Sony confirms it is moving away from the traditional console model: seeks to expand as a platform

Senior Vice President Sadahiko Hayakawa confirms the strategic change in the video game business.

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The video game industry continues its evolution towards more open and service-centric models, and now Sony is explicitly acknowledging this shift. In a recent statement picked up by Japanese media, Sadahiko Hayakawa, senior vice president of the company, confirmed that PlayStation is moving away from its traditional hardware-focused approach.

This strategic shift implies that Sony will gradually stop relying solely on console sales and will instead focus on multi-platform expansion, connected services, and long-term user retention, in line with what Xbox has been doing for years.

Sony Changes Course: Less Hardware, More Platform

In Hayakawa’s own words:

In the video game sector, we are moving away from a hardware-centric business model towards a platform business model that expands the community and increases participation.

These statements are in line with recent Sony decisions, such as:

• The release of PlayStation games on PC, like Horizon, God of War, or Spider-Man, or the upcoming release of Helldivers 2 for Xbox.

• The focus on services like revamped PS Plus

• Strategic acquisitions focused on games as a service, like the one with Bungie

• The interest in expanding franchises beyond consoles and reaching new audiences

What Does “Moving Away from a Hardware-Centric Model” Really Mean?

1. Sony will stop relying solely on console sales

   • This doesn’t mean they’ll abandon consoles, but rather that they’re no longer the core of the business. The focus shifts to the PlayStation platform itself, regardless of whether you access it through a PS5, PC, or even mobile devices or cloud gaming.

2. Multi-platform expansion

   • More PlayStation games will come to PC, as we’ve already seen with Horizon, Spider-Man, or God of War. This could also mean a stronger presence on mobile devices and other platforms.

3. Services as the main driver of growth

   • This implies a clear push for PlayStation Plus, subscription services, cloud gaming, or even in-game advertising (something they’ve already explored).

4. A model similar to Xbox and Game Pass

   • Sony seems to be inspired by Microsoft’s vision: creating a gaming ecosystem beyond hardware, where the player, not the machine, is the key.

5. Seeking greater user retention and participation

   • They’re focusing on increasing usage time, recurrence, and user spending, which connects with more profitable and scalable models than just selling consoles or physical discs.

This evolution reinforces the idea that the future of video games won’t be limited by hardware and that the strongest companies will be those capable of generating communities, active services, and multi-platform value. A strategy that Microsoft and Xbox have been adopting for years with Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, or PC integration.