We find ourselves in an absolutely unexpected era in the history of video games, as Xbox is focusing on the multiplatform field, while PlayStation is betting more and more on the PC. Exclusives, except in the case of Nintendo, almost seem like a relic of the past that Shawn Layden believes should not be lost.
The former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment has given an interview to the Pause for Thought podcast, in which he reflected on the era of change that is being experienced in the video game industry.
“I don’t think every game has to be exclusive to a console. I don’t think every game should be, but I accept the fact that if you’re going to have platform companies, like Sony and Nintendo—and Microsoft, which is really going more for ‘Xbox is everywhere’—having strong exclusives brings enormous value to the brand. If Mario starts showing up on PlayStation, it’s the apocalypse, right? Cats and dogs living together. And the same goes for Nathan Drake and Uncharted. “They are what make the platforms shine.”
Layden has a vision with which he bets on absolute first-party games, since they are the perfect excuse to be able to make the most of the hardware by attracting new console owners. Of course, what is clear is that there is a genre that has to bet on being multiplatform, if what it wants is to survive.
“I think there will still be some exclusive titles in the future, but of course, if you’re looking for a massively multiplayer game, you almost have to be cross-platform because you need to open the funnel as much as possible to attract people. Especially if it’s a game free-to-play“.
Be that as it may, it seems that the Big N is more than comfortable with its situation, at the same time that the competition is trying to expand markets to increase income as much as possible.
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