Sam DeLongThe PS5 generation was started on the promise of up to 120 frames per second, variable refresh rates, ray-tracing, and the fast loading power of an SSD. Now that Rise of the Ronin, another former PS5 exclusive has hobbled on to PC, let me pose a simple but loaded question: If you play PlayStation games on PC, does that make you a PlayStation gamer?
I am not one for console wars, but I typically lean towards PlayStation, and it would be silly to say that exclusives have not had much to do with that over the years. Many iconic franchises are synonymous with PlayStation. Iconic franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted, and Final Fantasy live in our hearts. Many of these games and characters have gone on to live on other platforms, which begs the question: If you have a PC, why do you need a PlayStation? The answer is yes and no — depending on your point of view.
At the start of the generation, a choice had to be made; PS5 or Xbox Series? Console warriors are nothing new to speak of, and the answer to that question often lies in what exclusives you can play. Console tribalism isn’t necessarily a bad thing — competition drives the market. And picking a team can be fun. Everyone wants to see those high Metacritic scores and that giant graphic with all the 10 out of 10 reviews. But is PC becoming the new “best place to play?”
Just Get A PS5 (Or A PC)
In the last couple of years, more of Sony’s big-name exclusives have started going to PC, an incitive that started in 2020. Sony announced that 50 percent of all PlayStation games will be PC by 2025. Horizon Zero Dawn took five years to come to PC, while its sequel, Horizon: Forbidden West, took just two years — releasing in March 2024 on PC after its 2022 release as a PlayStation exclusive. Two years seems to be the standard, with Last of Us Part 1 following suit. And most recently, Spider-Man 2 came to PC a year after its initial launch on PS5. FOMO issues aside, the advantage of releasing these games on PC is that more gamers can play them. The logic is that not releasing it on Steam and Epic would leave unclaimed money on the table.
PlayStation Games On PC Look Great (When They Are Optimized)
Before everyone starts chanting, “Just get a PS5,” I think a conversation can be had about taking advantage of your very expensive graphics card with all of the advantages being a PC Gamer has. This includes ultra-wide support, unlocked FPS past the 120 cap, and the ability to adjust individual settings. But how each port runs is a different story. Many of the ports run great, like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, the latter of which is a gold standard of a port. However, Last of Us Part 1 and Spider-Man 2 suffered from a pretty rough launch. The somewhat terrible performance of the PC version of Rise of the Ronin and the recently released Monster Hunter Wilds makes a good case for sticking with the console.
Sony Execs Think That Playing On PC Can Convert You To Console
While there is no data about a console-to-PC conversion rate, you would think that another point of bringing these PC titles is to introduce new players to the eco system into the fold of Team Blue. I played Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PC and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on the console. However, I already had a PC and a PS5 at the time. So, it wasn’t a choice by default, and I don’t think that is a choice that most people are going to make.
According to Herman Hulst, the idea of conversion was precisely the point of porting games to PC. According to a post on X, the Sony CEO thinks that single-player narrative-driven games on PC will entice players to buy the sequel on PS5.
However, I think that strategy is inherently flawed. I don’t think players who have a PC are being given enough incentive to buy a PS5. However, I think the reverse is true. PlayStation has some genuinely great games that look even better, thanks to the power of a dedicated gaming rig. PlayStation has some genuinely great games that look even better, thanks to the power of a dedicated gaming rig. I broke down what I thought were some of the best examples of former PlayStation exclusives that you can fire up on your dedicated gaming PC. These are not reviews of the games themselves; they are more of a look at the overall experience on PC.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales And Spider-Man Remastered
As one of the first PS5 exclusives, Spider-Man: Miles Morales will always have a special place in my heart. There is something familiar and nostalgic about Insomniacs’ Spider-Man games. The PC versions of these games are handled by Nixxes, who previously handled the famously lousy PC port of Batman: Arkham Knight. The team must have learned since then because Spider-Man Remastered and Miles Morales blaze onto PC, taking full advantage of modern CPU with excellent ray tracing and ultrawide support.
The 21:9 aspect ratio on ultrawide display gives the game’s open-world version of New York a great sense of scale. Web swinging through the city is fluid and ferentic. Much like in its native console versions, both games load seamlessly when the web-slinger goes from indoors to outdoors. Stopping crimes is always fun, and if you are a Spider-Man fan, unlocking all the various Spider Suits not only gives your character a comsetic upgrade, but they are also provided some nerd-tastic easter eggs with references to classic storylines.
Ratchet And Clank: A Rift Apart
The latest adventure featuring the galaxy-saving lombax and his robot pal in Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart is the gold standard for action platformers. The Nixxes PC port will melt your eyeballs with bright and vivid colors and some genuinely eye-catching HDR and lighting effects. A Rift Apart’s visual flair is well-known, even among non-PlayStation fans.
The former PS5 exclusive has charming and creative animation, making it feel like a Pixar-level movie you live in. Even though Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart is the latest in a long line of sequels dating back to the PlayStation 2 days, it also has an easy-to-follow and accessible story. Despite its cartoony art style, it has slick action. And much like a Pixar movie, it has a ton of heart in its charming story. As I said, Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart is the gold standard, a cross-section of a beautiful art style merging with amazing tech that comes together to create a once-in-a-generation video game experience.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Earlier, I mentioned how I had played Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PC and then played its sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, on PlayStation 5. The part that was left out was that I did not finish it on the console. The game’s launch version had some graphical issues, and much of the visuals appeared muddy. While the PS5 Pro version has improved on many of these issues, it still struggles to keep up with the fast action. On the other hand, the PC version has buttery smooth visuals and, on my rig, pushes the FPS into the 100s. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a classic, and the PC version runs even better than its PS5 Pro counterpart.
On the gameplay side, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is everything an RPG sequel should be. It frees Cloud and company from the isolated structure of Midgar to an expansive, open world that is gorgeous. Plenty of side quests exist, but it is easy to mainline the single-player story. Your bond with your party also ties into a more fleshed-out combat experience, allowing you to experiment with your squad of three. It also allows you to answer that age-old question: Aerith or Tifa?
Ghosts Of Tsushima
The inclusion of Ghosts of Tsushima may seem like a strange choice, given the proximity to Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, but this Sucker Punch open-world title is another shining example of how gorgeous PlayStation visuals can be. Its clever use of environmental signposts encourages exploration and makes you forget that you follow similar missions found in other open-world games.
While climbing towers and taking down Mongol bases, you’ll also be surrounded by a beautiful depiction of Japan designed with a love of Japanese culture in mind. Its large and lush levels are filled with tall emerald green grass and fields of bright red sakura blossoms. Its bright colors practically bleed off the screen, with design choices that tie into gameplay.
The often serene nature setting make the brutal violence and cruelty of your enemies all the more jarring. The entire tale is presented with stealth that could rival any Assassin’s Creed tale. Ghots of Tushima has set a standard for stealth and action that will be hard to top. And for those gamers who haven’t yet experienced Jin Sakai’s tale, it’s an excellent opportunity for PC players while we wait for that Ghosts of Totei release date.
The God of War Franchise
I remember first playing the re-booted God of War in 2018. Christopher Judge somehow gave depth to a hero who had previously spent most of his time screaming at the other gods who had betrayed him. God of War and its sequel, God of War Ragnarok, have been on PC for a while. Unlike the other games on this list, this franchise has likely seen its last entry. The story of Ragnarok isn’t quite as impactful as the first, but it still delivers plenty of Titan goodness.
The feeling of Kratos’s axe returning to him is always satisfying. The PC ports have been called nearly flawless. Like other titles, the PC version benefits from a higher frame rate than the 30 fps on a base PS4. While its original creator might not have liked the dramatic turn the series has taken, there is no denying that the God of War franchise is another shining example of the story-driven games that PlayStation is known for. Kratos and Atreus’ harrowing and sometimes heartbreaking journey is a story to behold, not something PC Players should sit out on.
The PC ports Will Keep Coming
These are not the only PlayStation games on PC — and more is coming. The Latest example is Rise of the Ronin, which has unfortunately been marred by a series of performance and graphical issues, even with its most recently released patch. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is coming to PC this April, under the watchful care of Iron Galaxy and Nixxes, who previously developed the ports for the Spider-Man Remastered and Spider-Man: Miles Morales franchise and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s PC release in April in no doubt meant to coincide with the second season of the HBO Max series premiere. A Days Gone Remaster is also coming to day and date, to both PS5 and PC.
The Verdict: PC Gaming Vs. “Just Get A PS5”
At the end of the day, this entire debate is about choice. The ease of use of a console, vs the versatility of a gaming PC rig. I think if you are not suffering from FOMO, and you already have a high-range PC, there is a good chance that playing PlayStation titles on the machine you already own is a good bet. However, the power of GPU-based gaming also comes with some headaches. Not all games are going to be optimized, and it is dependent on your hardware. Whereas Herman Hulst sees PlayStation and a bridge, other Sony Executives are not as confident. Sony Interactive Exec Hideaki Nishino says that console is the easier option, citing the cheaper price and plug and play nature of a console.
“If you want to play PC games with the same GPU [graphics processing unit] performance and so forth as the PS5, you have to spend money and time to build your own PC, While doing so can be rewarding, a dedicated console allows any player to enjoy games of the same technical level right out of the box.”
So Who is right? Well, the good news is — they both are. While I do believe that PC gamers have plenty of reasons to play PlayStation games on PC, most gamers will only do this if they don’t already have a PS5. There are exceptions. I have both, and have even double dipped occasionally. But I don’t think this is going to be case for most people.
At the end of the day, unless you really need the fastest FPS possible, you are going to choose the cheaper and easier option — which is console. Its a debate that could go on forever. However its also a debate that has no real losers, only winners who want play PlayStation games where ever they want.
