2021 has been a mixed bag for PlayStation. After the hype surrounding the PS5's 2020 launch, this year has been considerably calmer, calmer after a heavy storm, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
While PS5 exclusives like Returnal and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart have shown just how powerful PlayStation's latest console is, ongoing stock issues on PS5 have created a barrier for people to see the next-gen console and delays. of great titles like Horizon. Forbidden West has left a noticeable gap in the proprietary PlayStation lineup this year. Additionally, Sony's U-turn on PS5 exclusives has left us wondering if the company "really believes in generations," as Jim Ryan, Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO, previously said.
After last year's whirlwind, PlayStation 2021 felt a bit flawed, but it looks like 2022 could see that change.
A quiet year
While the PS5 launch was a bit light on exclusives, we started to see developers harness the power of Sony's new hardware with exclusive games like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Deathloop and Returnal in 2021. But not only It was new to the PlayStation games that benefited from the PS5 capabilities this year, we've also seen PS4 games like Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima get a PS5 update, making them perform better and more beautiful than ever.
However, the waves of the Covid-19 pandemic continued to be felt in the gaming industry this year, with several PS5 games scheduled for release in 2021, such as God of War: Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, and Gran. Tourism 7, delayed. until 2022.
The absence of these titles was felt in the first year of the PS5. But where Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service has filled the gap of delays and departures, the insufficiency of Sony's PS Now service has been highlighted accordingly. Of course, PS Plus continues to offer a wide variety of games, including a PS5 game, every month, but Sony needs its own “Netflix for games” to stay relevant (and accessible) in a changing landscape. And, if a Bloomberg report from earlier this month is any basis, that's exactly what he's working on.
But a new subscription service isn't the only thing we're excited about for the future of PlayStation. The PlayStation Showcase on September 9 saw the announcement of several upcoming PS5 games to make PlayStation fans fall in love, including Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Marvel's Wolverine, and a remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. While these games are a few years away from release, they certainly make owning a PS5 a more attractive proposition.
Taking stock of generations
As the PS5 increasingly finds its place in 2021, inventory issues continue to plague both Sony and gamers. In the year since the launch of PlayStation 5, getting one remains a challenge, and any meager stock is recovered within minutes.
These supply issues have been a stumbling block for those wanting to upgrade to the next-gen PlayStation and have likely been the cause of Sony's switch to PS5 exclusives.
Throughout 2020, Sony has made it clear that those who buy a PS5 when it launches will have access to exclusives not available on PS4. "We've always said that we believe in generations," Ryan told GamesIndustry.biz in May 2020. But since that interview, Sony's tone has changed. In June 2021, news broke that God of War Ragnarok, Gran Turismo 7, and Horizon Forbidden West were also coming to PS4.
Sony's ouster met with backlash, as the console that was once touted as the only place to play these highly anticipated titles...wasn't. For now, Sony's focus appears to be cross-generational, while PS5 stock remains an issue. But, when we look at the upcoming PS5 exclusive titles, the belief in separate generations may once again become relevant.
A better future
Sony's approach to bringing gamers to the next generation remains somewhat confusing and a bit out of touch with Microsoft. This made for a somewhat uncertain and quieter year than expected for PlayStation owners.
With that said, while things are a bit tired at the moment, the future looks bright for PlayStation. Supply chains are expected to resume next year, meaning those who want to get their hands on a PS5 should be able to do so, and hopefully rumors of an Xbox Game Pass competitor will materialize. Also, the likely launch of PSVR 2, which was confirmed in early 2021, and a plethora of highly anticipated titles, and the PlayStation 2022 could look considerably more exciting for gamers.
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