It has been widely reported that Sony is pulling back from PC ports, returning to its plan of PS5 (and perhaps PS6 once that’s out) console exclusives for its single-player catalog. So far, this includes Ghost of Yōtei – despite its predecessor Tsushima getting a PC port, and the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine developed by Insomniac Games. Multiplayer games seem to be safe for now.

Last week, we saw ex-Blizzard president and former Xbox executive Mike Ybarra suggest the Steam Machine is the main reason for pausing PC ports, not Xbox’s new Project Helix, which can play both console and PC games. That theory has now been backed up by Bluepoint Games’ Peter Dalton, who says, “It would be quite ironic” if Valve ended up winning the so-called console war.

Valve’s Steam Machine could offer the best of console and PC gaming

If you weren’t already aware, Bluepoint Games was a video game developer chiefly known for remasters and remakes; its catalog includes titles such as Uncharted, Shadow of the Colossus, and Demon’s Souls. Sony acquired the studio in 2021 and took it under its wing as a subsidiary of PlayStation Studios before announcing its sudden shutdown last month.

It’s reported that Bluepoint’s last day was on March 2nd. The former Head of Technology, Peter Dalton, has commented on the recent Sony PC port news, dismissing the notion that it may be a response to Xbox. Instead, Valve may be the biggest threat. He says “the Steam console could effectively offer the best of all worlds” – referring to the upcoming Steam Machine (which is a mini PC as far as the hardware goes, but offers a console-like experience thanks to its Linux-based operating system, SteamOS).

Dalton’s sentiment echoes what we’ve already seen from Ybarra, and it’s a revealing take from someone who worked in an executive role at a PlayStation Studios subsidiary, potentially involving some close involvement with higher-ups at Sony. Bluepoint Games’ shutdown came shortly after Sony confirmed the cancellation of a live-service God of War game that the studio was working on. In other words, not a single-player experience that would presumably be set in stone as a PlayStation exclusive.

Now in direct competition with Valve, rather than just Xbox, console exclusives return as a big selling point for Sony, and it makes sense. Nintendo has long benefitted from its wide range of exclusives for blockbuster franchises (Mario & Zelda, just to name two), solidifying the Nintendo Switch as a go-to console for PC gamers who want access to non-PC titles.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.