With Xbox dead and Nintendo relegated, is Sony going after Steam next?

[Cool hand luke]

With the announcement that the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima port will have an overlay featuring PSN features and trophies, it's becoming clearer that Sony's ambitions are not to merely extend their software's reach, but their platform's.

Sony commands the strongest position in the videogame market as a platform holder, and this is doubly true in the AAA market.

Because of this, they will be able to garner immediate support from third party publishers - incentives that ultimately mean if you're publishing a title on PlayStation, the only console in town, and also on PC, then you're publishing on the PlayStation store on PC.

The lopsidedness of the console vs PC market is so enormous as to be comical. We've seen it countless times across so many different countries and in countless charts - PC software sells a fraction of a fraction of their console betters. No AAA publisher is going to sacrifice the PlayStation market so they can hole up on PC, and if you've got a PC version of your game then you better get that PS store version ready or you won't be selling to a console audience either.

The Sony ecosystem already has some features that are superior to Steam's, and Sony has the reach as a multinational that Valve doesn't, to the point where their localisation is first in class, allowing them to easily connect to the Mandarin-speaking and SK markets.

While they siphon the PC faithful who primarily play AAA away from Steam, this platform/store allows them to clip the ticket on an entirely new userbase - the F2P, Moba, and gacha audience that makes up the majority of PC spending and are catered to by PC exclusives.

Remember that Ubisoft has posted their strongest results on PC after leaving Steam, so Steam is clearly not required for any sort of success on PC.

What do you think? Is Steam about to get some real competition?

 

[TheLastOfSnatcher]

Xbox died?

News to me.

 

[Cool hand luke]

Xbox died?

News to me.

Xbox Series X/S sales were down 47% in Europe in February

But Helldivers 2 had a big more in a software sense.

www.gamereactor.eu

New Platforms, New Players: Four Fan-Favorite Xbox Games Coming to Nintendo Switch and Sony Platforms - Xbox Wire

Today, we announced the four fan-favorite Xbox games coming to Nintendo Switch and Sony platforms this spring. Our studios have drawn on their multi-platform experience to open their worlds to even more players.

news.xbox.com

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[Gediminas]

Xbox died?

News to me.

dead brand. it is completely flatlining.

of course, m$ still exist, and they basically using m$ name at this point.

 

[Etifilio]

too late, they should've done that back in 2020 when they were releasing HZD, now Steam users won't leave the platform cause they already have Sony games there

 

[Etifilio]

the only way sony can dominate PC is by purchasing Valve and merging Steam with PS PC, and simply calling it PS App, like they did with Crunchyroll and Funimation creating an unique platform for Anime content, that's the only way they can have a big strong presence on PC, a PS Launcher at this point would be just for us that have both console and PC play with our PSN friends across platforms

 

[Etifilio]

it would actually be pretty comical if Valve were sold to Sony, all of these PC freaks that hate Sony would have to swallow the fact of being a PlayStation user

 

[Sircaw]

Xbox died?

News to me.

~We had a funeral about a month back for a Chap called Timdog.

 

[Danja1187]

This should have happened with their first release now it's too late especially since they don't even release enough games to warrant such a pull.

 

[Nhomnhom]

I don't doubt that they are stupid enougth to think that. A pretty funny way for PlayStation to die.

Nintendo relegated to selling more units of their hardware than PlayStation.

 

[Neversummer]

With the announcement that the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima port will have an overlay featuring PSN features and trophies, it's becoming clearer that Sony's ambitions are not to merely extend their software's reach, but their platform's.

Sony commands the strongest position in the videogame market as a platform holder, and this is doubly true in the AAA market.

Because of this, they will be able to garner immediate support from third party publishers - incentives that ultimately mean if you're publishing a title on PlayStation, the only console in town, and also on PC, then you're publishing on the PlayStation store on PC.

The lopsidedness of the console vs PC market is so enormous as to be comical. We've seen it countless times across so many different countries and in countless charts - PC software sells a fraction of a fraction of their console betters. No AAA publisher is going to sacrifice the PlayStation market so they can hole up on PC, and if you've got a PC version of your game then you better get that PS store version ready or you won't be selling to a console audience either.

The Sony ecosystem already has some features that are superior to Steam's, and Sony has the reach as a multinational that Valve doesn't, to the point where their localisation is first in class, allowing them to easily connect to the Mandarin-speaking and SK markets.

While they siphon the PC faithful who primarily play AAA away from Steam, this platform/store allows them to clip the ticket on an entirely new userbase - the F2P, Moba, and gacha audience that makes up the majority of PC spending and are catered to by PC exclusives.

Remember that Ubisoft has posted their strongest results on PC after leaving Steam, so Steam is clearly not required for any sort of success on PC.

What do you think? Is Steam about to get some real competition?

Sony can’t compete w Steam nor Nintendo PS no longer has a close wall garden & exclusive.

Steam has its own exclusive first party + the exclusive third party & Steams wall garden isn’t down like PS. Nintendo will become what PS fans wish PS was. At this point PS is nothing more then a Xbox just much more delayed & slower in its 3rd party “strategy”.

Nintendos gap in power will shrink w other console & PC as Nintendo incorporates AI into its console. But hey keep ignoring Nintendo as a competitor in the console market.

If PS wanted to compete w Steam it wouldn’t port games to direct competitors. Instead the would double down on what made PS a success & that’s quality exclusive games that you couldn’t find anywhere elsewhere, especially anywhere on there direct competitor platform. Differentiating itself from other platform & storefront.

 

[Neversummer]

dead brand. it is completely flatlining.

of course, m$ still exist, and they basically using m$ name at this point.

I wouldn’t say dead just yet they still have a console releasing next gen.

And from the rumors it seems like MS wants Xbox to be more open like PC allowing you the gamer to pick whatever storefront wheather its Xbox, Steam, Epic, GOG or a PS PC launcher (since that’s rumor to come pretty soon) Xbox will have a piece of hardware that can play Xbox, PC, Mobile & PS games so theoretically MS is more about hardware then Sony.

Sony seems more invested in pushing PS players to PC & migrating elsewhere. PS6 will only play PS games w a ton of PC games missing & Mobile games missing the PS platform & storefront.

MS is doing some 4D chess here they made Sony drop there close PS wall garden which only benefit MS, Steam, Nintendo & Apple. Plus MS owns Windows & MS was interested in buying Valve who is a defacto gaming platform & storefront on PC & Valve themselves having a close wall garden w a pc hybrid handheld console that can play PS games.

 

[Johnic]

The only Steam related thing Sony is going for, is more releases on there. Dudes have more PC announcements than PS at this point.

 

[Neversummer]

The only Steam related thing Sony is going for, is more releases on there. Dudes have more PC announcements than PS at this point.

It’s also likely the PS showcase will just be cgi reveals since I don’t think PS wants to showcase gameplay for games releasing on 2025/2026 without showcasing it on the PS5 pro & I don’t see PS showcasing PS5 pro gameplay 8 months before the PS5 pro is going to release. I only expect gameplay for games in 2024 those being the rumor Astro bot, concord & 3rd party partners or new reveals from 1st party that are small like Neon Koi mobile game or maybe Media Molecule or unknown smaller game

 

[JAHGamer]

Go after Steam by putting all of their games on Steam and giving them a cut? Sorry but this makes no sense. Sony always used to go after Steam by having real exclusives, but instead they’ve now made going to Steam an easy choice.

Steams been around forever, it’s the default PC storefront. Even if Sony made their own launcher, 99.99% of PC players will still buy through Steam. Especially when all of Sonys own games are already on there.

There is no such thing as a PlayStation ecosystem, the console is the ecosystem, full stop. Anything beyond the console is just 3rd party stupidity. It’s way too late for them now to have any foothold on PC, and it was never a good idea to begin with when they ALREADY had a console with over 100m units sold.

Having a platform as successful as PlayStation and then entertaining the thought of pursuing something as niche as PC will go down as one of the dumbest business moves in history. And yes, PC is niche when it comes to what Sony specializes in and where they make most of their money.

 

[KnittedKnight]

Going after Steam by being a mistress?

I know OP's fanboysm tells him to attack PC but kiddo, the execs at Sony are a lost cause, and not worth your sword. Eventually you'll realize it... whether it's today, or 10-15 years from now... it's just a matter of time.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

Sony will never go for Valve or even Epic. That's insane to to think, that Sony would spend $30-60B for that. I also doubt regulatory would allow this. Our best and most realistic hope for Sony to acquire is a company in the scale of Square Enix and/or Sega.

 

[Neversummer]

Go after Steam by putting all of their games on Steam and giving them a cut? Sorry but this makes no sense. Sony always used to go after Steam by having real exclusives, but instead they’ve now made going to Steam an easy choice.

Steams been around forever, it’s the default PC storefront. Even if Sony made their own launcher, 99.99% of PC players will still buy through Steam. Especially when all of Sonys own games are already on there.

There is no such thing as a PlayStation ecosystem, the console is the ecosystem, full stop. Anything beyond the console is just 3rd party stupidity. It’s way too late for them now to have any foothold on PC, and it was never a good idea to begin with when they ALREADY had a console with over 100m units sold.

Having a platform as successful as PlayStation and then entertaining the thought of pursuing something as niche as PC will go down as one of the dumbest business moves in history. And yes, PC is niche when it comes to what Sony specializes in and where they make most of their money.

Agree. If anything PC has the same issue as console & that’s them being only accessible while at home & it’s likely the reason Steam created the Steamdeck which is essentially a PC on the go & more mobile allowing you to play PC outside your home by being more “mobile like”

PS should’ve double down on PS console. PS shouldve lowered the barrier to publish games on PS storefront so its platform wouldn’t be skip by PC & Mobile games. PS storefront should be as easily to publish games like PC lower the barrier allow more early access Steam receives by default PC Steam exclusive just cause developers can publish whatever kinda game, sure it might foster more trash to the PS storefront but there’s already so many trash games in the PS storefront not allowing more games then allowing all games is the reason how PC/Steam has gotten many PC games that don’t release simultaneously on PS & are just exclusive to PC/Steam like PUBG, Lethal Company, Rust, Among US, GMOD these massive hyped up game that Genz ends up building PC just because there favorite streamers are playing a game not available on PS.

People seem to not understand that PS console = PS storefront AKA the ecosystem the only thing that should be added to that ecosystem from outside platform like PC & Mobile should only be live service games & on some cases like GT7 should only release on PS & in some cases PS & PC & in other PS & Mobile exactly like Nintendo is doing. It’s really baffling how this logic seems to be flying over Sony head & instead following Xbox

If anything I would make PS console more mobile/multi purpose then just a gaming device like adding a camera to take pictures allowing more traditional apps like Uber/Uber Eats, Health App, Map, Bank apps turning PS console into a mobile everything piece of hardware add a more accessible internet browser maybe take Sony mobile division to make these. Sony can then cut Sony mobile division/Sony Bravia as now PS console would act as PS mobile phone device thats sells 150+ million hell I’d argue with these changes they would be a competent competitor to Apple & Android & could shave market share off them as selling the PS6/PS7 as great replacement for mobile devices that can play all mobile games + traditional console/pc games that aren’t on IOS & android for just $500 or $600 you can even have a PS6 lite, PS6 & PS6 pro covering different price points like $300, $500, $600 compared to $1000 iPhones & Androids.

Sony execs definitely has zero clue where to take PS they seem to be scrambling & testing many thing like putting HFW on PS+ even thoe many PS gamers would tell you that was a bad idea & would absolutely kill sells because why buy it when it’s essentially free. Tbh a normal PS gamer that’s cut throat would be a better CEO then Jim Ryan or Shawn Laden that seem oblivious onto how gamers act, think & behave. Entertainment doesn’t always follow data in entertainment x doesn’t always means y because if they did Disney following this woke, genz catering to masses would translate to more $ but in reality it water down there ip, lowered quality & made them loose billions in stock to the point where after 3-5 years they’ve seemingly want to go back to there old business model leaving all that extra shit out of there business, well good luck your brand is already stained. Same will happen to PS

 

[ethomaz]

Xbox died?

News to me.

As a Xbox 1st-party hardware they are really near that.
As a Xbox 3rd-party game software they will probably grow.

They are shifting like Sega did in the past.

 

[ethomaz]

dead brand. it is completely flatlining.

of course, m$ still exist, and they basically using m$ name at this point.

I disagree here about the dead brand.
The brand will not die... it will probably grow as Xbox 3rd-party software development.
But yeap... Xbox hardware will probably die.