We first saw Hayakawa’s comments in a tweet from Genki_JPN, who translated part of the Sony earnings call from Japanese: “In the gaming business, we are moving away from a hardware centric business model more to a platform business that expands the community and increases engagement.”
PlayStation’s Platform Shift and What It Means
Hayakawa’s remarks came in response to a question about Sony’s recent investments in content creation, including a partnership with Bandai Namco. He explained that Sony is increasingly positioning itself as a “creation” company, with gaming, music, and pictures now accounting for around 60% of total revenue.
In gaming, the move toward a platform business means expanding services that connect gamers, keep them active, and make content easier to access. While PlayStation consoles remain a core part of Sony’s strategy, the company is putting more focus on the broader PlayStation ecosystem, including online services, digital storefronts, and subscriptions.
Hayakawa also tied this shift to changes in other Sony divisions, such as moving from products like televisions to tools for creating content, like digital cameras, music streaming, and anime platforms such as Crunchyroll. By prioritizing content and community, Sony aims to improve stability, profitability, and long-term growth across all entertainment segments.
This wider shift could change how you access and play PlayStation games in the years ahead.
What the Shift Could Mean for PlayStation and Cloud Gaming
Hayakawa’s remarks point to a broader push to make PlayStation less about the console under your TV and more about the ecosystem around it. This doesn’t mean Sony is stepping away from hardware, but it does suggest services like PlayStation Plus and cross-platform features could see more focus.
For gamers, this could mean more content and features designed to keep you active over time, rather than focusing only on console generations. It also suggests a stronger emphasis on community-driven features, social tools, and access across multiple devices.
This isn’t the first time Sony has hinted at this direction. Back in May, the company confirmed it would measure success through monthly active users (MAU) rather than console sales, similar to Xbox’s long-standing approach. You can read more about that change in our article on PlayStation’s shift to monthly active users.
For cloud gaming fans, the implications are big. Sony already offers cloud streaming through PlayStation Plus Premium, but it could expand where and how you can use it. Making PlayStation games available on more devices without needing the latest console fits perfectly with this “platform-first” strategy and could open the door to new ways to play.
While Sony didn’t announce specific cloud plans during this call, the direction is clear. More investment in the services and platforms that connect the PlayStation community, wherever they are.
How PlayStation’s New Direction Echoes Xbox’s Strategy
Sony’s latest comments make it clear the company is thinking long-term about how PlayStation fits into the wider entertainment landscape. It’s a strategy we’ve seen succeed before in the industry. The shift toward a platform-focused model mirrors a strategy Xbox has followed for nearly a decade, prioritizing engagement, services, and community over pure hardware sales.
For gamers, it is worth watching how this approach evolves. Will we see more ways to access PlayStation games across devices? Could cloud streaming become a bigger part of the PlayStation experience? Those are questions only time will answer.
When Xbox made a similar pivot, it used that strategy to grow its cloud gaming presence and reach more gamers on phones, tablets, and other devices. If Sony applies the same thinking, it could open PlayStation to a wider audience and give more options for how you play.
Sony’s growing emphasis on community and engagement shows that it is looking beyond the next hardware cycle, much like Xbox did years ago. The results of that move could shape how you experience PlayStation for years to come. What do you think about PlayStation’s move toward a platform-first future?
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