The thing is, they could release on Steam, and continue doing so for years, and they'd continuously build up a catalogue of older games that still sell. Sure, the first year probably isn't going to do as well on PC as they expect from consoles. Later years will probably do better though.
Oh well though. Sony doesn't really make anything I want to play anyway. I'm not that bothered by them making bad decisions. I'd rather them be smart about it, but honestly I don't really care.
This could be them being smart about it. Compared to various Xbox models, the PlayStation models were generally custom designed to a specific set of hardware and software criteria that aren't fully mirrored on Windows PC. It is a non-zero cost to convert and support.
There may be some individual success, but the aggregate may be a money losing proposition. At that point, why support a market that is only costing them money?
Compared to various Xbox models, the PlayStation models were generally custom designed to a specific set of hardware and software criteria that aren't fully mirrored on Windows PC.
You're talking about the devices that can fully be turned into a PC. Sure, the hardware set is a specific thing (just like Xbox, though I guess they have two versions). However, the only thing that makes it not work like a PC is the software.
Yes, it is a non-zero cost. I'm pretty sure the dollar cost isn't the reason for it though. They care about the opportunity cost of not having exclusives. The PC ports made them profit. It just wasn't as much as they hoped, and it made the console less desirable.
The thing is, they could release on Steam, and continue doing so for years, and they'd continuously build up a catalogue of older games that still sell. Sure, the first year probably isn't going to do as well on PC as they expect from consoles. Later years will probably do better though.
Oh well though. Sony doesn't really make anything I want to play anyway. I'm not that bothered by them making bad decisions. I'd rather them be smart about it, but honestly I don't really care.
This could be them being smart about it. Compared to various Xbox models, the PlayStation models were generally custom designed to a specific set of hardware and software criteria that aren't fully mirrored on Windows PC. It is a non-zero cost to convert and support.
There may be some individual success, but the aggregate may be a money losing proposition. At that point, why support a market that is only costing them money?
You're talking about the devices that can fully be turned into a PC. Sure, the hardware set is a specific thing (just like Xbox, though I guess they have two versions). However, the only thing that makes it not work like a PC is the software.
Yes, it is a non-zero cost. I'm pretty sure the dollar cost isn't the reason for it though. They care about the opportunity cost of not having exclusives. The PC ports made them profit. It just wasn't as much as they hoped, and it made the console less desirable.
If PC game sales are cannibalizing PS sales, then there is a higher cost to creating and selling a PC port than just porting the game.