Sony Reverses Course: Major Single-Player PlayStation Games Will No Longer Come to PC
Sony Interactive Entertainment has reportedly communicated a shift in its strategy regarding the release of first-party PlayStation games on PC. According to several reports, the company will no longer release major narrative-driven single-player titles on PC, opting instead to keep them exclusive to PlayStation 5 and future PlayStation consoles. This change applies specifically to internally developed narrative games, while live-service and multiplayer titles will continue to be released on PC, often simultaneously with their console launch.
Reported Policy Change and Confirmation
Multiple reports, notably from Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, indicate that Hermen Hulst, head of Sony’s studio business, communicated the new policy to staff during a town hall meeting on May 18, 2025. This announcement confirms earlier reports from March 2025 that Sony was considering a return to console exclusivity for its single-player games.
The policy shift marks a reversal of the strategy Sony began implementing around 2019, which involved releasing major first-party titles on PC after an initial period of console exclusivity. Games such as Marvel's Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered were released on PC under the previous strategy.
In a subsequent statement, PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino provided clarification, stating that platform selection is determined on a per-title basis. He described the current main policy as:
- Single-player games: The company aims to refine the value of the gaming experience on PlayStation.
- Live-service games: Reaching a wider audience through online multiplayer is important, so releases on both PS5 and PC are viewed as the standard.
Games Affected and Unaffected
"The company will no longer release major narrative-driven single-player titles on PC, opting instead to keep them exclusive to PlayStation 5 and future PlayStation consoles."
Reportedly Affected (PC ports cancelled or not planned):
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch)
- Saros
- Marvel’s Wolverine (Insomniac Games)
- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet (Naughty Dog)
Expected to Continue Multiplatform Releases (PC and PS5):
- Marathon (Bungie)
- Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
- Helldivers 2
- Death Stranding 2 (externally developed)
Released on PC under the previous strategy (2019-2024):
- God of War (2018)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
- The Last of Us Part I
- Returnal
- God of War Ragnarök
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Financial Performance of the PC Porting Initiative
Revenue Growth (2021-2023):
Data from the LinkedIn profile of Jerry Liu, a former PC Planner and Insights Manager at PlayStation who served from January 2021 to June 2023, provides context on the financial performance of the PC division.
- Net Revenue: The PC division's net revenue grew from $0 to $300 million during Liu's tenure.
- Initial Expectations: Sony initially projected approximately $50 million in revenue from PC ports during the early years.
- Benchmark: By 2023, revenue had reached $300 million, exceeding initial projections by six times.
- Pricing Strategy: Liu's role included advising leadership on pricing strategies, which contributed to a 25% increase in the business unit's gross revenue.
- Comparative Scale: While $300 million over three years is a significant figure, reports note that PS4 and PS5 software sales achieved a similar revenue milestone within a single year.
Recent Performance (2024 and beyond):
Reports indicate that the level of interest in several PC ports released after 2024 did not match that of earlier titles.
- Notable exceptions to this trend include Helldivers 2, which achieved significant success on PC.
- Ports such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered reportedly saw lower player interest on PC.
Potential Factors Cited:
- A contributing factor cited for reduced interest was an initial requirement for PC players to create a PlayStation Network (PSN) account, a requirement that was later removed.
- Other analysis suggested that PC ports typically exhibit a low "player share."
- Broader market factors mentioned in reports include potential risks to the PlayStation brand, concerns about diluting console sales (PS5 and future PS6), and inconsistent sales performance.
- Some reports also cited potential competitive pressure from devices offering PC-like experiences in a console form factor, such as a Steam-based ecosystem or Xbox’s "Project Helix."
Official Status and Future Outlook
As of the latest reports, Sony has not issued a formal public statement confirming all details of the strategy change. The company has not provided official confirmation regarding the cancellation of specific PC ports, such as Ghost of Yōtei.
The financial performance of upcoming PC titles, such as Death Stranding 2, is seen by some analysts as a factor that could influence Sony's future decisions regarding its PC release strategy. Sony continues to operate Nixxes Software, a PC port specialist acquired in 2021, which has been responsible for many of the company's PC ports to date.