Sony no longer aims for “PlayStation exclusive” games to be released on PC.

      Reports indicate that future first-party single-player titles may bypass Steam entirely.

      In recent years, Sony has acclimatized PC gamers to the notion that most significant PlayStation exclusives would ultimately arrive on Steam. Titles such as God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us have all made their way to the platform eventually. However, earlier this year, reports emerged suggesting that Sony intended to cease PC releases for upcoming single-player PlayStation titles, keeping them exclusive to the PS5. Now, it appears those concerns are materializing.

      Sony is reportedly aiming to return to exclusive PlayStation releases.

      Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, who initially reported this news back in March, has now affirmed that PlayStation Studio Business CEO Hermen Hulst informed staff during a Monday morning town hall that Sony will continue to release multiplayer and live-service titles on PC. Nevertheless, significant single-player games such as Ghost of Yotei and Saros are said to no longer have plans for Steam releases.

      This marks a notable shift from Sony’s previously articulated intentions. In 2022, the company openly discussed its plans for aggressive expansion into PC and mobile platforms, even estimating that nearly half of its releases could eventually be available beyond traditional consoles.

      That said, there have been clear signs pointing to this change. Several PlayStation PC ports have reportedly not performed well commercially, while others faced technical issues, PSN account controversies, or received mixed player feedback. Sony's strategy for PC has also seemed inconsistent, with some titles arriving years later, while others have not been released on PC at all.

      Sony likely concluded that exclusives are more effective at selling consoles than Steam copies.

      The underlying reason for this shift may relate to hardware identity. Sony has built the PlayStation brand over decades around blockbuster single-player exclusives, and as these games began to appear on PC, that exclusivity lost its significance.

      Additionally, there’s an awkward timing element at play. Rumors suggest that Microsoft’s next Xbox hardware, Project Helix, may integrate PC storefronts like Steam much more comprehensively. If PlayStation exclusives are available on Steam, they could also be accessible on competing platforms, a situation Sony probably finds undesirable. While this move will likely displease PC gamers, it seems Sony evaluated the situation and recognized a straightforward truth: selling consoles is still far more crucial to PlayStation than securing additional Steam sales down the line.

      Sony is increasing PlayStation Plus prices right as players are returning.

      New customers will see higher PlayStation Plus prices starting May 20, adding to the costs of an already expensive console generation. This change will affect specific regions and the shorter subscription plans. According to an official post from PlayStation, one-month plans will now be priced at $10.99, €9.99, or £7.99, while three-month plans will start at $27.99, €27.99, or £21.99. Current subscribers are mostly safeguarded for the time being, as Sony has stated that new prices will only apply to existing members if they alter their plan or let their subscription lapse. However, subscribers in Turkey and India may also experience price adjustments.

      Valve’s Steam Controller has become significantly more functional outside Steam.

      The Steam Controller’s most significant issue may soon be resolved.

      Valve’s new Steam Controller launched successfully, receiving positive initial feedback, and it quickly sold out following its launch. This high demand led to scalpers pricing the controller at inflated rates. In response, Valve has implemented a reservation queue to ensure genuine buyers have better access to future inventory. However, one recurring complaint was that the Steam Controller felt too restricted to the Steam ecosystem.

      California is making strides toward preventing publishers from shutting down online games.

      The state’s recent Protect Our Games Act has cleared another important legislative hurdle.

      Modern gaming has normalized the idea that publishers can permanently close games that players have already purchased. Fortunately, California is now pushing back against this trend with its proposed "Protect Our Games Act," which has officially passed another key legislative milestone, garnering strong support from the Stop Killing Games movement. This new bill could mandate that publishers safeguard online games.