Sony monitors the Nintendo Switch 2 as a competitive console, but they aren’t too worried because of the PlayStation 5’s “differentiated strategy.”
In the newly released Game & Network Services segment Fireside Chat Video, Hideaki Nishino, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, addresses concerns that Nintendo’s development of positive, third-party developer relationships will lead to “strengthier competition” in the coming years. Nishino dismissed the concerns, claiming that handhelds like the Switch 2 would not keep up with “the PS5 performance level required to create a great experience on a big screen.” The Sony boss also added that despite how common it is for games to become multi-platform these days, he is confident that the PlayStation 5 is “the best place to play.”
“Because of its differentiated strategy, the PS5 is designed for an immersive gaming experience, including innovative dual sense controller capabilities,” says Nishino. “We believe that PS5’s level of performance is necessary to achieve a great experience on a big screen. In this way we have provided a unique offering for players and creators of this current console generation.
“As publishers are increasingly changing towards being multi-platform, more platforms can run the same game, which is great from the creator’s perspective,” he added. “Our mission within these platforms is to continue to be the best place, play and publish, so creators can leverage their offerings and services to create amazing and unique experiences for players with engagement and great monetization opportunities.”
As the conversation continued, Nishino was asked about the potential decline in the PlayStation market due to the base of Nintendo’s gamers’ young demographics. Nishino has gained confidence that, due to the history and investment in the PlayStation brand’s “supporting numerous creators,” PlayStation will continue to offer “the maximum number of content available… corresponding to all demographics, geography, and PlayStyles.”
Interestingly, Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sie’s Studio Group, explained that investment in player relationships with the PlayStation brand led to the choice to bring first-party titles to “new formats” such as television, films and even anime. And yes, it would have been the best time to talk about what was previously announced Tsushima’s Ghost anime. But alas, no future collaboration between Crunchyroll and PlayStation has been mentioned.
Comments on Hideaki Nishino’s PlayStation’s “differentiation strategy” arrived a week after Nintendo released the Switch 2.
Additionally, VGC reported that the Switch 2 sold 947,931 consoles in Japan in the first four days. Game Data Library, a site that collects and archives Japanese sales data in the past, lists the PlayStation 2 as the country’s best-selling launch console, with 630,000 units sold at the time of release. The Switch 2 historic figures suggest that there may be a new big dog in town, but the PlayStation doesn’t seem to be worried for now.