Will "old" PlayStation exclusives on the PC bring more PC players to Sony consoles?

[nolifebr]

As Hermen Hulst said on the PS Blog, with Horizon coming to PC, they hope to show to PC players what they've been missing out on.

I think it's important that we stay open to new ideas of how to introduce more people to PlayStation, and show people maybe what they've been missing out on.

And to maybe put a few minds at ease, releasing one first-party AAA title to PC doesn't necessarily mean that every game now will come to PC. In my mind, Horizon Zero Dawn was just a great fit in this particular instance. We don't have plans for day and date [PC releases], and we remain 100% committed to dedicated hardware.

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Hermen Hulst Q&A: Interview with Head of PlayStation’s Worldwide Studios

What's next for Guerrilla, upcoming TV and film projects, and the guiding principles that drive PlayStation’s network of world-class game studios.

blog.us.playstation.com

So, would a Horizon 2 on PS5 bring more people to the PlayStation platform or the PC people will wait to see if the game will be released on PC on a later date?

 

[Ebtesam]

some yes but will open doors and a new audience for sony

 

[brokenswiftie]

If the games are sure to come to PC,
then probably just wait to get the best experience

 

[Rowsdower]

Some yes, some no. I don't think there's a true answer here.

 

[Zhao_Yun]

I would guess that PC players will hold out even longer now for potential ports while in the past they would suck it up and buy a console since first-party titles seemed to be off-limits.

 

[Bob White]

It'll drum up interest at the bare minimum. Which is what sony wants.

 

[LuckyLocke]

The goal is not to sell more consoles here, it's to sell more games. Consoles have a very low profit margin.

 

[BitterFig]

I hope it brings Keyboard and Mouse support to PS games.

Horizon would be a good start.

 

[-Tetsuo-]

Most would probably just wait for the superior version but I imagine some will. Sony getting more sales is the goal. Hopefully crossplay.

 

[¡ B 0 0 P !]

Hell no.

 

[Nakenorm]

Some would, most wouldn't. I think.

 

[tiebreaker]

yes, but the other way around too.

 

[ghostcrew]

Doubt it. I'd say people without a PlayStation are even more likely to just settle without one if they can get (certain) games on PC now.

I imagine the idea behind this is to continue to monetise on older first party games on new platforms rather than trying to tempt PC players over to the console side.

 

[poklane]

Nope, I'd say it's the opposite and instead existing PC gamers and people interested in PC gaming will just wait for the PC port.

 

[skillzilla81]

Just makes me more likely to wait on stuff I don't absolutely need to play immediately. I won't wait for Spidey 2, but I definitely will for Ghosts of Tsushima.

 

[PunishedPrince]

So how much are PC players who occasionally buy exclusives worth anyway? I thought console makers made the most money on multiplats, microtransactions, subscriptions, and overpriced gaming peripherals.

 

[litebrite]

I don't think that's primarily the point of why Sony is doing this. They want multiple ways of accessing the PlayStation ecosystem beyond one platform.

 

[LinkSlayer64]

but maybe a few will.
Fingers crossed for medievil on PC. I can't afford a PS4 right now.

 

[Van Bur3n]

Why would I do that when I can just wait for it to release.

 

[Datajoy]

Wouldn't the opposite happen? Sony games coming to PC would make PC gamers infinitely less likely to be interested in Sony hardware..

 

[karnage10]

As a costumer ic an say i won't buy a PS5 unless that PS5 can do gaming like my PC does (this means running steam, mods, etc.). If sony ports their games to PC then I might buy them if i am interested in them. If sony doesn't port their games to the PC i'll just skip them.
Its sony choice if they want my money.

 

[Dinjoralo]

I mean, it won't for me. I wasn't buying a console either way.

 

[modiz]

The goal is not to sell more consoles here, it's to sell more games. Consoles have a very low profit margin.

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Consoles also make money through services and cut from third party games as well though. The question is how much will PC versions offset those I guess.

 

[KiDdYoNe]

No? Maybe?
I'm eager to play Sunset Overdrive, Ori and some other Xbox game but I still do not have an Xbox or Gaming PC.

 

[Vexed]

Not as a general sentiment, but certain franchises could. I don't think the scenario is that someone plays Horizon on PC, thinks "Sony game are generally good" and then buys a PS5 based on that. But I could see someone getting really into H:ZD, seeing a trailer for the H:ZD 2, and then buys a PS5 for that.

 

[hearmebaby]

No, I'll just wait for them to come over.

 

[Thiago]

They could get PC players who will get to know Sony franchises and will want to play their sequels on day 1 on PS5 instead of waiting 1 or 2 years.

 

[Iron Eddie]

Why isnt the goal to have less barriers and potentially more gamers? The PS4 did almost everything right yet still hasnt outsold the PS2. So how big of a market does Sony think they can still tap into unless they break down those barriers by either supporting the PC or pushing PS Now more?

 

[Pirate Bae]

All they're doing is expanding their sales reach. If people know a Sony game will eventually come to PC, then they'll just wait for it instead of buying the new console.

 

[Mr.Vic20]

Any which way, it will drum up more money, and large corporations tend to love that stuff!

 

[poklane]

The goal is not to sell more consoles here, it's to sell more games. Consoles have a very low profit margin.

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You don't sell a console to make money of the initial sale, you sell the console to sell PS+ subs and take that sweet 30% cut from all sales through your store.

 

[Zoon]

I'm voting for myself so no. I'll just play whatever is available on PC.

 

[krae_man]

Just wait until Knack and Knack 2 make it onto PC. PlayStation 5 and Knack 3 sales will go through the roof!

 

[gofreak]

By what Hulst outlined, it seems to be the motivation behind what they're doing. But... how successful it will be, I don't know. I'm sure it might 'awaken' some people to the idea of wanting to play Horizon 2 ASAP on PS5. I suppose if it does not, or has somewhat the opposite effect, Sony will can the idea of doing it again, unless the overall goals for these ports evolve also.

 

[Windu]

No. People like their platform of choice, more than enough games on each device to keep people entertained.

 

[Perfectsil]

I don't think the goal is to get pc gamers to buy playstations.

 

[Lethologica]

Not for me. I checked out of the Sony ecosystem in 2005 when I sold my PS2 and haven't looked back. Most of Sony's exclusive games (1st party or otherwise) that I was interested in have eventually made their way to other platforms I play on. Kingdom Hearts, Yakuza, potentially HZD, etc, so I can wait it out.

Except Gravity Rush, I would kill for a PC port of Gravity Rush 1/2.

Maybe one day.

 

[Deleted member 887]

Really at the end of it all. It just opens up a new revenue stream. It also creates interest. It gets more people talking. So while It may not directly translate to PC user buying consoles. It does create discussion.

Lets say someone streams and they don't buy consoles. They may check out HZD and play it for their audience. That audience then could be exposed to the game.

 

[CalamityPixel]

If Horizon makes a lot of money then this is the start of it for sure.

 

[elyetis]

Voted "Yes" as in "probably a few more there and there".

What they will sell more for sure is games.

 

[Bane]

It will bring Sony to more people, not more people to Sony.

 

[Van Bur3n]

Like I only just now got Nier Automatic. For $20 to boot. And I ain't ever heard of this game. I can wait three years to play a game, laddy boy.

 

[Igniz12]

You aint ever bringing me to Xbox/PS side no matter how many 1st party exclusive PC ports you throw in my face.

If you release something on the PC that I can play then cool. If you never release anything from here on out and keep it exclusive then that's cool too. All these are nice bonuses anyway to the huge amount of games I can already play on PC.

 

[Khrol]

lol no. PC players will just wait for more games to hit their platform.

 

[dancingphlower]

Nah, there are some people that will never buy a console, and this is a way for Sony to get money from those people that would never have gotten otherwise. This won't affect their hardware sales too much because there are other people that will never play on a high end PC, either, and if this generation is anything to go by, they have lots of brand loyalty in the console space.

 

[Akira86]

no. why would it work that way?

the entire basis of the theory of Gaming Exclusives is troubled. No exclusive has ever made me move in a direction I wasn't willing to go in, in the first place. Getting a system for one single game is a loss.

 

[Yippiekai]

Some will so yes.
If it serves as a "look at some of our best games" and leave the others exclusives, it might be enough for some to buy a PS4/5.

 

[Deleted member 10737]

it will not. pc gamers will just wait, and if the games don't come they'll play other stuff.

 

[thisismadness]

I think a few will make that transition. Likewise, I expect it'll sell beefy PC hardware to a few PS fans who will want to double dip and enjoy their favorite game in the highest fidelity.

 

[HeavenlyE]

I don't think everyone buying Horizon Zero Dawn for PC and finding out that they love the game, would look at Horizon Zero Dawn 2 releasing on PS5 and say "Eh guess I'll wait for it to maybe come to PC hopefully it doesn't take 3 years this time"

I think this strategy could potentially sell some PS5s while also giving Sony more game sales.