Fans of Horizon: Zero Dawn have taken to Twitter to voice their displeasure that the PlayStation exclusive will be released for PC later this year. In the past, Sony has used exclusive games like this to drive up sales and to keep their fans loyal. Things seem to be changing, and some fans aren't too happy about it.
Horizon: Zero Dawn will be the second Playstation exclusive to be ported after it was announced that Death Stranding will also be coming to PC later this year. Both games run on the Decima engine that was created by Guerilla Games for the Playstation. So far it's unconfirmed, but Horizon: Zero Dawn will probably be available on Steam as well as from the Epic Games Store.
Some Twitter users weren't impressed. Many comments were criticizing Sony for their decision, some including, " Playstation is finished if this happens. These can't happen and it shouldn't happen. THIS IS HORRIBLE NEWS. DOES THIS MAKE UP FOR CYBERPUNK DELAY." Another comment said," If these are the signs of the times. So be it. It's over for true greatness as we know it. Playstation consoles are nothing without exclusives. Consoles are nothing without exclusives."
Released in 2017 to critical acclaim, Horizon: Zero Dawn is famous for its fantastic graphics, open-world exploration, and combat. The immersive storytelling and creature designs were top-notch, and the game went on to sell over 10 million copies and win numerous awards.
Exclusives like Horizon: Zero Dawn, Bloodborne, and God of War are synonymous with the Playstation brand and have greatly contributed to its success. However, times are changing and there seems to be a shift in strategy for the future. Some Playstation exclusives like The Last of Us are available on the Playstation Now cloud gaming service and players don't need a Playstation console to access them. And with news and rumors circulating about a sequel being released soon, it's likely a marketing strategy to bring a wider audience to the IP.
The new era of cross-platform play is now upon us and it can only be good news for gamers. Most players would like to have access to more games without having to buy a new console and it would be great if there were more "exclusives" that ended up on other platforms. There are probably as many Xbox players who'd love to play Marvel's Spider-man, as there are Playstation users who'd love to play Gears of War. Many players also wish they could play more networked games across different platforms - at the end of the day, cross-platform ports aren't worth getting so worked up about.