Skip to main content

Don’t expect PlayStation to abandon consoles for PCs any time soon

A PS5 sits on a table with a DualSense standing up next to it.
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends

Sony has recently had a lot of success publishing its first-party PlayStation 5 games to PC, but that doesn’t mean the company is going to become a PC company first.

In an interview with Japanese publication Nikkei (via Video Games Chronicle), Hideaki Nishino, head of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Platform Business Group, said that that Sony will continue to make content for PCs, but “there is no doubt” that consoles will continue to be the priority.

Recommended Videos

“We are trying to increase our share of the overall game market by developing content for PCs as well. There is no doubt that consoles will be at the core of our business, but by offering titles for platforms other than consoles, we will reach a wider range of customers,” Nishino said.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

He continued to tout the value of consoles versus PC, saying that it eases the process of installing and setting up a game, and that consoles have native stores that streamline the process of buying games.

However, that doesn’t mean Sony won’t continue to invest in PC. Its current strategy involves releasing its AAA single-player games on PlayStation first, and then on PC later, while its live-service titles like the successful Helldivers 2 and the ill-fated Concord will be released on both PlayStation 5 and PC simultaneously. According to Nishino, this is a great way to gain players on other platforms.

You can see Sony’s continued investment in console hardware with the PlayStation 5 Pro announcement last week. The company revealed that it will have updated specs, including a bigger GPU, but won’t come with a disc drive or stand. It’ll cost $700 when preorders open up on September 26 and when it launches on November 7. This is a product specifically for console players who want the highest frame rates imaginable, and it’ll still cost less than some of the most expensive PC GPUs.

Nishino was one of two co-CEOs appointed after former head Jim Ryan departed earlier this year. He works alongside Hiroki Totoki, who is CEO of SIE’s business group.

Carli Velocci
Carli is a technology, culture, and games editor and journalist. They were the Gaming Lead and Copy Chief at Windows Central…
Your video game consoles could become much more expensive soon
A PS5 Pro sits on a table with a DualSense.

People have a lot of questions about what a second Donald Trump presidential administration will look like, and one of the big concerns surrounds proposed tariffs on foreign imports, with larger ones targeted for China. If these are passed, it could signal a big change in how video game hardware and software is manufactured and could lead to increased costs for players.

Digital Trends spoke to analysts about the potential impact that tariffs could have on tech like game consoles. As of this writing, the proposal is to implement a 10% or 20% tariff on all imports, but a specific 60% tariff on Chinese imports. Some analysts we reached out to declined to comment on the impact of the tariffs because while Trump has discussed a plan, it hasn't gone into effect and might not. Others, like Serkan Toto of Japanese games industry consulting firm Kantan, warned that consumers could be the ones paying the cost if plans go into effect.

Read more
Oh hey, GTA 5 is back on PlayStation Plus this month
Michael on the phone in Grand Theft Auto 5.

November's PlayStation Plus lineup is packed with games this month, both in terms of quality and quantity. However, with Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon (hopefully sometime next year), arguably the biggest addition is Grand Theft Auto 5, which is back on the subscription service after leaving earlier this year.

There's not much to say about GTA 5 that hasn't already been said. It's one of the bestselling games of all time and still holds up more than 10 years after release. It's likely you already own it on some platform, but if you somehow don't or just want to play it on the PlayStation 5 or 4, you can play it for free with an Extra or Premium subscription.

Read more
PS5 restock update: Where you can buy a PS5 right now
PS5 and DualSense art.

When the PlayStation 5 first launched back in November 2020, it was nearly impossible to get your hands on the highly anticipated console. Despite demand being through the roof, chip shortages heavily cut production -- and due to sustained consumer interest, it was a problem that plagued the PS5 for years after launch.

Thankfully, we're happy to report that those issues have largely been resolved, making it pretty easy to grab a PS5 these days. The launch of the PS5 Pro has ignited another buying frenzy, and with Black Friday coming up, Sony has even cut the price of the base PS5.

Read more