May 25th 2025.
The PS5 and PS5 Pro have been receiving a lot of attention lately, with many comparing their sales to those of the PS4. As a reader pointed out, Sony's seemingly odd approach to these consoles actually makes sense when we consider what more casual gamers are looking for in a console.
I was intrigued by a recent Reader's Feature that discussed the possibility of the PlayStation 6 being a chance for Sony to start fresh and return to the successful style of the PS4. While I do believe that Sony has a strong reputation for first party games, we must also remember that this is not the only factor that determines a console's success.
One reason why the PS5's sales have not been hindered, despite Sony's questionable management decisions, is because it has had little competition from Xbox. There are very few current-gen exclusives and the sales for the Xbox Series X/S have been disappointing. Even if there were more exclusives, it is unlikely that they would make much of a difference.
With the Switch unable to play current-gen games, the PS5 has solidified its position as the top choice for triple-A titles. It has become the undisputed market leader without much effort and despite having fewer quality first party games compared to the previous generation.
In fact, if you have played a triple-A game on a current-gen console, chances are it was on the PS5. Popular titles such as Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and Resident Evil 4 remake are just a few examples of games that have been enjoyed by many on the PS5.
This brings me to a disconnect between what hardcore gamers may think of Sony's current approach and the reality of their success. The truth is, most people do not buy consoles for their exclusives. This is probably one of the reasons why Sony has felt comfortable reducing their output.
I would love to know the exact statistics, but I wouldn't be surprised if half of all PlayStation owners only buy the console to play games like EA Sports FC and Call of Duty, or to play free online shooters. This also explains Sony's focus on live service games, which may not have been executed flawlessly but is not necessarily a foolish idea.
For many people, PlayStation is synonymous with video games. While games like The Last of Us and God of War receive a lot of attention and make PlayStation owners feel good about their console, they are still just a fraction of the sales compared to multi-platform games with less critical acclaim.
On the other hand, games like Returnal may have received accolades and even be a favorite among GameCentral staff, but they have only sold a million copies. Most PlayStation 5 owners probably haven't even heard of it.
So it's understandable why Sony may seem aloof and uncommunicative. They are winning by essentially doing nothing, so why draw attention to it or risk upsetting people? While it may be frustrating for us as gamers that they won't acknowledge their change in policy, from their perspective, it can only be a bad thing.
To the average gamer, the PlayStation 5 is a great console with great games. Their definition of a great game may be different from that of hardcore gamers, just as their criteria for determining the value of a console may differ. They were not expecting the PS5 to be anything more than it is, and they are not disappointed in the slightest.
By reader Rankin
But for some people, games like EA Sports FC are all they want. As always, the views expressed in reader's features do not necessarily reflect those of GameCentral or Metro. If you have a 500-600 word feature that you'd like to share, you can submit it at any time and it may be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Simply contact us by email or use our Submit Stuff page. Thank you!
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