Sony closed the Bluepoint Games studio this week, just five years after its acquisition, causing a strong response among gamers and the industry. Soon after, Phil Spencer leaves his position at the head of Xbox, while Sara Bond also resigns. Two of the biggest gaming console brands are facing a crisis at the same time, which hints at a possible turning point for the entire industry.
During the PS4 era, PlayStation dominated the market thanks to strong single-player titles and narrative exclusives. However, after the departure of Jim Ryan, Sony is going through internal turmoil: projects are being canceled, teams are being reorganized, and the focus is shifting towards the GaaS model.
Gaming consoles and two giants, and the same problem
The rising cost of developing 3A games is pushing the company towards more stable sources of income, but this is coming into conflict with the identity of the PlayStation brand. The problems at Bungie and the cancellation of multiplayer projects at studios like Naughty Dog further reinforce the impression that Sony does not have a clearly defined direction.
On the other hand, Xbox managed to recover under the leadership of Spencer through acquisitions, Game Pass and regaining the trust of players. His sudden departure, along with the appointment of management with no experience in the gaming industry, brings great uncertainty. Xbox exclusives are increasingly coming to PlayStation, while the reverse scenario does not exist. In addition, the increase in the price of the Game Pass subscription led to an outflow of users and a decrease in the appeal of the console itself.
Although they operate differently, PlayStation and Xbox today have the same challenge: how to survive in an environment of subscriptions, enormous costs and aggressive competition. Frequent changes in strategy, driven by market pressure, are slowly eroding players’ confidence. The final decision remains with the audience: whether to continue to support the existing giants or to look for an alternative.