Sony dismisses Switch 2 because PS5 is a 'great experience on big screens'
Despite the Nintendo Switch 2's increase in power, Sony bosses believe the PS5 still provides a 'unique offering' to players.
The Switch 2 has achieved record-breaking sales following its launch last week, but it seems Sony isn't phased by the console's appearance on the market.
While the original Switch was far behind the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 in terms of power, the Switch 2 has closed the gap – with the console now running third-party titles like Cyberpunk 2077 to a level comparable to a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox Series S.
The Switch 2 is still behind the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in the graphical arms race, but coupled with its greater third party support, when compared to the original Switch, there's a stronger chance Nintendo's new console could eat into the PlayStation userbase.
This is especially true when you consider many PlayStation players are still playing on last gen hardware. According to a new Sony presentation, there are 124 million monthly active users across PlayStation consoles, and only now, five years after the console launched, has the PlayStation 5 taken the lion's share – with the split last year being 50/50.
There are no specific numbers of PlayStation 4 players now, but based on a graph shown in the presentation, it equates to around a third.
Concerns around the Switch 2 were raised during an accompanying Q&A, where Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Hideaki Nishino answered questions from Sony investors.
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'We closely monitor the overall gaming industry, including the actions of other market participants,' Nishino said. 'Additionally, catalysts in the market are great for the industry as a whole, as they invigorate the excitement and demand more broadly. So it's great to have people launching new things.
'However, as I mentioned previously, we have a differentiated strategy. PlayStation 5 is designed for an immersive gaming experience, and this includes the innovative DualSense controller features as well. We believe PS5-level performance is required to achieve a great experience on big screens. And in this way, we have provided a unique offering for players and creators in this current console generation.'
Along with the 'big screen' experience, Sony is hoping the PlayStation 5 will remain the 'best place to play' games as more publishers go multi-platform.
He added: 'However, publisher strategies are increasingly shifting towards being multi-platform, so more platforms can run the same game, which is great from a creator's perspective. Among those platforms, our mission is that we will continue to be the best place to play and publish.
'As such, we have empowered our creators to leverage our offering and services to create amazing, unique experiences for players with high engagement and great monetization opportunities.
'We have done this consistently as the industry and competitive dynamics have evolved. And of course, PlayStation Studios, our franchises, have a special role in showcasing the PlayStation experience and then strengthening the player's vision with us.'
In the same Q&A, Nishino was asked if Sony is concerned about Nintendo's appeal to the younger generation, and if that could have a negative impact if these younger players don't 'graduate' to PlayStation consoles.
'The PlayStation brand has resonated with a wide range of players over three decades now,' Nishino replied. 'And the number of users engaged on the platform continues to grow. By supporting such a large number of creators, we're able to provide the largest range of content available, catering to all demographics, geographics, and playstyles, etc.
'So we believe that by constantly investing in player's relationship with the brand, and our relationship with creators, we will ensure we stay close to all player's hearts through their lifetime.'
Additionally, Hermen Hulst, the CEO of PlayStation Studios, pointed towards titles like Spider-Man, Astro Bot, and Horizon as examples of games with broad appeal, along with their efforts to bring 'franchises to new formats', citing film, TV, and anime.
However, the original Switch has outsold both the PlayStation 4 and 5, and while the Switch 2's overall success may be limited by its higher price, compared to the Switch 1, its superior power may end up being even more of a danger to Sony's business.
Nintendo wasn't the only rival brought up during the presentation. Nishino was also asked about Xbox's pivot in strategy away from just home consoles, and whether this is a positive or a negative for PlayStation. More Trending
'So I think competition in the business is healthy and it pushes us to innovate,' Nishino replied. 'There are multiple participants who together drive the overall gaming industry, and while there are new engagement models being explored, we ultimately think this is a good thing.
'However, as I mentioned earlier, we are confident and committed on our current strategy. There isn't an urgent need for us to pivot, but we will continue to monitor play patterns, and invest appropriately as required.'
While Sony is likely unperturbed by Microsoft's shift, the Switch 2's impact could pose a significant threat down the line – especially as Sony will likely have a difficult task in convincing players to migrate to the inevitable PlayStation 6.
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MORE: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Switch 2 review – next gen gaming
MORE: Where to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK right now
MORE: Yakuza 0 Director's Cut review – Kiryu on the Nintendo Switch 2
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Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
The 10 best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play right now
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Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
The 5 worst mistakes of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch (and why it doesn't matter)
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Metro
9 hours ago
- Metro
Nintendo Switch 2: does it deserve the hate? - Reader's Feature
A reader counters five of the most common criticisms against the Nintendo Switch 2, arguing that concerns about its pricing and lack of games are overstated. I received the Switch 2 earlier this week after bagging myself a last minute pre-order. For the most part I'm pretty happy with my purchase. However, I've seen a lot of negativity online, most of it likely as a result of the prices of games such as Mario Kart World. I'd like to give my thoughts on the latest Nintendo console and whether I feel these criticisms are valid. This is somewhat valid criticism but at the same time this of true of most consoles. With each passing generation the improvements get smaller and smaller. As someone who was lucky enough to get a PlayStation 5 on launch day, I feel the difference between Switch 1 and Switch 2 is far greater than the jump from PlayStation 4 to 5. I've not played the game, but Cyberpunk 2077 is a brilliant example. There's not a chance that game would've run on the original Switch. Immediately I feel Mario Kart World seems more advanced visually compared to Mario Kart 8. I think the biggest noticeable difference is possibly Zelda. I haven't played Breath Of The Wild yet but Tears Of The Kingdom looks great and so much sharper. Also, it might be the game where I actually understand why people bang on about frame rates. I never normally can tell the difference unless it drops below 30fps but playing the upgraded Tears Of The Kingdom it just seems so much quicker. Overall, I'm happy with the improvements. Having never owned the OLED version the screen feels immediately much better. It's essentially an upgraded Switch but that's exactly what I expected and wanted from it. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Again, yes this is correct. But obviously the Switch 2 is far smaller than both these devices and obviously, being a hybrid device, I imagine the technology doesn't yet exist to create a device that is on par with the most modern hardware and retain portability and affordability. Again, given that Cyberpunk 2077 is a launch game, and includes the DLC only available on modern hardware, it seems that at least for a few years Switch 2 might have third party titles that are comparable to the versions on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. When you compare Switch ports of The Witcher, Batman: Arkham Knight or Mortal Kombat to the Switch 2 ports so far in Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 it seems like the Switch 2 is far comparable to other consoles than the Switch was to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The real test, I imagine, will be when the next generation starts. This, for me, is possibly the most ridiculous comment that I've seen repeated numerous times. I previously had a Steam Deck and traded it in for the more powerful Legion Go. And don't get me wrong, I love the device. However, it isn't for everyone. Firstly, it seems from seeing a few comparison videos that the Switch 2 seems to be outperforming the Steam Deck and performance seems comparable to more advanced handheld PCs, such as the ROG Ally and Legion Go. Secondly, a handheld PC requires a degree of technical know-how and some people just want to be able to play without having to tweak certain settings first. I imagine some games will also run better for this reason. For example, I subscribed to Ubisoft+ for a month to try Str Wars Outlaws and I could not get it to run well consistently on my Legion Go. I'm interested to see how it'll run if the Switch 2. I don't mind tinkering with settings but sometimes it's nice to just play a game that's already optimised. Also, let's face it, most people buying the Switch 2 just want to play Nintendo games. Again, a somewhat valid complaint. Really the only new games are Mario Kart World and Welcome Tour, with one being a glorified tech demo. However, many launches are the same. The original Switch wasn't as great as people remember. Sure, Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is arguably one of the best games of all time but it also launched alongside the Wii U version. Other exclusives, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, Splatoon 2, and Super Mario Odyssey didn't release till later in the year. There's still Metroid Prime 4 later in the year and Donkey Kong Bananza in a few weeks' time. And who knows what other games might be announced if the rumoured Nintendo Direct this month goes ahead. Personally, I'm happy with the output that's planned so far. I only hope it continues. Some of this criticism is in response to pricing. I think the console itself is reasonably priced, especially when you consider both Sony and Microsoft increasing their prices recently. However, I am slightly miffed about the potential for £75 games as standard. I think though, it's hard to quantify how many games will adopt this pricing structure. The upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza seems to be priced a bit cheaper and is less than the standard RRP for other new games on other platforms. I also appreciate that Nintendo offer a discount on digital games. Increasingly, I think we are moving towards all-digital games and wouldn't be surprised if the next generation of PlayStation and Xbox devices don't come with disk drives. So, to at least offer a discount is commendable, although I do feel more should be done to take the sting out a bit. More frequent sales with bigger discounts, money off for multiple purchases, bring back gold points for example. I think the issue of pricing is a wider issue and is only likely to get worse. Game development time and costs seem to be out of hand and personally I'd rather see smaller games to compensate for this. All in all, I'm pleased with my purchase. Is the Switch 2 a worthy successor to the original Switch? Perhaps? But it's too soon to say. It's a significantly bigger and better screen than the original, with updated tech and visuals and that's what I wanted from it. More Trending Could it have launched with more games? Possibly. But for now I think Mario Kart World has renewed my enthusiasm for the series, after not playing the previous iteration for some time. Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom feels like a fully-fledged remaster and feels like a significant upgrade and I've also played a bit of Street Fighter 6, a game which I wouldn't normally enjoy but hope to play against my daughters with the two Joy-Cons. By reader matc7884 The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: I've had the Nintendo Switch 2 for one day and I'm not impressed – Reader's Feature MORE: Why is nobody talking about the PS5 anymore? – Reader's Feature MORE: The original Switch is still a better option than the Switch 2 - Reader's Feature
