PC Ports of PlayStation Exclusives Are “Like Printing Money,” Former Executive Says

Mark
Ex-PlayStation Boss Yoshida Reveals Why He Would Have Fought Sony’s Live-Service Push
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Sony wasn’t always sold on bringing its PlayStation exclusives to PC. Shuhei Yoshida, former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, pushed for it years ago, but the company wasn’t convinced.

Things have changed. After testing a few ports and seeing them take off, Sony now recognizes the value of expanding beyond its consoles.

PC gaming isn’t just extra cash—it’s a way to get new players into PlayStation franchises. Yoshida explained recently that many people in regions where consoles aren’t popular play on PC instead. If they enjoy a game on Steam, they might be more likely to buy a PlayStation in the future when a sequel drops.

Then there’s the business side. Porting an existing game to PC is much cheaper than making a new one. ‘It’s almost like printing money,’ Yoshida said. With development costs rising, that extra income helps fund future projects.

It’s no surprise Sony has ramped up its PC presence, and the massive success of Helldivers 2’s simultaneous launch only reinforced that strategy.

PC gaming is especially strong in Asia, where consoles have struggled to gain the same level of popularity. Yoshida pointed out that China has a massive PC market but a relatively small console audience. Black Myth: Wukong is a perfect example—it sold the majority of its copies on Steam, proving how powerful the platform is.

Capcom sees the same trend. Ryozo Tsujimoto, producer of Monster Hunter, recently said that PC gaming is growing even in Japan, which has historically been more of a console-focused market. More players than ever are diving into games on Steam, and publishers are paying attention.

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Mark is the kind of person who gets way too excited about new software updates and can’t resist taking apart gadgets—just to see if they can put them back together. With years of experience in tech journalism and a love for all things digital, Mark writes about the stories behind the screens, from game-changing innovations to the everyday tech that keeps life running smoothly. Outside of work, they’re the go-to “tech support” for friends and family, whether it’s fixing a printer that won’t cooperate or explaining why Grandma’s laptop keeps showing pop-ups. When Mark isn’t glued to their screen, they’re probably building their dream PC, rewatching sci-fi movies for the hundredth time, or testing a gadget that promises to “change everything.” Spoiler: they’ll let you know if it actually does.