The recent State of Play left a lingering question: does Sony still *care* about making games? One viewer felt a distinct lack of passion from the PlayStation giant, a feeling that resonated far beyond a simple disappointment with the showcased lineup.
Despite tuning in late, the event offered a decent variety of titles, sparking excitement for games like the newCastlevaniaandSilent Hill: Townfall. Yet, a shadow hung over the presentation – the noticeable absence of substantial announcements from Sony’s own studios. It felt like a showcase of published works, rather than creations born from within.
This isn’t a new concern, but the State of Play crystallized a troubling parallel. Sony, the reader argues, is beginning to mirror Valve’s trajectory. Both are industry titans, yet both appear increasingly content with profiting from others’ work, seemingly losing the drive to develop groundbreaking games themselves.
The pursuit of profit is, of course, a company’s primary goal. However, the reader points out the enduring profitability of successful video games, especially those that drive console exclusivity. While the Xbox competition has lessened, the expectation remains that Sony will deliver compelling, first-party experiences.
Excuses have become commonplace – Covid delays, rising development costs, and the ill-fated push towards live-service games. But beneath the explanations lies a simpler truth, according to the reader: Sony’s interest in game development has waned. Studios are maintained at a bare minimum, lacking the urgency and enthusiasm once synonymous with the PlayStation brand.
The lack of visible leadership – the head of PlayStation rarely appearing at these events – further fuels this perception. Even announcements likeHorizon Hunters Gatheringfelt perfunctory, lacking the fanfare expected for a major PlayStation title.
A chilling possibility looms: the potential for Sony to shutter its first-party studios altogether, fully embracing the Valve model. Once a beacon of innovation, Valve now largely relies on the success of Steam, having abandoned significant single-player game development over a decade ago.
The danger is that Sony could follow suit, fading from memory as a game *creator* and becoming solely a platform provider. Younger gamers may not even remember a time when Sony actively championed groundbreaking, exclusive titles, a fate the reader fears is becoming increasingly likely.
The situation feels particularly baffling given the established financial reality: software consistently outperforms hardware in profitability. It’s a perplexing calculation, suggesting that inaction is deemed the most lucrative path. But for passionate fans, it feels like a betrayal of the spirit that once defined PlayStation.
