Ex-PlayStation Boss Comments on the Future of Exclusive Games

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Shawn Layden, who used to lead PlayStation, believes console exclusives will remain popular for the foreseeable future, benefiting both game creators and players. PlayStation has become well-known for its exclusive games, and while many of these titles are now also available on PC, they’re still primarily played on PlayStation consoles. Popular franchises like Marvel’s Spider-Man, God of War, and The Last of Us haven’t been released on Nintendo or Xbox consoles.

For a long time, certain video games were only available on specific consoles, particularly those featuring iconic characters like Mario, Kratos, and Master Chief. However, this is starting to change, with companies now experimenting by releasing exclusive games on new platforms. A good example is Sony’s Horizon series. While Horizon Zero Dawn is still exclusive to PlayStation and PC, they recently launched LEGO Horizon Adventures on both PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, marking the first time Aloy has appeared on a Nintendo console. Similarly, Xbox released Gears of War Reloaded on PlayStation 5 earlier this year, bringing the franchise to Sony’s platform for the first time ever. Though this might seem strange to players who remember the intense “console wars” of the past, it’s a deliberate strategy by Xbox to make their games accessible to a wider audience.

Shawn Layden Thinks Exclusives Make the Platform Sing

During a recent interview on Game Rant’s Character Select, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden explained why exclusive games remain important for the gaming industry. He believes that having unique titles is hugely valuable for a brand – for example, if Mario suddenly appeared on PlayStation, it would be a major shift. Similarly, PlayStation’s Nathan Drake and the Uncharted series are key to what makes the platform special. Both Mario and Nathan Drake have significantly boosted the image and success of their respective consoles. These characters often become the main faces of their platforms, giving players an idea of the kinds of experiences they can expect. While not a traditional mascot, Nathan Drake embodies the story-focused, single-player games that PlayStation is known for.

I think it’s cool that Shawn Layden doesn’t think every game needs to be locked to just one console. But he makes a good point – exclusives let developers really show what their platform can do. He said if you’re making a game for multiple systems, you have to aim for what all of them can handle. But with an exclusive, you can go all out and maximize everything! PlayStation really tries to do that, especially with the DualSense controller. Take Ghost of Yotei, for example – it came out in 2025 and really used the DualSense’s features. The developers, Sucker Punch, did an amazing job with the haptics and touchpad, creating an experience you just couldn’t get anywhere else.

While Shawn Layden advocates for exclusive games, Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, has called the practice outdated. She believes future success lies in making games available on as many platforms as possible, pointing to the widespread popularity of titles like Minecraft and Fortnite, which reach players wherever they play. Layden himself admits that games like Fortnite – large, multiplayer experiences – often need to be available on multiple platforms to thrive. Ultimately, it’s unclear what the future holds, but major gaming companies are clearly watching how exclusive games perform.

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2025-12-26 19:35