Sony is making its PS5 exclusivity message unmistakable. A new 30-second video promotes a group of current and upcoming console titles under the banner “Only On PS5”, signalling that the company is stepping back from its recent push into PC releases.
The montage features Saros, Astro Bot, Gran Turismo 7 and Ghost of Yotei, alongside forthcoming games including God of War Laufey and Marvel’s Wolverine.
Its narration makes the positioning direct: these experiences are presented as available nowhere else, with players encouraged to make the impossible happen “only on PS5”. The wording confirms that all six highlighted games are not planned for PC.
Sony’s PC strategy appears to be changing
A Bloomberg report in May said PlayStation Studios’ story-driven single-player games would remain exclusive to PlayStation in future. The reported reason was weaker-than-expected sales for those ports.
Sony released the first Helldivers on both Steam and PlayStation in 2015. Since then, more than 20 PlayStation games have arrived on PC, including The Last of Us Parts I and II, the modern God of War titles, Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, Horizon Zero Dawn and Ghost of Tsushima.
Earlier speculation suggested that Gran Turismo 7 could eventually follow those games to Steam. That possibility now looks considerably less convincing. Sony’s latest Steam launch was Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, a port criticised for poor optimisation and a range of technical problems.
Exclusivity arrives as PS5 costs rise
The renewed focus on the console comes while hardware is becoming harder to afford. Sony raised the PS5’s price amid an ongoing memory shortage, taking the base model to $649.99. That is $150 higher than its launch price six years earlier.
For Australian players weighing a new console against a dedicated arcade machine, the broader question is how much value comes from platform-exclusive software. Those comparing options can also use RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide before choosing a cabinet.
Physical games and digital ownership concerns
Sony has also faced criticism after announcing plans to stop producing physical game discs in January 2028. Buying a digital title provides a licence to play it rather than conventional ownership of a disc, a distinction that has become increasingly important to consumers.
Several hundred films previously purchased by users were removed from the PlayStation Network a few months ago when licensing agreements expired. Sony-owned Crunchyroll has likewise removed most physical media from its store. Against that backdrop, ending or reducing PC ports is unlikely to improve the company’s standing with players who want more choice over how they buy and keep their games.
The shift also highlights why dedicated game rooms continue to appeal to players who want a fixed, self-contained setup. RETROCADE’s bartop arcades suit smaller spaces, while arcade parts can help owners maintain or customise existing cabinets.
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