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[Draugoth]

Theories flew as to what had prompted Sony to make the move. Do its PC ports not make money anymore? Do they weaken the brand? Was the corporation scared off by Microsoft's Project Helix—its next-gen console that will, it says, play both Xbox and PC games?

Maybe, maybe not, but here's a new theory for the pile, courtesy of Bluepoint Games' (RIP) head of technology Peter Dalton. What if Sony's actually scared of Valve, not Microsoft?

Some people frame [Sony's PC pullback] as a response to Xbox, but I'm not convinced that's the real driver," wrote Dalton on X. "A more interesting possibility is the rise of a Steam-based console ecosystem.

If Sony were releasing all of its games day-and-date on PC, the Steam console could effectively offer the best of all worlds: console simplicity with the full breadth of PC gaming." Which is rather tasty, isn't it? In fact, speaking from personal experience, more than a few people close to me—who up to now have been console-only—have reached out to ask me about the Steam Machine, and suggested it might be what they upgrade to next.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Before you start, it's his opinion, not an insider knowledge.

 

[Baemono]

We already have a thread for this

 

[March Climber]

 

[Gaiff]

We already have a thread for this

This.

 

[LectureMaster]

Opinion Clickbait  Thread '[Windows Central] Is Sony’s PC port strategy changing because of a more PC-like future Xbox?'

Feb 27, 2026

Is Sony rethinking its PC strategy for PlayStation titles?

Claims from trusted sources indicate Sony might be reevaluating the future of its PC releases for single-player games, rug-pulling Xbox's next-gen strategy.

www.windowscentral.com

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Claims from trusted sources indicate Sony might be reevaluating the future of its PC releases for single-player games, rug-pulling Xbox's next-gen strategy.

Sony may be rethinking its approach to PC releases for single-player titles. (Image credit: Microsoft/Sony)

Sony has technically been releasing games on PC since 2015, starting with the first Helldivers on Steam. Since then, it has...

• LectureMaster
• Replies: 171
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

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[Dr Bass]

There is absolutely nothing insightful about this take, we've been talking about this scenario for what feels like years now.

 

[Fabieter]

Well valve is a big threat for them so its smart to be scared.

 

[Moondoggy]

 

[adamsapple]

Is that why they closed Bluepoint?

 

[bender]

Is that why they closed Bluepoint?

 

[winjer]

The only people scared of Microsoft are the people using their products.

 

[Fbh]

It's probably not one single company doing one single thing that has Sony worried, but rather several factors contributing to PC becoming, for those who want it, a more console-like experience that's in more direct competition with Playstation.

 

[ZehDon]

Makes sense. But if Sony was scared of Valve because it's Steam Machine would offer PlayStation games by way of Steam, it stands to reason they were at least side-eyeing Microsoft who is basically trying to do the same thing. Pulling back to their PlayStation ecosystem robs both Valve and Microsoft of Sony's first party's by way of PC gaming on their hardware. It's a win-win for Sony, even if it limits their software install.
But it goes to show how Valve is perceived in the gaming world. They're smaller than both Sony and Microsoft, but by delivering what gamers actually want at affordable prices and not trying to fuck them over at every turn, Valve have clearly put the fear of God into every other player in the space. A small company doing what the market wants clearly casts a large shadow. No wonder they're being attacked after kicking the Rothschild's teeth in in court.

 

[laynelane]

"Scared" Sony lol.

I always find it weird when people personalize corporations.

 

[Sooner]

Makes sense. But if Sony was scared of Valve because it's Steam Machine would offer PlayStation games by way of Steam, it stands to reason they were at least side-eyeing Microsoft who is basically trying to do the same thing. Pulling back to their PlayStation ecosystem robs both Valve and Microsoft of Sony's first party's by way of PC gaming on their hardware. It's a win-win for Sony, even if it limits their software install.
But it goes to show how Valve is perceived in the gaming world. They're smaller than both Sony and Microsoft, but by delivering what gamers actually want at affordable prices and not trying to fuck them over at every turn, Valve have clearly put the fear of God into every other player in the space. A small company doing what the market wants clearly casts a large shadow. No wonder they're being attacked after kicking the Rothschild's teeth in in court.

Microsoft's machine is just another Steam Machine. They can call it an Xbox, but its purpose is for people to access the STEAM store to play STEAM games.

Microsoft is just providing the hardware - same as every other manufacturer of Steam Machines in the past and going into the future.

 

[Kacho]

I think this is more of a vision change at the top. It's just business. Sony still pays to keep games off Xbox.

 

[March Climber]

"Scared" Sony lol.

I always find it weird when people personalize corporations.

It's because people run corporations, and if those people in charge reel back on a decision due to a potential future threat, then yeah they are scared of what can happen.

It's the same way people say 'Cocky Sony' when they're the market leader, due to their decisions after that happens being reflective of 'they're going to buy our console anyway'.

 

[laynelane]

It's because people run corporations, and if those people in charge reel back on a decision due to a potential future threat, then yeah they are scared of what can happen.

It's the same way people say 'Cocky Sony' when they're the market leader, due to their decisions after that happens being reflective of 'they're going to buy our console anyway'.

The use of terms that denote emotional extremes comes across as dramatic to me. If it doesn't to you, that's fine.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

They should be. They were retards for thinking overwise

 

[semiconscious]

'the bluepoint tech boss has spoken!'...

 

[Senua]

 

[IntentionalPun]

How are these people so unaware of the fact Valve has no high-scale production capability?

 

[SuperMac]

Never made sense to me Sony putting their games on PC. You need exclusives other wise everyone would have a PC. Wolverine will sell Consoles, Spider-Man certainly did!

 

[{insert code here}]

I'll just say this about Sony/MS, Microsoft's biggest flaw (and main point of failure IMHO) was them thinking they can only be successful if they convince people to sell their PS5. I'm reading that indirectly from Spencer's quote about Starfield and exclusives so that might not even be the case and oh well but, MS don't need people to sell their PS5 for Xbox to be successful, they need people to buy an Xbox, period.

They should not give two f's what other hardware their potential customers own they should only be focused on "do they own an Xbox console" and if they don't how do we convince you to buy one. They're jumping too far down the line to worry about "libraries" and "where people are playing their games" FTF get your hardware into people's living rooms before you worry about anything else.

Hopefully the new girl at least understands this part of the equation and MS can FINALLY start throwing some punches here but, I doubt it. Honestly, if anyone should be scared of Valve it's got to be MS. If Gabe wakes up one day and looks at his Windows desktop, then looks at his Steam OS, then back at his Windows.....

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Yep. Steam is a better platform than the other three combined.

 

[Calverz]

 

[TheLikou]

How are these people so unaware of the fact Valve has no high-scale production capability?

Remember the people saying the Switch was toasted because of the Steamdeck and now the Switch 2 already sold more than it's lifetime sales? Same people. They are forever deluded.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

I mean, Valve only made the best gaming platform... That's a lot.

 

[March Climber]

The use of terms that denote emotional extremes comes across as dramatic to me. If it doesn't to you, that's fine.

It's cause and effect. It wouldn't happen if Sony didn't make such a dramatic business choice in the first place.

 

[Senua]

I mean, Valve only made the best gaming platform... That's a lot.

Yea they did something

 

[laynelane]

It's cause and effect. It wouldn't happen if Sony didn't make such a dramatic business choice in the first place.

I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm talking about language and how it's used. Again, if you have a different opinion, that's fine.

 

[Haint]

These industry people and industry pundits/experts know shockingly little about the industry they supposedly work and/or cover. Valve will produce a few hundred thousand Steam Machines which will be $800 for something on par with Base PS5 or Series X. It will "sell out" and "sell well" exclusively with Valve fanboys buying it as a tertiary device for their living rooms and studies, but is going to sell abysmally measured against a console market or broader market (far worse than Steamdeck). It's expected to be comically overpriced, comically under powered, and Linux is the worst OS ever invented requiring navigating an obstacle course of hoops and "hacking" to perform the most basic task. A bunch of your Steam games won't even run on it, will be buggy, or run terribly--never mind third party stores, PC Gamepass, or your average utility programs.

If MS doesn't fuck it up and actually releases a fully open and powerful $999 living room PC that works like a console (if desired) it's going to slaughter Steam Machine and (along with the likely cheaper lower spec SKU's) has real potential to pull a shit ton of users away from Playstation by virtue of free online, much cheaper games, and broad PC utility. What most of Neogaf doesn't realize is that the Zoomers and Alphas who are actually into videogames don't want consoles, they want gaming PC's cause they grew up idolizing streamers and pro gamers.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Sony is not selling as much as they expected on PC and their brand is getting a hit for the exclusivity loss. It's a lose-lose situation, the decision would make sense even without any competitor.

 

[AmuroChan]

I mean, Valve only made the best gaming platform... That's a lot.

Yep, goes to show that 1st party exclusives aren't as important as people think they are. No one ever whiles about Valve's lack of 1st party output because Valve is focued on building a platform that has the best user experience and most customer-friendly policies.

 

[Pop]

Eh depends on how much the Gabe box will be

Nintendo only gets away with low tier performing consoles because of their ips. People expect it and don't seem to care. Steam box will be judged on price and performance compared to the PS5/PS6

 

[Jigsaah]

I think its a smart move. One could say, well isn't Helix supposed to be similar to a Steam Machine in terms of software availability. Well, no. Windows vs Linux and Linux is making up ground at least in the gaming space. From a console perspective I dont think Sony cares about Windows, but Linux could be a threat.

Add to that, if Sony kept its games on PC, pretty soon there would be 2 other choices to play Playstation games. One of which they've soundly defeated...the other one which is a behemoth in its own right.

 

[cash_longfellow]

Man, STFU and start working on your unemployment application,

 

[OverHeat]

Man, STFU and start working on your unemployment application, dummy

Wtf

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Yep, goes to show that 1st party exclusives aren't as important as people think they are. No one ever whiles about Valve's lack of 1st party output because Valve is focued on building a platform that has the best user experience and most customer-friendly policies.

No, they are. I think Half life 2 was instrumental for steam's early adoption

And steam took advantage of MS's massive retardation.

Sony had to build Play Station form the ground up. Exclusives are instrumental for this.

 

[PlayStaytion]

I said the other day that valve is a monopoly, it's not a safe place for many devs like Braid creator and Fable creature.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

He doesn't suggest anything. Its just his opinion.

 

[Pasta la Vista]

All these companies would love to be in Valve's shoes.

Valve isn't at the mercy of their own hardware to sell games and get people to use their storefront. So regardless if Steamdeck or Steam Box sells like shit, it isn't going to tank their business. Sony and Nintendo 100% need their hardware to get people onto their stores. The Steam box will be an alternative and with the benefit of no subscription fee to play games online. This is where Steam poses a threat, especially to Sony.

 

[Celcius]

I believe this. It's unfortunate though because I wanted Yotei on PC

 

[FMX]

I call BS. Valve can't even afford to bring a low spec Steam Machine to the market. You guys overvalue Valve and Linux too much!!

 

[Griffon]

They knows that it wont happen overnight, but Valve is growing and every mistake Sony makes will be additional gains for Valve. Then, people who come to Steam tend to stay on Steam.

It took decades for Steam to get so huge, and it's not stopping, slow but steady. The Steam Deck was a cute little thing, but it shows intent.

 

[lastmessiah]

They knows that it wont happen overnight, but Valve is growing and every mistake Sony makes will be additional gains for Valve. Then, people who come to Steam tend to stay on Steam.

It took decades for Steam to get so huge, and it's not stopping, slow but steady. The Steam Deck was a cute little thing, but it shows intent.

lol yeah they are "growing". Valve's profit margins are 50-60% vs Sony's 11-12%. Sony is an utter joke up against Valve. They should be scared, DAMN scared.

 

[Pasta la Vista]

I call BS. Valve can't even afford to bring a low spec Steam Machine to the market. You guys overvalue Valve and Linux too much!!

Your mistake is thinking they rely of the success of their hardware to sell games.

 

[J Required]

Well, they should..they are competing for the same audience(gamers)

 

[J Required]

I call BS. Valve can't even afford to bring a low spec Steam Machine to the market. You guys overvalue Valve and Linux too much!!

They can but they are too greedy to do so.