Consoles are at war with each other PlayStation and Xbox have all but died down in recent years. Games that were previously exclusive to PlayStation or Xbox can be found on the opposite console after a period of exclusivity, such as Starfield released on PS5 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake released on Xbox, both for the first time this year. PC gamers have had a similar situation, with most PlayStation games eventually making it to the platform, usually after several years of being exclusively console.
The days of just waiting for a game to come to the platform of the player's choice may be gone, as PlayStation has confirmed that it will no longer release first-party exclusives on PC, and Xbox looks set to return with its exclusive titles as well. While first-party PlayStation games have always been exclusive to Sony's consoles, the move away from PC will sting, and if Xbox begins to back away from the release of the PS5, it would be another big step back from the cross-platform barriers that have been broken down over the past few years. The outcome may benefit Sony and Microsoft in the long run, but gamers on PlayStation, Xbox and PC will be the losers in this trend.
10 PlayStation and PC games will be discontinued on June 1st
PlayStation and PC games will be retired on June 1st, with a total of 10 games being removed on that date.
Now is the worst possible time to restart the console wars
Sony's recent announcement that first-party PlayStation single-player games will no longer be coming to PC is a bit of a blow to gamers hoping to expand their Steam library with PlayStation console exclusives. Games like Ghost of Yotei and Saros were a big hit on the PlayStation 5, but now it seems unlikely that they'll ever make it to PC the way past PlayStation exclusives have God of War, The Last of Us part 1 and 2and Marvel's Spider-Man they have games. While Sony is the only company to confirm this shift in exclusivity so far, it's starting to look like a wider industry trend that could take a heavy toll as the price of hardware rises.
Place 9 games in the grid.
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Place 9 games in the grid.
A PlayStation 6 exclusive can come at a hefty price
Although not officially confirmed by Sony, all signs point to a PlayStation 6 release in the next few years. According to some insiders, the PS6 could cost as much as $1,000, making it quite an investment for gamers looking to play Sony's upcoming slate of single-player games. Previously, PC gamers could simply wait for these titles to hit Steam, but with Sony no longer planning to release these games on the platform, PC users will potentially have to pay the price of another small PC just to experience games like Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophet and inevitable Horizon 3.
As with this current generation of consoles, some future PS6 games are expected to be released on PS5 as well, even after the launch of the next generation console. This usually means that PC or Xbox gamers can pick up a discounted PS5 console and experience the exclusive games they want to play without having to commit to buying a brand new console at full price. However, the PS5 seeing an unprecedented price increase six years into its life means it's really no longer a viable option.
Xbox is considering doubling down on exclusives
With Xbox undergoing some major changes with new CEO Asha Sharma taking the helm, Microsoft's plans for its future consoles could follow in Sony's footsteps. Xbox Game Pass has already received a price cut to make it more affordable for players, and Sharma also made it clear that he understands Xbox players' desire to see a return to console exclusives. WITH Gears of War: Reloaded and Star field now on PS5 and upcoming Halo: Campaign Evolved planned to launch on Sony's console as well, big steps have already been taken to blur the lines of exclusivity. However, Microsoft could just as easily back away from these exclusives as part of its efforts to strengthen the Xbox brand under Sharma.
The PC used to be a middle ground for gamers who wanted access to both PlayStation and Xbox games
Guess the emoji games.
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Guess the emoji games.
Easy (120s) Medium (90s) Hard (60s)
Historically, PC gaming has allowed gamers to experience the best of both console worlds, at the cost of typically more expensive hardware and having to wait for PlayStation games to be released later. Xbox exclusivity isn't likely to leave PC anytime soon, given Microsoft's ownership of Windows, but PC is already a less valuable investment as PlayStation no longer brings its first-party games to the platform. At a minimum, PC gamers will need to own an additional PS5 or PS6 if they want to play future first-party Sony games, and that doesn't include the need for a Nintendo Switch 2 if they really want to have access to every new game release.
Rising prices for both games and hardware mean that a single console commitment may be the new norm
Having both an Xbox and a PlayStation, or even a nice gaming PC that can play games from both publishers, is something that is becoming less and less achievable as the cost of gaming rises. While having a PC used to mean that gamers mostly had access to any game they wanted outside of Nintendo exclusives, this new shift in the industry back to the exclusivity that Sony is promoting means that gamers will need at least two platforms to experience the biggest AAA game releases in the future. PlayStation gamers aren't out of the woods either, as Xbox could face its cross-platform launches under its new leadership just as easily as Sony began pulling PC versions from its plans. The result is a situation where gamers are footing the bill for companies hoping to increase their brand value, which ultimately only makes gaming a less accessible hobby.
