Digital Foundry Labels Sony's PS5 Exclusivity Pivot As A 'Defensive Move Against Project Helix'

Sony has backtracked and changed plans more times than any other: new PS5 generation games, cross-gen PS4-5 generation games, exclusive games, PC ports, open studios, shut down studios, live service games, "PS pedigree" games. The latest rumour/leak is dropping the PC ports, but it's not officially confirmed. They can do whatever they want, but the funny thing about it is when people (like Push Square) demand of Xbox to share every single detail about their strategy and call them liars if they update their plans after 5 years, but Sony is doing 180-degree turns all the time during the same generation, doesn't explain anything and it's perfectly fine. I don't think that this will be their last change of mind regarding multiplatform plans.

Definitely the main factor is project Helix, and the Steam console likely exacerbated it further. .

It’s an added benefit (from Sony’s perspective) of moving away from publishing their titles on PC, but I doubt it’s the main reason.

DF talks more in depth in the podcast and in a few other videos, and the theory is that the juice has proven to be not worth the squeeze when it comes to porting their first party stuff to pc. Analysts suspect the only way it would be profitable would be to release Day&Date on pc, but the brand damage would be catastrophic. Since they can’t do Day&Date and the numbers don’t make fiscal sense to continue with a staggered release schedule, the only option is to back down entirely (minus multiplayer oriented live service type games which will most likely launch simultaneously on console and pc).

Actually, Xbox has put PlayStation in a complicated position by forcing them to pull their games from PC, since Project Helix is capable of running all Xbox and PC games. But that doesn’t change the fact that:

• It doesn’t make much difference anyway, considering how few single‑player first‑party games PlayStation releases.
• The PC game catalog is 30–40% larger than any console catalog.
• The era when “PlayStation” was synonymous with exceptional, high‑quality games is over; third‑party studios are doing much better today. Sony’s latest releases have been average, and they’re sitting at 21st place on Metacritic, while Xbox is 5th.
• In the past, PlayStation had a lot of third‑party exclusive titles. That’s no longer the case — almost all third‑party publishers now release their games on PC and/or Xbox. In reality, PlayStation has far fewer exclusives than before. In fact, Xbox has recovered more former PlayStation third‑party exclusives than Xbox has sent exclusives to other consoles.

As a consequence of all this, PlayStation is losing money, producing fewer games than before, making more remakes, and increasing subscription prices. PS+ was raised again recently, while Game Pass actually went down in price. They’re stuck in a corner and have to compensate by squeezing their player base.

But in the medium to long term, it’s not clear that this strategy is viable, because it means they will depend entirely on their own closed ecosystem — in an era where players are gaming across more and more different devices.

That said, Xbox must continue releasing its games on PC, the cloud, and Xbox consoles, and keep two‑year timed exclusives to other consoles. It's enough to make PlayStation a second‑tier console and push players to prioritize the Xbox ecosystem to play Xbox games.

It's impossible to view this as good news

Oh, but I beg to differ. Have you recently seen the articles on Pushsquare regarding exclusivity?? The reactions are akin to a breakthrough of finally solving global inequality, It beggars belief...

It does sound very sony-like. But it's only a part of the puzzle. The ports have just been crap for the most part, and not selling too well due to time elapsed. I personally think that they're just not confident with the PC approach to gaming optimisation and that's more damaging to them than the simple fact of a port being on steam.

If it was just brass tacks, then obviously sticking with PC ports is good because it's money after the fact. So it's not the money.

@Sol4ris

I need to find his stance on PS5 games on Xbox, but you can guess it.

I think it had to do with sales. They're latest ports didn't do as well and honestly I can think of a few reasons why. They're ports at time were questionable and often really late.

@somnambulance

Since Xbox has pivoted to being a third party with their own console too, it’s made PlayStation far worse as an ecosystem

And you think that instead of Sony improving (via pressure from the fanbase) its ecosystem, Microsoft should go back to games gatekeeping. I guess that is a kind of a take too..

So all their multiplayer games will still come to PC, along with second party titles like Death Stranding, Kena, Phantom Zero ect. All this to say this will effect around 1 game a year, maybe 2. And with Soros not setting the world on fire we'll see how this strategy pays off.

Expect the Sony platform to be monetized even more and to get nickle and dimed at every turn for that 1 game. Guess they don't want my money, oh well.

Not gonna lie, i’m a lil salty that Helix ruined me getting future playstation games on my PC

Yep it is a strategic business decision by Sony and that’s what businesses do.

Over to you XBOX, what you gonna when Hulkamania runs wild in you.

@Banjo-

I've seen that, but I guess he knows who he's preaching to better than anyone else 😅.

@Sol4ris @Banjo- I heard he's getting a Pulitzer for that piece.

I have always maintained that Sony WILL NOT allow Xbox to get their single player games.

Amusing to read Pushsquare's article that Sony's pivot to leaving PC was because of lower revenue and profits from their PC venture.

I was like: "Guys, really? You're going to write an article with a straight face and try to deflect and make it about something else when the answer is so painfully obvious." It was too coincidental that they left PC literally a day or two before Microsoft announced Project Helix which begs another question: how did Sony catch wind of Helix's impending announcement?

It’s is up to Xbox now, they can go exclusive on Xbox consoles, PC, Cloud and game-pass.

Advertise and promote Xbox consoles and be happy that they have Xbox consoles, PC, Cloud, game pass etc.

Always said it, it’s all about the games and FH6 is a great start this year, but I think that is going to PS, so not a good start if you go on the above XBOX strategy, especially as it is a very liked franchise and is current top rated on Meta this year.

Do it XBOX, pull the plug on the PS version and start being a XBOX business and promote your console etc.
Also Halo and Gears.

@Markatron84

I mean the only shock would be if he doesn't get it at this year's Game Awards show from the Doritos Pope himself 😉.

@fatpunkslim "PS+ was raised again recently, while Game Pass actually went down in price."

While "technically" true, the reduction in price for Game Pass didn't negate the price increase that it had shortly before. It was a reaction to an overwhelming response that the price increase was too much, and saw the removal of CoD day one from GP to offset the" reduction", which was put in place because including CoD last year had a significant impact on their revenue.

TL:DR - Game Pass also saw a price increase, just not as much as it was originally due to the removal of CoD day & date.

Either way, neither service should have had their prices increased. It's just another way to further monetise their existing player bases.

Sony are scared of Microsoft: they should be considering just how much money and resources Microsoft have under their disposal.

On the plus side, exclusives will be a much needed selling point of PS6 considering its price will likely be pretty hefty.

Helix is a small factor. The bigger reason is Playstation's PC ports haven't sold as well as they had hoped outside a few exceptions. This has been known for awhile.

Would be interesting if Sony decided to make the PS6 a PC compatible machine too.
XBox Anywhere / PC game exclusives working on a Sony machine?

@MrStark
I think you are right, with the costs as they are now and who now’s what the PS6 will cost and the continuing diminishing returns of each generation.
And probably cross generation games that may go on all next generation.

Next generation is gonna be a hard sell.

@J_Mo_Money That's why I think they don't have a definitive stance yet. Most of their revenue comes from third-party games and DLC commissions. Their first-party games haven't sold as well considering Sony's expectations and user base - Spider-Man 2 being the exception - and now their output is scarcest than ever before. Their main business is their digital store and not the games they make. I don't think that the PS brand would be damaged "catastrophically" like some Sony fans say releasing those games elsewhere, as the PC ports barely had any impact on the PS business. If they make fewer games, you'd think they'd like to release them on PC, but who knows what they'll do.

@GlasgowGuy
That is one attack strategy that maybe Sony have not thought of.

Make a PC HYBRID that plays all PS games old and new and the PC part plays PC games and of course can have gamepass as well.
Fight fire with fire.

It’s hard to say if Helix had an influence in this decision, Sony taking away opportunities for more sales in favor of Xbox not getting access to them doesn’t make much sense. I’m more inclined to think Sony has heard Microsoft possibly taking back their exclusives so this move is counter to that.

Exclusives are good for industry competition. End of story. It's always been that way whether we like it or not. I got one hope Xbox will be now competitive next generation. There should be three consoles minimum in my opinion otherwise you start seeing abusive practices and pricing models.

@Banjo- I agree. And as your post from Sammy regarding that article, a majority of their articles are just Xbox news articles these days as the only things being talked about over there is Xbox, Sony price increases, and the terrible security the PSN has.

Also, the hypocritical articles titled "I'm tired of the Xbox flip-flopping, ect. ect." but championing when PlayStation is all over the place with their messaging as well. That site is straight up laughable with their contest these days.

Nothing of real substance with regards to actual journalism or integrity to read over there IMO.

That was my first argument when the news broke earlier this year. The saw what the ROG was doing and said "nope".

Xbox thought they found a loop hole to get PS5 games on Xbox by giving Helix access to the PC library. Sony aren't stupid and have decided to close that loop hole. Did anybody at Xbox expect anything different? If they did, they're as foolish as the Xbox fanboys clamouring for exclusives to come back to Xbox. It's all about making money and Xbox doesn't have the player base it once had do exclusives can't make the money they once did. Sony makes enough money to not need their games on Xbox and Xbox don't make enough to not need their games on PlayStation. It really is simple to understand

I think Xbox Project Helix is just a small factor. PC gaming in general has become more of a competition for console gaming, with the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, all the Windows based PC gaming handhelds and cheap Chinese gaming devices (like from Ayaneo), which to a certain extent offer a console like experience. The Steam Machine, Steam Deck, Xbox Project Helix and the ROG Ally won't sell as many units as the PS5. But on combination they can take away a large chunk of players.

Also with console prices going up (instead of down like in previous generations) PlayStation needs every incentive to attract players to the PS5.

The games weren't selling great on PC and then the possibility of the games being playable through the new XBOX made it 100% the sensible call to make.