Sony has announced that it will not release any new major titles from its existing franchises in the next fiscal year, which ends in March 2025. This means that fans of popular series like God of War, Spider-Man, and Horizon will have to wait longer for the next instalments.
Sony’s Financial Results Reveal Lower PS5 Sales and Software Plans
The news came as part of Sony’s financial results for the third quarter of 2024, which showed that the company had revised its PS5 console sales down from 22.6 million to 21.5 million units for the current fiscal year. Sony attributed this to the ongoing global chip shortage and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on production and distribution.
However, Sony also revealed its software strategy for the next fiscal year, which surprised many analysts and gamers. According to Sony president Hiroki Totoki, the company will focus on producing high-quality productions and live service games, but will not launch any new major titles from its existing franchises.
“Regarding first-party software, we aim to continue to focus on producing high-quality productions and producing live service games. But while major projects are currently under development, we do not plan to release any new major existing franchise titles next fiscal year like God of War: Ragnarok and Marvel Spider-Man 2.” Totoki said.
What Does This Mean for PlayStation Fans?
Sony’s decision to delay new games from existing franchises until 2025 means that PlayStation fans will have to wait longer for some of the most anticipated titles on the PS5. Some of these games, such as God of War: Ragnarok and Gran Turismo 7, were originally announced for 2023, but were later pushed back to 2024. Now, it seems that they will not arrive until 2025 at the earliest.
This also means that Sony will have to rely on other sources of software revenue, such as third-party games, second-party games, smaller games, and new IP. Some of the games that could fill the gap in Sony’s lineup include Forspoken, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Final Fantasy XVI, Project Athia, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Sony could also announce new partnerships with independent developers or acquire new studios to bolster its portfolio.
However, some analysts have expressed concern that Sony’s software strategy could hurt its competitive edge against Microsoft, which has been aggressively investing in its Xbox Game Studios and Xbox Game Pass service. Microsoft has recently acquired Activision Blizzard, the publisher of popular franchises like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft, for $68.7 billion. This could give Microsoft a huge advantage in terms of content and subscribers in the coming years.
Will Sony Change Its Mind?
Sony’s software plans for the next fiscal year are not set in stone, and the company could change its mind depending on the market conditions and consumer demand. Sony has previously revised its release dates for some of its games, such as Horizon Forbidden West, which was originally slated for 2023, but was later moved to February 2024.
Sony could also surprise its fans with some unexpected announcements or reveals, such as a new Uncharted game, a new Ratchet & Clank game, or a new IP from Naughty Dog. Sony has a history of delivering high-quality and critically acclaimed games, and it is unlikely that it will abandon its loyal fan base.
However, for now, PlayStation fans will have to be patient and enjoy the games that are already available or coming soon on the PS5. Sony has assured that it will continue to support the Dreams community for the foreseeable future and will update on its future plans at a later date.
