Console will remain the core business for Sony Interactive Entertainment and PlayStation despite the rising popularity of PC gaming.
During a recent interview with Nikkei, Hideaki Nishino, CEO of the Platform Business Group at Sony Interactive Entertainment, was asked about the value of PlayStation home consoles amidst the rising popularity of PC gaming. In his response, he pointed out that many mobile games have ads, and PCs are difficult to set up. He further mentioned that, with PlayStation, users can play the content they purchased as soon as they power it on. According to him, the products are clearly displayed in the stores where users buy software, which results in it being an intuitive experience.
Nishino also stated that Sony Interactive Entertainment is trying to increase its overall game market by expanding content to PC. However, he remained firm that home consoles will be the core of the company’s business. However, he also said that by offering titles for devices other than home consoles, PlayStaiton will reach a wider range of customers.
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s plans to strongly pursue the PC gaming market came after the company tested the waters by releasing some of its major AAA titles on the platform, which led to an increase in revenue for the company. In its financial report for Fiscal Year 2023 ended March, 31, 2024, Sony Group revealed that the release of first-party PlayStation titles on PC and other platforms during the year had generated a total revenue of nearly $700 million. This included revenue from Destiny 2 on PC and Xbox platforms, MLB The Show titles on Nintendo Switch and Xbox platforms, Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart on PC, and Helldivers 2 on PC. Since the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2023, sales of first-party titles on platforms other than PlayStation consoles have been reclassified from Others into Other Software, a new category included within Game Software.
