Sony has long been known for its strong portfolio of first-party games, often using exclusive titles as a major selling point for its PlayStation consoles. During the PlayStation 4 era, the company leaned heavily into this strategy, delivering a wave of critically acclaimed and commercially successful exclusives developed by its internal studios. Iconic titles like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, and The Last of Us Part II helped define the PS4’s success and solidified PlayStation’s dominance in the console market.
Games like Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Spider-Man, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us Part II were originally exclusive to PS4 owners
Initially, these games were only accessible to PlayStation owners, reinforcing the idea that top-tier gaming experiences could only be found on Sony’s hardware. However, over time, Sony began to shift its stance. What was once a fiercely guarded ecosystem started to open up. These previously exclusive titles began making their way to the PC platform, signaling a significant change in Sony’s approach to distribution and platform strategy.
This trend has continued into the current generation, and Sony’s most recent major release, The Last of Us Part II, is the latest example of this ongoing evolution. Now available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store, its arrival on PC not only expands the game’s audience but also highlights the company’s growing commitment to the PC gaming space.
Interestingly, this strategy isn’t entirely new. Even before the launch of the PlayStation 5, there were already signs that Sony was warming up to the idea of bringing its games to PC. In 2019, Detroit: Become Human and Death Stranding—titles that were initially announced as PS4 exclusives—were released for PC, drawing both curiosity and praise from a broader gaming community. While some fans expressed concern about exclusivity losing its meaning, others welcomed the opportunity to experience PlayStation’s best without needing a console.
Today, it’s clear that Sony’s interest in the PC market is more than just experimental. The company has made a noticeable shift in its release strategy: single-player titles developed by PlayStation Studios now often receive PC ports shortly after their console debut. Meanwhile, multiplayer-focused projects are increasingly launching simultaneously on PC and PlayStation, or even arriving on PC first in some cases.
This multi-platform approach reflects a wider industry trend, where platform holders are recognizing the value of broader accessibility and longer tail revenue from blockbuster games. For Sony, it also serves as a way to grow the PlayStation brand outside the traditional console space, reach new audiences, and future-proof its game business in an increasingly digital and cross-platform world.
As Sony continues to invest in PC ports and expands its footprint beyond consoles, one thing is certain: the era of strict platform exclusivity is evolving, and with it, the lines between console and PC gaming are becoming more blurred than ever before.
