Friday, February 21st 2025
Former Sony Exec Views First-party PS5 to PC Porting as "Almost Like Printing Money"
Last month, Shuhei Yoshida announced his retirement from Sony Interactive Entertainment. His career at the company started back in 1986, and by 1993 he became involved with the corporation's nascent PlayStation division. The Japanese industry veteran has gone on a press appearance blitz over the past couple of weeks; many headlines have been generated by his candid musings. Most recently, Sacred Symbols+ engaged in a conversation with Yoshida—their (paywalled) two-hour long podcast episode (#347) was made available to subscribers this week. The former PlayStation chief divulged that he pushed hard for the conversion of first-party titles from console origins to PC platforms, but his colleagues were reportedly reluctant to adopt this practice (at the time). Yoshida-san outlined the benefits: "releasing on PC does many things: it reaches a new audience who do not own consoles—especially in regions where consoles are not as popular. The idea is that those people may become fans of a particular franchise, and when a new game in that series comes out, they may be convinced to purchase a PlayStation." Sony started readjusting its exclusivity model a few years ago; greater ambitions were revealed in 2024.
He continued with this thought process: "it also adds additional income, because porting to PC is way cheaper than creating an original title...So, it's almost like printing money. And that helps us to invest in new titles now that the cost of games has increased." The ex-SIE boss believes that emerging markets are best served with releases on PC. Yoshida mentioned a huge (almost untapped) market—his ex-colleagues could do well, by targeting said region in the near future: "China is a huge PC game market...And China is a growing but very small console market. In order to reach the audience in countries like China then it's crucial to release on PC. So, I believe PC versions really reach a new audience." PC gamers have largely welcomed an improved flow of ported first-party titles, but Sony has absorbed feedback flak in early 2025; namely an underwhelming reception to Marvel's Spider-Man 2. In late January, Team Sony announced a revised PlayStation Network account policy; backpedalling from a system that featured strict sign-in requirements.
Sources:
PushSquare, Eurogamer, Last Stand Media, Instant Gaming (image source)
He continued with this thought process: "it also adds additional income, because porting to PC is way cheaper than creating an original title...So, it's almost like printing money. And that helps us to invest in new titles now that the cost of games has increased." The ex-SIE boss believes that emerging markets are best served with releases on PC. Yoshida mentioned a huge (almost untapped) market—his ex-colleagues could do well, by targeting said region in the near future: "China is a huge PC game market...And China is a growing but very small console market. In order to reach the audience in countries like China then it's crucial to release on PC. So, I believe PC versions really reach a new audience." PC gamers have largely welcomed an improved flow of ported first-party titles, but Sony has absorbed feedback flak in early 2025; namely an underwhelming reception to Marvel's Spider-Man 2. In late January, Team Sony announced a revised PlayStation Network account policy; backpedalling from a system that featured strict sign-in requirements.
20 Comments on Former Sony Exec Views First-party PS5 to PC Porting as "Almost Like Printing Money"
“Gamers” are gonna say Microsoft is down bad but not really looking at what Microsoft is doing (besides messing up Windows of course).
Now since the launch of the PS5 they view them as timed exclusives, with the exclusivity time frame becoming ever shorter. They now want them to be massively profitable. Perhaps it's because AAA games have gotten too expensive to be exclusives.
Nintendo for all their faults, know not to focus on graphical fidelity and to focus on exclusives.
Second thought - if Sony keep pulling sh1t like -
- making PSN a requirement on PC...
- releasing sh1t ports with more bugs than a bethesda release...
- or seeing no consequence in dictating an agenda to 'paying customers'
They will find short order that 'this easy money' will fcuking dry up...Oh, never mind. But there's a thread about it on the forum already
www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/pcgamer-former-sony-exec-finally-says-the-quiet-part-out-loud-putting-playstation-games-on-pc-is-almost-like-printing-money.332862/
sold my ps5 years ago, after having owned ps2/3/4/5 and having PSN subscription since the ps3...
whats the point if you can eventually play the same games, in a better way, on PC?
Porting first party titles should have been done a hell of a long time ago, as like he said, it's easy money, and you get far more playing your games which could also lead to hardware sales. It's about time Nintendo started porting, but hell would probably freeze over first.
Otherwise there is a risk of them just becoming another Sega, maybe not, but who knows. PC gaming has really picked up among the masses the last 7 years or so. Historically it wouldn't have been an issue, but things have changed a lot in recent years
[URL='https://www.techpowerup.com/332928/former-sony-exec-views-first-party-ps5-to-pc-porting-as-almost-like-printing-money']"Almost Like Printing Money"[/URL]
so like crypto? ;)Just have it so that not every PS game is going to make it onto PC to at least give people some incentive to MAYBE picking up a console. You gotta let that worm dangle a little to catch all the fish.
We will see how this plays out, but I see a possibility that going 'always moar' will not be possible anymore for AAA games.
For me at least, games like Doom Eternal from 2020 have so much detail and so much is happening on screen that at times I don't really understand what is going on (yes, I'm old).
God! Trying to play one of those live service games all but fries half your neurons just navigating the main menus!
What about having more graphical fidelity? Fine-grained control over what graphical settings you want (FPS or quality)? Modding? KBM?
At the end the end result is all the same so I won't mind, but I hoped they realized this sooner.