PS5 Cross-Buy for PC appears in Store data, Signaling Potential Shift Away Fromโ Steam
A dataminer has uncovered evidence within the PlayStation Store’s backend suggesting a forthcomingโข cross-buy featureโฃ allowing PS5โ gameโ purchasesโค to be playable on PC.โค The discovery,โข reported by Insider Gaming, includes a symbol specifically denoting cross-buy eligibility and points to a dedicated PlayStation PC game launcher potentially replacing Steam as the primary platform for PC-based PlayStation titles.
This growth โmarks aโ critically importantโข potential โshift in Sony’s PC gaming strategy. currently, select PlayStation exclusives are released on PC, typically through Steam. A native PlayStation launcher with cross-buy functionality wouldโ offer a more unified gaming experienceโ for PlayStation โusers and directly compete with Steam’s dominance.โ The move comes as the PC gaming market continues to grow, recently surpassing console revenue withโฃ $40.2 billion in revenue in 2023, โขaccording to Newzoo, exceeding the consoleโข market’s $38.3 billion.
PlayStation has previously offered cross-play functionality, allowing players on PS3 โand PS4 to access games on the PS Vita. Leaks surrounding a potential โคPS6 handheld device suggestโ this interoperability could continue, โwith speculation that a low-power mode on the PS5 could enable games to run on the handheld, potentially eliminating the โneed for enhanced graphics.โค
While sonyโข has not officially confirmed the โ”PlayStationโ Play Anywhere” initiative, the company appears โฃtoโ be moving awayโค from a reliance on exclusive titles, aโ strategy Nintendo remains firmly committed to. The โคemergence ofโ this cross-buy data signals a potential broadening of PlayStation’sโ ecosystem and a more integrated approach to PCโค gaming.