Shawn Layden, a former top executive at Sony Interactive Entertainment, reminds the gaming world that exclusive games still matter. This is because consoles are becoming more and more like gaming PCs, offering cross-platform versions everywhere. Layden’s comments recently published in a Pause for Thought podcastreject the idea that platform exclusive titles are outdated at a time when big PlayStation hits are coming to PC months after their PS5 debut.
In recent years, Sony has focused more heavily on PC ports of titles once tied to the PlayStation 5, with big games like God of War Ragnarök and Helldivers 2 finding new audiences outside of Sony’s hardware. This strategy has brought a clear financial advantage, with Sony generating significant revenue on Steam while expanding its presence. However, Layden argues that this does not mean that exclusives have completely lost their value.
Exclusive elements that define a console’s identity?
For Layden, exclusives aren’t just a sales tactic; They are a core part of what gives a console its identity and purpose. He joked that it would feel like an “apocalypse” if characters like Mario, long associated with Nintendo hardware, ever appeared on PlayStation, showing how strongly platform-specific experiences are linked to brand loyalty and brand perception.
This perspective reflects a broader debate in the industry about the future of console hardware in a world where software is increasingly platform independent. Even though consoles share more technical DNA with PCs, gamers still talk about exclusives as reasons to choose one system over another. Games like The Last of Us or Uncharted franchises are often cited in conversations about what makes the PlayStation ecosystem so special, and companies like Nintendo continue to rely heavily on exclusives to boost hardware sales.
Layden doesn’t dismiss the utility of cross-platform approaches, especially for multiplayer or live service games where a large player base is crucial. But he believes there is a lasting place for single-platform titles that showcase what a system can do and reward players for investing in that console’s universe.
The takeaway from this is that the debate over exclusive versus cross-platform games isn’t over yet. If anything, it continues to evolve. You may choose a console not just based on specs or price, but also the unique experiences associated with that brand, at least according to one experienced voice in the industry.
