can't be matched. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to start a game on my PC only for my controller to no longer be recognized, for sound to not play or for my settings to be changed...even if I didn't touch anything after my previous session. These things just don't happen on console and it's the reason why I will always prefer playing on that rather than a computer.
Not for me. I will stick to PS and Xbox as my places to play. I don’t even like PC’s. I use Mac’s and iPad Pro’s. I think i will stick to that. But if Sony and MS can make money off the PC player base then by all means they should and will. But i don’t think it will move masses of players to PC. Time will tell but PC and console have co existed for decades.
Whether Sony wants to acknowledge it or not, PC is where this all ends up. Its just a matter of when. What Xbox is doing with the "this is an Xbox" stuff is where its all going.
There is a very minor overlap from a vocal minority that might have a decision to make, it just so happens that those people are generally also the most hardcore audience that youll gind commenting on artciles like this to make it feel like a much bigger issue than it is.
they're basically different markets, in the same way Nintendo switch and Playstation aren't really competing with one another.
Consoles are just so much easier to deal with. Just buy one and get the games for it. Whereas PC requires way too much technical knowledge and is just too expensive. Plus don’t PC ports still come out very buggy and practically unplayable often still?
Personally after using GFN it convinced me to go all in on PC and I've never looked back. I still use my Xbox and ps5 here and there but there's such a gap between how console games look and play compared to PC which feels even bigger this gen it's just a game changer.
Games look and feel so much better and full ray tracing makes stuff like Indiana Jones or outlaws look amazing compared to consoles while still getting 60+ often around 100fps
Games are also cheaper and like 30 or 40 years worth of backwards compatibility, mods, people actually fixing games when devs don't bother, emulation and now I've got a steam deck and a rog ally I can play whatever where ever
@Contimaloris
Makes no sense, you're contradicting yourself. Xbox are seemingly going down the 'play our games anywhere on anything' route which you have to imagine they envisage Xbox/gamepass to just be this Netflix style interface that's available basically anywhere with almost instant access so why would that lead people to PC which is a different direction to that?
PC will never be more convenient than console, Xbox are trying to find something even more convenient than a console.
The only way I see PC cutting into PS market is if each subsequent PS gets closer in price to a PC. Like this is one of the reasons I don't personally get PS5 Pro. At that price you are starting to get into PC range - obviously not a high end right, but something that could run most stuff adequately.
And as people have said, consoles just offer a different experience. I don't see that changing significantly, unless someone makes a Switch-like PC that is easy to connect to your TV, very user friendly, and still be used as a dedicated PC.
real console gamers nintendo and playstation are not abandoning consoles for pc the only ones doing that are xbox fans..
@VaultGuy415
"underpowered hardware"
Thank goodness there is still a console maker in Nintendo that doesn't think throwing in more expensive hardware is always necessary.
i have only played a handful of pc games in my lifetime and i have had a pc for more then 25 years now..
So long as they keep improving PSSR I see no reason this can’t be a net positive. It’s insanely good.
Microsoft is already in the PC space with Windows so I think it makes sense they would use that platform to supplement their gaming business. Nintendo can manage on their own, I reckon. Sony remains to be seen if development costs continue to rise.
it will be a problem for sony once they realize a massive number of people are pirating their games on day one. as cost of living goes up and you remove the option to play games on physical media (via used game sales, more competitive pricing and lending out to friends etc), yes, sony will take a major hit financially. that is the reason why rockstar doesn't port its games to pc for YEARS after the console release. piracy. plain and simple.
sony is acting smug right now, even though they have nothing to be proud of. they won this console generation by doing nothing noteworthy other than beat up on its "competition" which was already bleeding at the nose and down for the count before this generation even began. this "victory" was not earned in any capacity. congratulations, you are the winner when you haven't had any real competition for the past 15 years as a result of xbox shooting itself in the foot time and time again. sony porting its games to PC on day one will be the biggest mistake it ever makes.
I think what they’re doing is fine, they keep at least a year or two between big exclusives before they come to PC. Long enough that people wont go to PC en masse, but still be able to benefit from some extra sales. I’d say pretty much just keep doing what they're doing. And keep an eye those statistics, if people move too much to PC, adjust and pivot accordingly.
For me personally, i wont be going to PC anytime soon.
@GeeForce I don't agree — I miss the GameCube days when Nintendo's games were state-of-the-art. Rogue Squadron 2 was a jaw-dropping moment for me. I have been a Nintendo fan since I was a small child but the Switch has been disappointing in terms of first-party games aside from the two Zelda titles. Nintendo is making a fortune charging $50 and $60 for old games on old hardware... can't argue with their business success but it's a bummer for me as a fan.
I had been vocal for years against Sony diluting the prestige of their 1st party by porting their most desired games to PC but after 4 years and 90% of all 1st party games already ported with no signs of relenting I simply don't care anymore. All it's done is help solidify my decision to stop buying PlayStation consoles now that it's clear this initiative brought zero benefits to console owners.
Since I got my Steam Deck I slowly transition there. In fact the only PS4/5 games I got after I bought the Steam Deck are Final Fantasy 16, Rebirth and PSone Classics like Dino Crisis and Ridge Racer. Some other recent games like Silent Hill 2 and Tekken 8 I played them in the Deck much cheaper than the 80 euros Sony asks for them. In fact if I was not a Final Fantasy fan I may have not even bought the PS5 yet since PS4 + Steam Deck is enough. In the last two years I played Resident Evil 4, Horizon Forbidden West and GOW Ragnarök in my launch PS4 without issues.
As for PS6 it depends on its price (hopefully it won't cost 700 euros, although it may be expensive) and the games. Since Final Fantasy and Japanese games in general seem to have Steam versions I think it may even be irrelevant for me. That said, some Steam ports are not great, the Ryza games had issues in some graphic cards.
Xbox went the way of releasing all their games day one on PC and now look at them, as a console the xbox is becoming irrelevant. Sony will want to avoid the same especially as their main revenue is from selling Playstation consoles, subs and software.
Sony need to keep focus on keeping people invested in Playstation - be that through exclusives, or hardware (eg Pro, innovative pads etc).
Casual gamers can very strongly be attracted by occasional exclusive IPs eg Spiderman / GOW and I have seen that firsthand.
Xbox may be in a mess, and Nintendo may be targeting a different audience at present, but things can change VERY quickly - much quicker than Sony can make games to counter.
If anything needs to go, its generations - iterative hardware updates every 4 years are probably the way to go with devs deciding cut off points for what hardware update their game will support.
For me there will always be room for both. I like to have access to Playstation exclusives day one and like the ease of use and accessibility of consoles. But, there's something magical about PC gaming and I would always buy on PC if a game is multiplatform.
@IOI well over the past 4 years Sony has made £830 million from game sales on steam 🤷♂️ so it’s hardly a disaster
I have had gaming PCs for years and I still bought every PS going. Now even with a decent rig I still find myself using the console more as the setup of recliner, LG C3 and a nice soundsystem all make the overall experience better.
The PC is upstairs for when I wanna work, play WoW or something more suited to PC like CRPG's FPS etc.
Releasing all Sony games day one on PC is a suicide decision. It would be stupid to go by Xbox steps after their failure.
What I chuckle about and I have a decent gaming pc which was a lil over 2,000 a few years ago , is that people called ps5 pro expensive , how would they ever afford a 2-3k gaming pc? And if you buy cheaper you’ll sink more money into upgrades over time. Or be stuck with a gaming pc that struggles playing recent releases.
The pc market as it is might not be a big threat for Sony but that can change quickly if Valve releases a steam deck like device on a console form factor or Microsoft releases a new version of Windows that is more friendly for navigating from a couch
@Oram77 I’m a pc player, I’ve not cried once for a ps5 game to come to pc. There’s hundreds more titles available day one on pc that I’d probably rather spend money on right now. I’ve gotten a little bored of the PlayStation open world formula, it’s not as bad as Ubisoft but it’s starting to walk the same road. Any PlayStation title that makes it to pc is an added bonus for me, although I usually only pick them up on sale.
I do wish I could play Nintendo’s titles on pc though 😁
@Mikey856 How much is revenue from consoles again? Yes, it’s a good chunk of money but it’s still minuscule in the grand scheme plus porting games ain’t free, why do you think they’ve also sold a remaster/upgrade for PS5 users alongside most PC releases?
There will always be a market for consoles, just for affordibility alone. even if the the PS6 ends up being priced the same as the PS5 pro ( most likely due to Americas Tariffs on the world ) then it will still be the cheapest way to play videogames.
Pc gaming is for enthusatics. it has all the bells and whistles and is the superior way to playing games but it comes with a hefty pricetag, which a lot of people cant afford paying 2000e upwards for a pc.
Depending how sony handles the transisiton bringing everyones gaming library over to ps6, it be too hard for people to abandon their games and gaming friends.
The only risk consoles face is if sony decides to pull the plug and go the Netflix route. otherwise the doom and gloom with consoles dying has been happening since the ps3. everything is fine. play your games and have fun XD
With a console, games made for it are going to work. With a PC, unless you own the most top of the line computer, and keep it updated with latest tech, you are limited in game choice.
@IOI as far as I’m aware console makes a ton more money than the PC platform? Is that what you mean?
If PC means an expensive and bulky box with a standard Windows 11 and all kinds of launchers, sitting below you desk, then it’s no risk.
If PC means an easy-to-use and affordable handheld with good UI and decent performance, then it’s a big risk!
I recently got a mini pc and its great for all the wee steam indie games and emulation.Im actually surprised at what it can run, its a ryzen 9 6900hx, 32gig ddr5 with rdna2 radeon 680m integrated graphics. Paired it up with a wireless kb and mouse and hdmi to the big tv and using big picture mode on steam 👍
I don’t have time to keep up with a PC, I think. I prefer a plug and play option. That’s just me.
As a former member of the PC Master Race with a decent Steam library, I am not too worried about PC taking away from PlayStation. Until about 2018 I was pretty much a PC-only player, and then I got a PS4 Pro. At that point I realized that the ease of gaming on console, and the good enough experience made a Windows PC unnecessary in my life, especially as a Mac guy. When I realized that PlayStation store sales usually match the deals on Steam, I began building a big PlayStation library, so it is my gaming home now on PS5 Pro.
@RobN It doesn't requiring being a fanboy. There are a lot of things that a console offers that a PC doesn't.
SteamOS is heading in the direction of solving many of these and in the future a set-top Steam Box might just make consoles pointless; but at that point, is it PC gaming, or Steam OS gaming?
With that said, even taking into account SteamOS devices, its unlikely that they will make enough progress by the release of the PS6 to make me choose anything else.
Playstation should only release its MMO games on PC and leave the single player story games on Playstation.
I think consoles represent a mindset. You can argue that it’s easy to set up a PC in your living room now, but nothing will ever beat the plug and play nature of a console. And as long as Sony keeps making consoles backward compatible, gamers can keep their collections while also being able to play the latest and greatest. I personally will keep buying consoles as my means of gaming.
The PC experience is getting way more plug and play. We're maybe a couple of years away from some kind of SteamOS box you can plug into your TV.
The PC marker has grown hugely, and there are regions of the world now where PC gaming is the default core gamer experience. Even Japan is getting more PC friendly.
PC gaming offers
In the old days a lot of the arguments in this thread held true - and they still mostly do which is why I have a PS5 and not a PC. But I'm not convinced they'll hold true by the time a PS6 rolls around.
Ten years ago you'd have said "I get a console because they have more games in the style I like", outside of Nintendo that's a 100% not true now. Every indie and AA studio releases to Pc first. Every developer who avoided PC now releases on PC eventually.
In 5 years time, it will be as easy and intuitive to play on a PC on a TV in your living room as it will be on a console. And then they'll start taking bites out of Sony (Sony will still be around because they'll have a cheaper initial product, but there going to get pushed)
PS6 baby let's go!
Good games Herman please .
I choose PS6 over than PC (As long still have disc drive and physical games).
Just because the PS6 games also on PC, it doesn't mean PS6 games are completely worthless.
Just pick the PS6 machine, buy the PS6 games, insert the disc, play and enjoy.
@Anti-Matter if i was a betting man , the ps6 will have a disc drive , but it will be attachable like the ps5 pro, which i think imo , is actually a good thing. the part that breaks the most on video game consoles is always the disc drive , either getting a replacement or having a spare disc drive is a pretty quick swap , avoiding having to send the full console out for weeks to get it repaired.
@DualWielding they've released steam like consoles before and they were either over priced or they weren't good enough.
Why do people keep saying PC is difficult.I have been gaming on pc for 30+ years and not once had an issue.As long as Dx and runtime are upto date everything works ?
Sony will be fine unless someone comes out with a system that can easily run Steam, Epic, GOG, etc. on a TV with the same ease-of-use conveniences as a console (that plays both Sony games - because it can't control an open platform, Microsoft games, and every other game in between) that also doesn't charge for online play.
At that point, I think PlayStation could see an uptick in lost revenue simply for the free online play alone.
At the moment, there will be some deciding to go PC over console (like I did), but it's not something that will hurt Sony in the long run.
Unlike PC days of old, AI upscaling and Frame Generation will extend the viability of your PC making them more than capable of running newer games longer than before (barring hardware failures, that is).
They're right. A ton of people (myself included) have no interest in dealing with the hassles that come along with building a PC or replacing specific parts of it.
I want to plug it in and play video games. I'm not trying to worry about having to replace or upgrade GPU, CPU, SSD/HDD, PSU, RAM, cooling systems, Motherboard etc.
It's a pain in the butt and I have no interest in it.
@GamingFan4Lyf @twitchtvpat you cant actually use that debate really with the whole steam console thing.
That was a very strange time.
Valve didn't technically release a console they sort of handed their idea over to pc makers of whom completely fumbled it.
What people don't seem to understand or realise.
Is the steam deck is a great example of what valve could and can do.
If ps5 pro pricing is any indication to the price of entry into ps6, then yes pc gaming will servely impact consoles but only if valve have something to do with it.
All it will take is valve to make a better version of the steam deck, which comes with a dedicated dock which has extra power to transfer it to the tv for the same price.
And right there you have a true competitor to sonys dedicated home console.
I mean right now the steam deck is a complete marvel to behold. Your complete steam library from old to new all playable on a device, steam game prices being lower, 0 monthly payments for online gaming.
All it would take is a jump up in performance and a dock similar to switch and you have a pc rivaling playstation.
So technically you could buy let's say steam deck 2, have the full force of variety of games in the steam library with the Sony exclusives all in 1 console and cheaper in the long run.
With tech getting better year on year and valve firmly in a great place and understanding.
.it could change by the ps6
@Majin_Deicide You dont have to replace anything it just works.
If they ever go day and date on PC, then I will be done with consoles.
They say there’s not much of a risk, but it’s much larger than what they realize.
I’ve probably spent over 10 thousand dollars on PlayStation hardware and software in their stores over the past decade or so. I realize 10,000 may not be much but then you take 1 million other people like me that ditch consoles and move to PC then they stand to lose a lot of sales in their PSN store and hardware.
@OmegaStriver i doubt they'll ever go day and date on pc with major releases , as they use outside studios to port it pc.
@OmegaStriver 10,000 wow
10,000 dollars wow thats a lot of games son
I like the easy use a console provides, and that games can be optimized for for a specific os and hardware. However a small PC hooked to my big screen is often tempting for the more features a PC provides. Perhaps Sony could add more features a PC provides with the PS6.
Why not have PC and PS works for me!
@palmab Why not combine in one little box
The key words in that statement are "so far". The PC strategy is not proactive. It's a reaction to the ballooning costs of games development and the downstream shareholders' pressure. Anyone who thinks it's not risky is looking at the sprint, but the prospects for the marathon aren't so hot.
Just look at the Steam Deck and think about a screenless high-power variation aimed at your living room. This is the most obvious prediction ever, and it's coming from both Valve and Microsoft.
Sure, it might be a little more expensive than a PS6, but games are cheaper, online is free and it runs "exclusives" from every publisher. What incentive would anyone have to opt for PlayStation besides blind loyalty and inertia? That doesn't last for long.
Maybe Sony simply sees streaming as the inevitable future, so it doesn't really matter at the end. In that scenario, PlayStation would eventually become a games publisher just like Microsoft. But I still think it's way too early to place that bet.
It depends if physical copies are available or not. Only a fool would continue to pay the prices on the PS store instead of moving to steam if they are all digital.
@Rodimusprime1313 I agree.But the fact that pc gamers can play 30+ years of games for free is a reason why ps xbox and nintendo should make all games available to us for free
i mean old should be free
If I live in a world where PC is the only choice for gaming, I will stop gaming.
That's all.
Game dev is too expensive now to be locked into one console. For all Sonys' denials, they know this. They have to broaden their market.
Playstation has always been and continues to be a major risk to PC business. I don't expect it to change.
I'm a complete PS convert. I don't miss the PC arms race, and I prefer my couch and TV setup. I have a reasonable gaming laptop, just in case, but I'm not using it that much TBH
I'm never going back to PC gaming. After playing on PC for a few years in the early 2000's after switching from 8bit and 16bit gaming, I got the PS2 in 2004 and have never missed any of the PC hassle. If the console era dies, I (as in gaming) die with it.
the attractiveness for pc gaming is mainly for piracy reasons..
It is a net profit. PC will always be popular but I don’t see PlayStation abandoning hardware at all. I see Xbox’s next leap being a hybrid console or at least with a handheld releasing simultaneously and them trying to push for Steam app.
For PlayStation, the brand is so strong that it will keep selling and selling.
The issue that many need to understand, is that the leaps in technology are shrinking. We no longer see 8 bit to 16 bit, to 32 bit etc style leaps. That’s why many have stayed with PS4 but are now gradually making the step up.
The evolution of console technology is changing. PC’s are brilliant but I don’t see a non console future. What I do see is a console market that relies the handheld arena very heavily indeed.
I went from PS4 to PC instead of PS5 so it is something that does exist at least for this one soul.
@playstation1995 they buy PlayStation because thats what they have always had, people dont like change. Brand recognition is a also a huge part of it
If PlayStation started releasing their games for Mac M-Series, then yes, I would skip PS6 in favor of my Mac. I already spend a lot of money on it, might as well use it for games.
As long as they stick to Windows and console, though, I don't have much of a choice.
That said, not sure when I'll get a PS6 once it inevitably releases. This gen didn't hook me the same way as PS4 did.
@Newlifechat so someone with 30 years experience of PC gaming find it easy to game on PC …. Quell surprise 🤦♂️. What about people who’ve never gamed on PC. I had a Steam deck and it scared the hell out of me 😂😂 I soon sold it 👍
The way PC Gaming is going. No, not a "major risk" at all.
1. Nvidia has made PC a greed hell hole. Super overpriced cards that get artificial feature cuts with each generation.
2. Windows/Drivers are still a mess.
If anything - in the last few years PC gaming has gone backwards. Just getting a console for the average gamer makes more sense than ever.
I've already jumped. Steam deck and pc. I still have ps5 and Premier plus as its a cheap way of having loads of games. Haven't bought one since forbidden west.
That's funny because i am just switching to PC. And that's because their PC strategy
Multifaceted thing here. 1st party games going to PC can offer incredible revenue and that’s certainly a good thing with how expensive games have become, especially the “Sony game” type. But the delayed release does take away a lot of the excitement that the initial release date has. For Sony it’s going to come down to how much more they want on return from their exclusives. Reality is that most people are already in the camp they are in and aren’t switching so going day and date will result in bigger launch numbers and more sales. Will say that if the PS6 is $700 then that by itself will lead to a lot of people switching to pc. PC gaming is getting more popular and cheaper, especially with the intel gpu’s being super cheap and the new RTX cards having insane lower teir options.
@Old-Red while this is a point of contention for a very small group of people, I’m also in this camp. Physical games are the main reason why I am a console gamer and own all 3. Once physical games stop being made I’m all pc. Also this point is only amplified if the ps6 costs $700. At that point I’m ready to say f u c k you to Sony. Will get their games eventually
@GamingFan4Lyf if valve does have a “steam machine 2.0” which is rumored then that will give them big competition
@Bez87 @Fishmasterflex96 Agree with both of you, though, I honestly wish Microsoft would release a paired-back version of Windows that mimics the behavior of SteamOS.
Yes, I know people will say "that's the Xbox", but I want open-platform and not a close ecosystem that the Xbox console lives inside.
SteamOS may be amazing, but it still lacks in compatibility compared to Windows. That's something that a hypothetical "Windows for Games" could potentially alleviate.
Love it, or hate it, the Xbox Dashboard actually is a great model for "Windows for Games". Steam, GOG, Epic, etc, could all have their own tabs in the same way that EA Play has it's own tab - it can all be navigated with a controller with no issues.
Yes, I realize that would nullify Microsoft Store as I am sure the only major revenue that Microsoft has for the Microsoft Store is through Xbox (and Game Pass PC), but I am sure Microsoft will still make just as much money (if not more) just by making an "everything box" that leverages other storefronts.
System settings could be handled differently depending on whether this OS is installed on a PC or through a verified "console" - where the "console metadata" would allow developers to have settings presets to match the console hardware and in-game settings would get automatically set if it detects that the game is running on the console rather than a PC.
It could still have like an "Advanced Options" toggle when in "console mode" - just provide a warning that changing things could cause performance issues - for those who still would prefer a little more control over their game visuals.
For PC users, having a Windows for Games could mean better performance for games since it could theoretically dedicate more resources towards games specifically.
But, if SteamOS does come out with something for consoles and full-fat PCs and works with basically everything, I'd use that over Windows in a heartbeat.
@GamingFan4Lyf it’s not perfect but for 80ish% of games it works great on the steam deck, so I can imagine if given a proper home console version would probably work great.
Steam Deck is a competitor.
On the game PC side, GPU (especially Nvidia) high pricing and unavailability is a gift to console manufacturers.
Just imagine a world where online multiplayer & save states cloudsync are free...you don't even need unicorns...just imagine
@thedevilsjester sorry i’m late with this but im curious - what are the lot of things console offer over PC ?
@nomither6 Sure, but understand that these are important to me, they might not be for you, and that with the SteamDeck and the rise in popularity with SteamOS, some of these are getting better.
1. A single (ish) target for developers. No need to test for thousands of combinations (and inevitability still have issues with certain combinations). This not only gives developers time to get used to a specific hardware set, but means that over its generation, they can optimize for it. Additionally having a driver stack that is all owned by a single platform holder rather than hundreds of thousands of different companies is a godsend.
2. Controller support in 100% of titles (with the minor exception of games designed for some specific peripheral). I think a lot of people overestimate the number of PC titles that have full controller support, with consoles I don't have to wonder if there will be controller support or if it will be some half-baked implementation.
3. A dedicated gaming OS/Environment. Turn it on, select a game, play. Even if you set up Windows with auto launching Steam or Launch Box, its still no where near the same experience not to mention there are no forced Windows Updates, no driver updates that crash your specific setup, etc... This is where SteamOS is really making in-roads, especially with recent announcements.
4. 100% compatibility with games in a clearly defined generation. If I buy a game for a PS4, I know that it will work with a PS4. Some future update for the PS4 isn't going to make the games from its first couple years just stop working all of a sudden, and I know that the performance (should) be good (with some infamous exceptions), without having to try and gauge where my hardware combination sits within the (never accurate) published system requirements. This is less of a problem than it used to be, but is still a problem.
5. No (additional) DRM or Kernel Level Anti-Cheat nonsense. Because of the walled garden (signed executables), developers don't find it necessary to add in garbage DRM and KLAC.
6. Physical Titles. I know that the future of physical titles (especially in another generation or two) is still up in the air, and if consoles ever stop supporting these entirely, it will be another conversation; but for now, this is still one of the most important points and the reason I stopped buying PC games.
Yes, I will still buy a PS6. Unless Sony started to magically somehow managed to reign in all the JRPGs studio to also release their games day 1on PC, a PlayStation will still forever be my JRPG go to gaming system. Even if I own a beefy PC to play other games with.
Honestly it hard to answer as I'm in the process of saying for a next gen pc ddr5 . Console is way easier to manage but the gap between pc and console is getting a lot smaller. I probably will buy a ps6 but not sure if I'd buy any more after ps6. Considering I've had a playstation since 1995 . I can't say for sure but I can get a lot of retro games on pc I can't get on ps5 unless ps6 offers true backwards compatibility but I don't see it happening
The poll and all the comments above pretty much prove Sony right to continue pushing PC and shrinking that delay window as much as possible.
Even within a "hardcore" community like this majority are staying put no matter what and the casuals it would be way way higher.
Get the games to day one so that the PC guys are more interested and you will end up selling more copies without any significant loss on the other side.
The biggest reason some of these games haven't been a huge success on PC is because of the delay and as we've seen when there is no delay, the hype and fomo catches a ton of people and we see massive successes like helldivers 2.
The same can happen for their big SP releases and the sales gained would not for the most part just be sales lost on the console.
Because as we see players are pretty much set in where and why they game where they do.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...