When a game goes PS5 exclusive, it really does mean that it's a PS5 exclusive. While Microsoft is, for obvious reasons, willing to share its Xbox offerings with PC players, Sony has proven reluctant, having them wait years for ports. However, it seems like this strategy is working well for Sony, as it has no plans to change this business model anytime soon.
In an interview, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan, shoots down the idea of PS5 games also launching on PC from day one. Justifying the move, Ryan says that PlayStation fans are happy with the roughly two-to-three-year gap between a game launching on PS5 and PC, hinting that this will remain the company's priority.
Speaking with Famitsu (translated over on ResetEra), Ryan discussed the topic of PS5 exclusives, and how this release model is working well for Sony yet again.
"PlayStation Studios' main responsibility is to have people enjoy the game experience using the latest PlayStation," says Ryan. "We are increasing the number of PS5-exclusive titles and staggering the release of the PC version."
Interestingly, Ryan goes on to claim that players are fine with this model: "I often have the opportunity to ask game fans for their opinions, and when I ask them about the time lag, they say that selling the PC version two or three years after the release of the PS version is accepted favourably."
He does also add that Sony will "continue to listen to the voices of game fans," but it's hard to imagine PC players making it any more obvious that they would like to play exclusive PlayStation games. I mean, look at the Bloodborne lot, they've been begging for years. With this in mind, it seems that the group of gamers that Sony is consulting are its PlayStation users, who have proven reluctant to see their exclusives get shared onto other platforms, for some reason.
With that being said, given the recent quality of PC ports, these players might not be missing out on too much. Sony certainly hasn't been immune to this, as the PC release for The Last of Us Part 1 was an absolute technical disaster. From crashes to hilarious visual bugs, it's assumed that the game was rushed out to capitalise on the hype generated by the HBO show. It was also listed as "unsupported" on Steam Deck, locking out anyone who doesn't have a high-end PC.
It remains to be seen which PS5 exclusive is next up for the PC release treatment. However, given the state that The Last of Us Part 1 was released in, it's probably for the best that Sony is taking its time.