Sony’s PC experiment lasted three years. It’s ending not with a bang but with a quiet admission buried in a financial briefing: the company is “reassessing” its multiplatform approach. For Steam players globally, that means fewer PlayStation games coming to PC — and the ones that do will arrive later, if at all. For the millions of Chinese gamers who relied on Steam as their only legal path to PlayStation titles, the door is closing entirely.
The Shift Nobody Announced
The news broke Friday via PC Gamer’s reporting on Sony’s latest financial briefing. Hermen Hulst, CEO of PlayStation Studios, confirmed the company is “evaluating” its multiplatform strategy after previously committing to day-and-date PC releases for live-service titles and 12-24 month windows for single-player games. That timeline just got longer — or disappeared entirely for some projects.
Hulst’s exact phrasing: “We are reassessing our PC strategy to ensure we’re delivering the best experience for PlayStation players.” Translation: PC is no longer a priority. The commitment to simultaneous launches for live-service games remains on paper, but Concord got pulled offline two weeks after launch, and Helldivers 2‘s PSN account requirement backlash proved Sony still doesn’t understand PC norms.
Why the China Market Explains the Retreat
Sony’s PlayStation China joint venture (with Shanghai Oriental Pearl) has spent years trying to crack the mainland market. PC was supposed to be the wedge — Steam is accessible in China, PlayStation Network isn’t. By putting God of War (2022), Spider-Man Remastered (2022), and Horizon Zero Dawn (2020) on Steam, Sony could reach Chinese players without navigating the console approval gauntlet. Now both strategies are stalling together.
China’s gaming regulations haven’t softened since the 2021 licensing freeze. Foreign titles face indefinite reviews; Black Myth: Wukong only launched after securing a domestic license — something Sony’s first-party games still lack. Sony’s China revenues have flatlined according to analysts at Niko Partners. Meanwhile, Wukong proved Chinese studios can build global hits without Western publishers — a wake-up call that Sony’s window to establish a foothold is closing.
PC Ports Were Actually Making Money
SteamSpy data indicates God of War on PC sold ~3.5M copies in its first year — roughly 25% of its lifetime PS5 sales. Spider-Man Remastered did ~2.8M. Those aren’t trivial numbers. Walking away from that revenue stream suggests Sony values platform control over incremental PC sales.
For single-player games, the “12-24 month” promise Hulst made in 2023 is effectively dead. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut launches on PC this October — nearly four years after its PS5 debut. The Last of Us Part I took two and a half years. Horizon Forbidden West has no PC date at all.
Port-to-PC timeline reality check:
| Game | PS5 Launch | PC Launch | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| God of War (2018) | Nov 2018 | Jan 2022 | 38 months |
| Spider-Man Remastered | Sep 2020 | Aug 2022 | 23 months |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Feb 2017 | Aug 2020 | 42 months |
| The Last of Us Part I | Sep 2022 | Mar 2025 | 30 months |
| Ghost of Tsushima DC | Aug 2024 | Oct 2026 | 26 months |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Feb 2022 | TBA | — |
The Bottom Line
Sony is choosing platform control over revenue. The PC experiment proved PlayStation games sell well on Steam — God of War moved 3.5M copies — but the China wedge failed, and without that strategic rationale, the ports aren’t worth the cannibalization risk. Chinese Steam users lose their only legal access to PlayStation games. Global PC players get fewer ports, later. If you wanted Horizon Forbidden West on PC, stop waiting.
Questions You’re Asking
Is Sony stopping all PC ports?
Not officially. Live-service titles still target simultaneous launch. But single-player games have no timeline.
Why does China affect global PC releases?
Sony’s PC strategy was partly built around reaching Chinese players via Steam. If that market fails, the business case for PC ports weakens globally.
What games are confirmed for PC in 2026?
Only Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut (October). Fairgame$ and Marathon have no confirmed PC dates.
Can Chinese players still buy PlayStation games?
Officially, no. PSN isn’t available in mainland China. Gray-market imports exist but carry warranty and region-lock risks.
Where can I track future PlayStation PC announcements?
Follow PlayStation Blog and Steam’s PlayStation publisher page — Sony still posts there when ports are confirmed.
Are there alternatives for Chinese players?
Cloud gaming (GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud) works in China but requires a foreign account and stable VPN. Not a practical solution for most.
Sources: PC Gamer report (June 14, 2026); Sony IR financial briefing; SteamSpy historical estimates; Niko Partners “China Gaming Market 2026” report.
Related: Why PlayStation’s China Strategy Keeps Failing • Steam in China: What Still Works in 2026 • Every PlayStation Game on PC Ranked
