The gaming world is buzzing after Windows Central’s Jez Corden dropped some interesting news about PlayStation’s PC strategy. According to a source he describes as “very good,” Sony might be hitting the brakes on bringing their biggest single-player games to PC. If true, this could mark a major shift in how PlayStation handles exclusives moving forward.
What Did Jez Corden Actually Say
Corden, who’s known for his solid track record with Xbox and gaming industry leaks, mentioned that PlayStation is “probably pulling back from PC” when it comes to their tentpole single-player titles. Think games like the upcoming Ghost of Yotei, God of War, or Spider-Man sequels. These are the heavy hitters that define PlayStation as a brand.
The key word here is “tentpole.” These aren’t your average games. We’re talking about the blockbusters that sell consoles and create cultural moments in gaming. According to Corden, these games might not make it to PC at all, or if they do, we could be waiting years instead of the relatively quick ports we’ve been seeing lately.
Live Service Games Are Different Story
Before PC gamers panic completely, there’s a silver lining. Sony reportedly plans to keep releasing their live-service games on PC from day one. Games like Marathon, their upcoming sci-fi shooter, would still launch simultaneously on PlayStation and PC. This makes sense from a business perspective since these games need large, active player bases to survive.
Helldivers 2 proved this strategy works brilliantly. The co-op shooter launched on both platforms at the same time and became a massive hit. Sony likely wants to repeat that success with future multiplayer-focused titles.
Why Would Sony Make This Move
The timing of this potential strategy shift is interesting. Competition in the gaming space is heating up in unexpected ways. Valve just announced the Steam Machine, a new console-like PC designed to compete directly with traditional gaming consoles. Meanwhile, Xbox is moving toward a more open ecosystem where their next-gen hardware might function more like a gaming PC.
Sony might be looking at these developments and deciding that their best weapon is exclusive content. If everyone can play your games anywhere, what’s the reason to buy a PlayStation? The company seems to be betting that keeping their best single-player experiences locked to their hardware will drive console sales.
There’s also the money side of things. While Sony has found success with PC ports, the revenue from these releases doesn’t compare to console sales. Games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Stellar Blade came to PC about a year after their PlayStation debut, but earlier titles like God of War (2018) took three full years. Sony might be questioning whether faster PC ports actually help or hurt their bottom line.
How This Compares To Recent Strategy
This rumored change represents a significant U-turn from Sony’s recent approach. Over the past few years, PlayStation has been gradually opening up to PC gaming. Major titles like God of War, Horizon Forbidden West, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us have all made their way to Steam and Epic Games Store.
The company even established a clear two-pronged strategy that Hermen Hulst, PlayStation’s co-CEO, explained in business meetings. Live-service games launch everywhere at once, while single-player games stay exclusive for a period before getting ported. If Corden’s source is correct, that second part might be changing dramatically.
What Gamers Are Saying
The reaction from the gaming community has been predictably mixed. PlayStation console owners generally seem pleased with the idea of maintaining true exclusives. They argue that exclusive games are what make owning a particular console worthwhile and that Sony shouldn’t give away their competitive advantage.
PC gamers, on the other hand, aren’t thrilled about potentially losing access to some of gaming’s best titles. Many had gotten used to the idea that patience would eventually be rewarded with a PC port. The possibility of that window closing or extending to many years feels like a step backward.
Is This Confirmed
It’s important to remember that this is still a rumor. Jez Corden has a solid reputation, but even he emphasized this isn’t official PlayStation policy. Sony hasn’t made any public statements about changing their PC strategy. Until we hear something official from PlayStation leadership, this should be taken with appropriate skepticism.
That said, where there’s smoke, there’s often fire. Corden doesn’t typically share information unless he’s confident in his sources. The gaming industry will be watching Sony’s next moves very carefully.
FAQs
Will PlayStation stop releasing all games on PC?
No. According to the rumor, Sony plans to continue releasing live-service and multiplayer games on PC from day one. The pullback would mainly affect major single-player exclusives like Ghost of Yotei or future God of War titles.
Are games already announced for PC still coming?
Any games that Sony has already officially announced for PC should still be on track. This potential strategy change would likely only affect future titles that haven’t been announced yet.
How long would PC gamers have to wait for PlayStation exclusives?
If the rumor is accurate, major single-player games might not come to PC at all, or could be delayed for several years. Earlier PlayStation titles sometimes took 3-4 years to get PC ports, so we might see a return to that timeline or longer.
Why would Sony do this when PC ports are successful?
Sony likely wants to maintain the value of owning a PlayStation console. With increased competition from devices like Valve’s Steam Machine and Xbox’s evolving strategy, exclusive games become more important as a selling point for their hardware.
Who is Jez Corden and why should we trust this rumor?
Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central and co-host of the Xbox Two Podcast. He’s known in the gaming industry for having reliable sources and generally accurate information about gaming news and leaks, though this particular claim hasn’t been officially confirmed by Sony.
What are tentpole games?
Tentpole games are major blockbuster titles that serve as flagship releases for a company. For PlayStation, these include franchises like God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us – games that define the PlayStation brand and drive console sales.
Will this affect Xbox games coming to PlayStation?
This rumor is specifically about Sony’s PC strategy and wouldn’t directly impact Microsoft’s decision to bring Xbox games to PlayStation. Those are separate business decisions made by different companies.
Conclusion
The possibility of PlayStation scaling back PC releases for their biggest games represents a fascinating moment in gaming’s evolution. We’re watching companies navigate an industry where traditional console exclusivity is being challenged from multiple directions. Whether Sony actually follows through with this strategy remains to be seen, but the conversation itself reveals how much the gaming landscape is changing. For now, both PC and PlayStation gamers will need to wait and see what Sony officially announces about their future plans.