Sony intends to extend PlayStation Studios games beyond PlayStation hardware, as evident by hiring initiatives aimed at collaborating with Xbox, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and others.
In the ever-evolving world of gaming, PlayStation has maintained a distinct identity, with its flagship titles like God of War, The Last of Us, and Gran Turismo remaining exclusive to PlayStation consoles. As of mid-2025, PlayStation has no concrete plans to release these major exclusives on competing platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, or Xbox.
Sony's approach to multiplatform play is more nuanced. The company has shown a selective openness to multiplatform expansion, particularly for games that benefit from broad cross-platform support and player connectivity. For instance, the multiplayer-focused title, Helldivers 2, is planned for release on Xbox, reflecting this strategic approach.
PlayStation games can appear on PC storefronts such as Steam and Epic Games Store, but these are generally ports of older or non-mainline titles rather than new first-party exclusives. The company has not indicated any clear intention of releasing core PlayStation exclusives on PC or Xbox platforms.
Cross-play support is increasingly the norm among games available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, facilitating multiplayer integration without compromising the exclusivity of titles themselves. Games like Ready or Not support cross-play across Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.
Rumours suggest that the next-gen Xbox may run Steam, which also hosts Sony's games, indicating that Sony might consider self-publishing on Xbox. The gaming industry is focusing on finding players where they are to cut through the noise, with platforms like Netflix, TikTok, and forever-games like Fortnite and Roblox leading the way. Being everywhere and on everything all at once gives the best chance at grabbing attention in the current market.
Microsoft has made the decision to release previously exclusive Xbox games like Forza Horizon onto rival consoles. Xbox's hardware sales continue to face competition from PlayStation and Nintendo, but the platform has posted record console playtime hours.
The gaming landscape is ripe for change, with more companies exploring multiplatform strategies. A new job listing on PlayStation's official hiring platform suggests that PlayStation is preparing to follow Xbox's lead in releasing more of its games on other platforms. The Senior Director of Multiplatform & Account Management will lead a team that liaises directly with Xbox, Windows PC platforms, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
The goal is to optimize title profitability, ensure cross-functional alignment, and lead a high-performing team focused on multiplatform expansion, mid-range commercial planning, and platform partner management. The successful applicant will oversee the out-of-year commercial strategy for PlayStation Studios titles across all non-PlayStation platforms, driving long-term revenue growth and audience reach.
PlayStation's potential move to release more of its first-party titles, such as God of War, The Last of Us, and Horizon, over to competing platforms like Steam and Xbox could generate significant revenue by tapping into the tens of millions of active Xbox users who have not experienced PlayStation exclusives like Days Gone and Ghost of Tsushima.
There is excitement and uncertainty about how the industry will evolve in the coming months as more companies explore multiplatform strategies. The author, for one, has pre-ordered Helldivers 2 on Xbox, indicating anticipation for the potential expansion of PlayStation games onto other platforms. Xbox still commands millions of active users, with even PlayStation self-publishing Helldivers 2 onto the Xbox platform.
In summary, while PlayStation continues to maintain exclusive first-party title releases primarily on PlayStation consoles, it is selectively open to multiplatform expansion, particularly for games benefiting from broad cross-platform support and player connectivity. The company's strategic approach appears focused more on multiplayer cross-play connectivity and occasional strategic multiplatform releases of multiplayer titles rather than broad first-party franchise availability outside the PlayStation ecosystems.
- Microsoft's decision to release exclusive Xbox games onto competing platforms, like Forza Horizon, signals a broader trend in the gaming industry, where company strategies are increasingly leaning towards multiplatform releases.
- The impending release of Helldivers 2 on Xbox reflects Sony's selective approach to multiplatform expansion, focusing on titles that benefit from cross-platform support and player connectivity.
- In the tech world, Microsoft's rumored integration of Steam on the next-gen Xbox raises questions about Sony's potential self-publishing on rival platforms, such as Xbox.
- As the gaming landscape evolves, companies like Sony are assessing the potential revenue earned by tapping into the millions of active Xbox users who have not yet experienced PlayStation exclusives like Days Gone and Ghost of Tsushima.
