Discussion Topic: PC vs. PlayStation — Why Exclusives Should Be Available on All Platforms

[Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк]

Recently, the topic of porting PlayStation exclusives to PC has become a real point of contention. With every new PC release — whether it's God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, or The Last of Us — some console players express dissatisfaction, claiming that exclusives lose their value. On the other hand, PC gamers celebrate the fact that they finally have the opportunity to play iconic titles that were previously out of reach.

But let’s think about it: why should exclusives remain "locked" to a single platform? Let’s break it down from both sides!

[mark1971]

It was released in 2020. Everybody with a PS4 already had the "advantage" of exclusivity - for almost five years. And, honestly, I really don't care about that. What Sony is doing now is to "warm up" an old meal to sell it once more. That's commercial, and I can't blame them for that.

Today, a company hasn't the luxury anymore to make something exclusive, only regarding one platform. The market is just too "brutal." Making titles for multiple platforms is simply a survival strategy.

[Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк]

Originally posted by mark1971:

It was released in 2020. Everybody with a PS4 already had the "advantage" of exclusivity - for almost five years. And, honestly, I really don't care about that. What Sony is doing now is to "warm up" an old meal to sell it once more. That's commercial, and I can't blame them for that.

Today, a company hasn't the luxury anymore to make something exclusive, only regarding one platform. The market is just too "brutal." Making titles for multiple platforms is simply a survival strategy.

:molotov_tlou:

I agree, in today's environment, where the market is so competitive, making exclusives for just one platform is already too risky. A lot of players want access to games, and it's not always possible if the game is only released on one console. Sony is obviously doing this for commercial reasons, and from a business perspective, it's a logical move. However, exclusives always created a special atmosphere, and that feeling of "uniqueness" is lost when games become available to everyone.

[𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙽]

what is bad about it? now PC players can enjoy it too. it's just a game, play and get fun. Forza 5 is coming on PS but we, PC gamers din't have any problem with that. that's a new reality, more SONY games will come on PC and that's really good + PC is powerful and it can unlock full potentional of game, graphics etc. higher FPS and it will be completly different expirience.

[StuckInWashingMachine]

Originally posted by Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк:

Originally posted by mark1971:

It was released in 2020. Everybody with a PS4 already had the "advantage" of exclusivity - for almost five years. And, honestly, I really don't care about that. What Sony is doing now is to "warm up" an old meal to sell it once more. That's commercial, and I can't blame them for that.

Today, a company hasn't the luxury anymore to make something exclusive, only regarding one platform. The market is just too "brutal." Making titles for multiple platforms is simply a survival strategy.

:molotov_tlou:

I agree, in today's environment, where the market is so competitive, making exclusives for just one platform is already too risky. A lot of players want access to games, and it's not always possible if the game is only released on one console. Sony is obviously doing this for commercial reasons, and from a business perspective, it's a logical move. However, exclusives always created a special atmosphere, and that feeling of "uniqueness" is lost when games become available to everyone.

Your "however" is incredibly selfish. Uniqueness is a petty emotion to cling to when compared to the convenience and flexibility of porting games to multiple platforms. Feeling special just because you have access to something others don’t isn’t an achievement—it’s entitlement. It won't get you a 401K, boost your credit score, or improve your quality of life in any meaningful way.

Anyone can buy a PS5 if they really want one, but thinking you're part of some exclusive club just because a game was once locked behind a paywall is ridiculous. That mindset is the equivalent of laughing at people for being born in countries with fewer economic opportunities—it's elitist and pointless. Games are meant to be played and enjoyed, not used as status symbols.

[Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк]

Originally posted by Abs-a Main:

Originally posted by Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк:

I agree, in today's environment, where the market is so competitive, making exclusives for just one platform is already too risky. A lot of players want access to games, and it's not always possible if the game is only released on one console. Sony is obviously doing this for commercial reasons, and from a business perspective, it's a logical move. However, exclusives always created a special atmosphere, and that feeling of "uniqueness" is lost when games become available to everyone.

Your "however" is incredibly selfish. Uniqueness is a petty emotion to cling to when compared to the convenience and flexibility of porting games to multiple platforms. Feeling special just because you have access to something others don’t isn’t an achievement—it’s entitlement. It won't get you a 401K, boost your credit score, or improve your quality of life in any meaningful way.

Anyone can buy a PS5 if they really want one, but thinking you're part of some exclusive club just because a game was once locked behind a paywall is ridiculous. That mindset is the equivalent of laughing at people for being born in countries with fewer economic opportunities—it's elitist and pointless. Games are meant to be played and enjoyed, not used as status symbols.

Here I am, a PC gamer, and I've preordered. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time because I’ve always wanted to try these games that were only available on consoles. Now that they're coming to PC, it's not just an opportunity to play, it's like a dream come true. I understand that you want to emphasize the importance of accessibility for all players, and there is merit to that. Of course, games are meant to be enjoyed by everyone, and making them available on different platforms definitely expands the audience, which is a good thing. However, for many, exclusives have always been part of a special experience, especially when they were tied to a particular platform. It's not necessarily elitism, but rather a desire for uniqueness, which adds a certain value to the experience.

Yes, games should be accessible, and I fully agree that everyone has the right to play on the platform they prefer. However, it's important to remember that exclusives also play a role in shaping a unique experience and history for players. And while I'm glad these games are now available for PC gamers, part of that unique experience is still lost when exclusives become universally accessible.

[Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк]

Originally posted by 𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙽:

what is bad about it? now PC players can enjoy it too. it's just a game, play and get fun. Forza 5 is coming on PS but we, PC gamers din't have any problem with that. that's a new reality, more SONY games will come on PC and that's really good + PC is powerful and it can unlock full potentional of game, graphics etc. higher FPS and it will be completly different expirience.

As a fan of The Last of Us, I can say that the first part was optimized for a long time, and I was only able to finish it on PC. However, it's disappointing that the game lacks proper protection, and it's easily available on torrent sites. This is definitely an issue for developers because games without protection lose their value for legitimate buyers. It's a shame that such great games like The Last of Us can be so easily pirated and lose their uniqueness due to lack of proper protection.

Also, I'm curious why the first part is more expensive than the second one. Both games essentially offer the same experience, so the pricing policy raises some questions. Maybe it’s because the first part is rarer on PC or considered a “classic,” but it seems a bit strange to me, especially considering the second part is released later and on more modern platforms.

[mark1971]

Originally posted by Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк:

I agree, in today's environment, where the market is so competitive, making exclusives for just one platform is already too risky. A lot of players want access to games, and it's not always possible if the game is only released on one console. Sony is obviously doing this for commercial reasons, and from a business perspective, it's a logical move. However, exclusives always created a special atmosphere, and that feeling of "uniqueness" is lost when games become available to everyone.

I don't have interest in exclusivity - it should all be equal.

But developers of consoles already made a decent compromise, with giving their titles a forerun on their machines and releasing them later for the whole market. That secures that all sides have something good from it. And that's just fair.

[Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк]

Originally posted by mark1971:

Originally posted by Pyccкий мeдвeжoнoк:

I agree, in today's environment, where the market is so competitive, making exclusives for just one platform is already too risky. A lot of players want access to games, and it's not always possible if the game is only released on one console. Sony is obviously doing this for commercial reasons, and from a business perspective, it's a logical move. However, exclusives always created a special atmosphere, and that feeling of "uniqueness" is lost when games become available to everyone.

I don't have interest in exclusivity - it should all be equal.

But developers of consoles already made a decent compromise, with giving their titles a forerun on their machines and releasing them later for the whole market. That secures that all sides have something good from it. And that's just fair.

I agree with you! This compromise seems reasonable — first, games are released exclusively for consoles, and then they become available to everyone. It keeps interest in the platforms while also giving other players a chance to join in. It's beneficial and fair for everyone!