Wonder what they would do regarding the revenue split?
Match Steam or match EGS/Windows Store.
I think they'll take the Steam route but the benefit in Sony's case is they can tie in a shared license for devs/pubs with PS and have cross-proliferation of feature support on both platforms.
Not sure what they would do with crossbuy support; I doubt they make it so you buy a copy on one platform you can play it for free on the other platform, as that doesn't just impact their own revenue but also that of 3P partners. However, and I think this is what they're going to do, they can have a "free" version of the launcher on PC that is ad-supported (think the way Xbox OS has...well, a lot of ads), which could be for PC users without PS+ accounts, and they get all the basic benefits of PS+ Essentials (or most of them).
They can also pay for lower-cost versions of the other PS+ tiers though, to remove ads and get access to the same features those tiers provide on the console side, and if they decide they also want PS+ on console they just pay the difference to enable that subscription tier on console. Their sub cost would be what it currently is but covers both PS5 & PC, so PS+ Premium for $120/year covers the sub on both PlayStation and PC, all features synced and things sharable between both platforms.
And, for people who have a PS+ Extra or PS+ Premium/Deluxe sub, they get a discount on buying a game across both account. For example if you buy Game A on PS5 and you have a PS+ Extra/Premium sub, you might be able to get the PC version for 30% off the usual price, so instead of paying $50 or whatever there, you pay $35. Or if you bought it on PS+ on PC for $50, and the console version's normally $60, now you can get the console version for $42, something like that.
That's just one idea of course; they could do other approaches with crossbuy.
While this is good, what they really need to focus heavily is the PlayStation mobile division. I haven't seen much progress on that front.
For instance, TLOU 2 Factions, Destiny, Destruction All Stars, etc. should also have a F2P mobile port. They could rake in some serious cash with MTX.
Dunno, you want them to spending porting resources on native versions of TLOU 2 Factions for mobile? I mean I guess they have the teams for it but, still. I kind of like MS's xCloud in that sense; if you can just stream those type of games to weaker devices so that dev for native versions isn't compounded or potentially compromised.
But in general you're right it makes sense for them to boost funding for their mobile division.
This is basically final confirmation of day and date titles coming soon. Once this is ready, they don't have to share revenue with MS or Epic or Valve, and they control the platform base for their own product.
Yep. They were never going to even consider Day-and-Date on PC without having a means of not being dependent on another platform holder and giving away 30% of their profits. That type of sacrifice may mean less to a company like Microsoft because gaming isn't as much of a core pillar for them revenue-wise, but it does for one like Sony. They need to ensure retainment of that 30% somehow.
Having their own launcher/storefront would also be good in the sense of having 3P games on there; they could technically do something like lower the total cut on their end from 30% closer to 25% or even 20%/22% for any game that's on both PS and the PC launcher/storefront upon it reaching a certain number of copies sold (across either). Stuff like that.
That could make some sense honestly. Much rather have cross platform ps5/pc games than having ps4/ps5 games because the install base is deemed too small to make a next gen only version. By default every game will be next gen only if they do this.
Good point.
They probably want to still be on steam and just force there launcher after it like many other game company's are doing, just to be able to advertise playerbase based on steam+ps.
I doubt much people will care about there games if its not on steam, the games might as well not exist then.
They don't actually need to pull support from Steam, necessarily. However, they could just continue to use Steam the same way they currently are: for older games being ported to the PC platform. They can choose to not put new games Day 1 to Steam, and instead put those as exclusive to their own launcher/storefront. Then maybe a year or so later, they become available on Steam.
They could, though, do as you suggest, but how effective does that look for their bottom line and maintaining vertical integration without working out some deal with Valve that is very favorable for Sony? That's part of the reason they would want their own launcher/storefront in the first place; even if it took time to build up a sizable audience for it on PC, this way they minimize risks much better and if works? Great! If not? Then simply cut the cord, and by that point they'll have more than enough actual PS console owners to carry with business as usual.
It makes the most sense to try leveraging your gaming brand and establishing your own storefront/launcher and pushing that, regardless what uphill battle it has against something like Steam. You only take the Steam approach once you've exhausted all of your more favorable options. I'm curious if EGS will play any role in this for Sony's launcher, though.