Everyone's Wondering Whether Sony Will Block PS5 Games on Xbox's Rumoured PC Hardware 1

If the rumours are to be believed, the next Xbox is not a console – at least, not in the traditional sense.

Various reports from reliable websites such as Windows Central and The Verge have hinted that Microsoft’s future hardware plans include a successor to the Xbox Series X|S which functions similarly to a PC.

While it’s all hearsay right now, the idea is that said system would include access to various storefronts, including Steam and the Epic Games Store. In fact, a leaked user interface which circulated during GDC appeared to prove this point.

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Now everyone’s wondering what that would mean for Sony.

As many of you already know, the Japanese giant has been porting many of its biggest games to the PC, and selling them on storefronts like Steam and the Epic Games Store. In theory, if Microsoft unlocks access to those plazas, you’d be able to play the likes of God of War Ragnarok and The Last of Us 2 on an Xbox.

But there are caveats to consider here: assuming the rumours are accurate, the next Xbox does not sound like a console at all – it sounds more like a pre-built PC. Installing the likes of Steam and Epic Games Store would circumvent Microsoft’s own ecosystem, so even if you could download and play Sony games via those venues, you’re not really playing them on an Xbox at all.

That may sound like semantics, but it’s an important distinction: if this is truly the direction the Redmond firm wants to take its hardware business, then it’s going to need to deal with the implications opening up its walled garden will allow.

For example, it’ll be hard for the firm to force players to pay to play online when alternative options are available.

Similarly, console makers tend to adopt a razor blades model: selling hardware at a subsidised price point in order to reap rewards from software sales. It’ll be difficult for Microsoft to justify that if a chunk of its money is going to Epic or Valve.

That’s not to mention potential compatibility issues that could also occur.

Back to the topic of how Sony would respond, it’s perhaps worth noting it did block Xbox players from streaming its games with GeForce Now on Xbox. Could it potentially do the same with its Epic Games Store or Steam ports?

It’s a problem the platform holder may have to eventually wrestle with.

Fans are undecided on the matter.

In our poll, around 35% argued it’s possible Sony could try to block its PC ports from running on an Xbox PC, but 28% thought the company wouldn’t. The majority, 36%, were unsure – suggesting we need more details to make an educated guess.

The community at Pure Xbox is also split. Some in the comments mentioned it’s possible Sony may try to block its ports on Microsoft hardware, while others pointed out that sales are sales, and PlayStation will probably happily pocket the money.

From our perspective, we reckon it seems unlikely. The next Xbox simply sounds like a pre-built PC, and as Sony has no issue flogging games to that market, we’re not entirely sure why it would prevent sales on one specific piece of hardware.

What do you think?

Do you think Sony would block PlayStation games from playing on an Xbox PC?

[source windowscentral.com, via theverge.com]