Report Claims PlayStation PC Ports Struggled Due to Delayed Releases - News
by William D'Angelo , posted 5 days ago / 4,235 Views
Following the report that Sony will no longer release its major single-player PlayStation 5 games on PC, an analysis from Newzoo (via GamesIndustry) suggests Sony's strategy is what limited sales of its games on PC.
Sony's strategy has been to release its first-party PlayStation games well over a year after its release on consoles and at full price. Helldivers 2, a live-service game, has been the exception, which has been their biggest success on PC.
"Newzoo’s data shows that PlayStation titles ported to PC after their console launch typically see PC account for around 13% of total players in the first three months across both releases," said Newzoo Director of Market Intelligence Manu Rosier. "By comparison, when comparable AAA titles launch simultaneously on PC and console, PC contributes closer to 44% of players in the same period.
"What’s notable is that this pattern is not specific to Sony’s first-party portfolio. We see almost no difference between first-party PlayStation titles (12% PC share) and third-party PlayStation exclusives (13%), suggesting the outcome is primarily driven by the staggered release strategy rather than franchise demand on PC."
Rosier added, "Looking at individual titles, the earlier wave of PlayStation PC releases captured relatively strong player shares on the platform. Horizon Zero Dawn reached a 22% PC share (~4M lifetime players), God of War (2018) 14% (~3.5M), and Marvel’s Spider-Man 14% (~3.8M).
"More recent ports have generally seen smaller PC shares, including Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (8%), Horizon Forbidden West (7%), God of War Ragnarök (6%), and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (5%). Ghost of Tsushima is a notable exception at 11% PC share (~2.1M players), likely supported by being the franchise’s first PC release.
"The key takeaway is that release timing has a significant impact on PC engagement. When a PC version arrives years after the console launch, much of the early lifecycle demand has already been captured on the primary platform."
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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This is bullshit. Sony was bringing games to PC because it brought in great money for old content. And now that consoles are like $600+, its unlikely many PC users want to buy a Playstation at this point.
Sony's more recent batch of games have tanked on PC they are disappointing and even the Playstation audience felt underwhelmed. Hence, Sony wasn't complaining when their 3rd person, was doing much better on PC.
The funny thing is the only people complaining about this is the same people who first say this:
"Sony's more recent batch of games have tanked on PC they are disappointing and even the Playstation audience felt underwhelmed. Hence, Sony wasn't complaining when their 3rd person, cinematic slop was doing much better on PC."
to then ask for games they were never going to buy in the first place lol. Sony isn't complaining, PC earning represent about 3% of their revenue since they started porting games to PC. Easy to unplug.
3% of their 1st party software revenue? No, especially when PC users were actually buying Sony games.
Sony sales declined, we know that because we can see the Steam activity. Hence, the Steam audience rejected their slop. Keeping it on Playstation hardware isn't gonna bother an audience that mostly ignored their content. But their live service slop will still come to PC. They are hoping the Steam audience will keep Bungie alive.
Everytime I read the word slop written in a serious manner I know the opinion following is, well, slop.
When you force PSN requirements for single player games , you push people away
And water is wet........smh
Water is not wet. It makes things wet. Awful phrase that needs to be retired. Like when people think the Sun is yellow.
Pick one: full price, significantly delayed release. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Full price.
Full price, because you can either buy right away or wait for discounts, therefore get both options.
I was speaking for what Sony should do if they wanted more success on PC. Personally I don't care which one publishers pick, because I wait for heavy discounts regardless, but I definitely get your point.
Not rocket science..just like their handheld. They do stuff which makes it expensive then they kill support for it and wonder why it doesn't sell
Sort of like the Xbox Series S/X this gen.
Xbox still supporting their consoles
Also the ports werent exactly the most stable/functional to the point that some thought it was intentional sabotage
Fantastic move by Sony. Nintendo and Sony are taking the right path. No reason to take the MS path to Xbox console extinction!
What does Sony expect when u do that and they shove PSN login for single player game.
Why would anyone want to buy a PC game at full price when it release on PS 18-24 month prior...
What a dumb strategy lol
I bought FF7R on my NS2 after having played it on my PS5 because it was only $40
Had they tried to charge $70, it would have sold like shit
Well yeah, who wants to pay full price for a late port, makes you feel like the company is treating you like a 2nd or 3rd class citizen.
If its true they have stopped ports (depsite the last State of Play showing everything coming to PC and not that there is much left to port tbf) then its another blow to revenue this year with decreasing HW sales and increasing HW cost - other costs are now guaranteed to be pushed to consumers in the next few months to make up the difference
It's a shame because I picked up a few Sony games last year on PC (Last of Us part 1 and 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Stellar Blade) and I thought they were great at 4k 240fps.
Looking at the most recent ports that have seen smaller PC sales all of them have something in common. They're sequels. Sequels almost never sell as much as the first game. And as for Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart that game is a sequel to Nexus and the 2016 Reboot. Neither of which they brought to PC.
Objectively good or great sequels have often outperform their predecessors. That hasn't been the reception of the PS4 era sequels.
No way.
Newzoo, who?
