Nami Tanaka
- Sony's upcoming 2027 game lineup could become essential for restoring consumer confidence in its first-party PlayStation studios.
- Console showroom: Sony makes it easier to buy hardware.
- But Sony could be on its way back with the games that it is about to release.
- PlayStation Plus PC streaming has been removed, but premium customers can still view it.
Sony's upcoming 2027 game lineup could become essential for restoring consumer confidence in its first-party PlayStation studios.
Over time, Sony has been making major changes to the PlayStation Store, perhaps to strengthen its platform brand and push its hardware and exclusives harder. The improvements include a dedicated hardware section, new PlayStation-exclusive labels for some games, and the eventual abandonment of the PlayStation Plus program for PC.
The new hardware category brings a host of PlayStation goods into the console market. Players can browse console covers, controllers, audio gear, PSVR2, PlayStation Portal, and consoles. It looks like Sony is bringing the PlayStation Direct shopping experience to the console version of the PlayStation Store.
The adjustment also gives Sony another avenue to market future product releases. If rumors of a new PlayStation Portal model and a dedicated PlayStation portable prove true, the revamped shop could become a key advertising platform. But with the arrival of PSVR2, worries remain regarding Sony's long-term commitment to the hardware.
That product is still available, but there is no guarantee that the software will be maintained in the future. Sony has also added a new PlayStation-exclusive label to several games. You see this branding on games like Ghost of Yōtei and Until Dawn, which are PlayStation-only and not on PC.
Console showroom: Sony makes it easier to buy hardware.
Sony appears increasingly intent on reminding consumers why it's still worth owning a PlayStation console. Part of the solution could be keeping familiar exclusive experiences alive, with more people coming to PC gaming. The company has experimented with live-service options in recent years, but its typical first-party release schedule has struggled to match the stability PlayStation users have come to expect.
But the situation in 2027 could be very different. Potential future projects include Until Dawn 2, Intergalactic, a new God of War game, and games from Media Molecule and Bend Studio that could bolster Sony's future lineup. Bend Studio's future is unclear as it finishes its final live-service game. Sony has another dilemma with the proliferation of PC gaming.
PlayStation needs great exclusive games to maintain its console identity. Console and PC gamers are still largely separate, although there's a decent amount of crossover from consumers who can afford both systems. Sony needs to provide those customers a good reason to keep investing in PlayStation.
The system may not remain attractive if games move to other platforms, especially as hardware costs rise. Sony would probably prefer to hold onto its current audience, not aggressively expand its market. The loyalty of PlayStation users who buy games regularly is valuable, but a slower first-party release schedule could push some of them elsewhere.
But Sony could be on its way back with the games that it is about to release.
The corporation has a history of making PlayStation the home for great gaming experiences. But that reputation has taken a beating with recent releases and unreliable first-party efforts. The Nintendo Switch 2 and PC gaming are also gaining traction among those who used to consider PlayStation their main gaming platform.
If Sony wants to get back to where it belongs, it will probably have to keep making cool, new games. A strong lineup could quickly boost PlayStation's reputation, even amid the criticism. The games industry largely relies on what has come before, so a few great hits can shift public perception.
If games like Intergalactic are as good as Naughty Dog games usually are, or if the next God of War is a smash, then the debate around PlayStation would look very different. Media Molecule and Bend Studio's other popular releases could help further define the platform's brand. Sony can't rely on its first-party studios to keep creating innovative experiences based on their established games.
Elsewhere, Sony has revealed another important change for PC users. PC users will also formally see the PlayStation Plus software for PC decommissioned by the business effective on December 10. Sony said the decision followed an internal review of its services. The company said fewer than 4% of eligible PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers used the PC program to stream from the cloud.
PlayStation Plus PC streaming has been removed, but premium customers can still view it.
Sony claims that removing the app will let it focus resources on improving the experience for its more frequent users. The retirement will mostly affect the PlayStation Plus cloud streaming service for PC. Sony claimed the change will not affect PlayStation Plus memberships or features available on PS5 and PS4.
If you're on PC and have been using the software for cloud streaming, you'll lose access to the capability after December 10. It's a small number of consumers affected, but ending an established service is another shift in Sony's approach to PC gaming. New hardware zone on the PlayStation Store.
Unique branding, no PC apps—all of this points to Sony working on its own console ecosystem. It is unclear whether these developments signal a broader strategy shift. But plenty of big-name games will still be coming out in 2027. This could help Sony repair its first-party reputation and give gamers more reasons to buy a PlayStation.
