In a recent interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Sony’s vice president and global head of subscriptions, Nick Maguire, expressed the company’s satisfaction with its decision not to release first-party games on PS Plus. While competitor Microsoft offers its first-party titles on day one through Xbox Game Pass, Sony believes their current strategy of introducing games later in their life cycle allows them to reach a broader audience over time.
Maguire highlighted the benefits of their approach, stating, “Putting games in a bit later in the life cycle has meant that we can reach more customers 12, 18, 24 months after they have released. We’re seeing customers still get excited about those games and jumping in. For us, that’s working.” He emphasized that while there may be occasional exceptions, like the upcoming game Stray, Sony plans to continue releasing first-party games on other platforms before considering inclusion in the PS Plus service.
Meanwhile, Phil Spencer, CEO of Xbox Game Studios, recently addressed the topic of a potential Xbox Series X successor. Spencer stated that he does not currently feel compelled to release a new Xbox console, explaining, “That’s not the feedback we’re getting right now. Right now, we’re pretty set on the hardware we have.” The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S have been on the market for almost three years since their initial launch in late 2020.
Spencer’s remarks reflect a shift from the previous console generation, which saw a system revision with the Xbox One X released three and a half years after the Xbox One. The Xbox One X aimed to provide consumers with 4K resolution capabilities, a feature that the current flagship Xbox Series X offers out of the box.
Sony’s continued satisfaction with its first-party game strategy demonstrates the company’s confidence in its approach to maximize the reach and excitement surrounding their exclusive titles. As the console landscape evolves, both Sony and Microsoft maintain their unique perspectives on how to best serve their respective player bases.
