Thank You, PlayStation

Can anyone believe that it’s been 30 years of PlayStation? It’s gone so quickly, and most of us have great gaming memories over the years. Especially having grown up with the platform since we were practically in the midst of greatness that the original PlayStation offered. If anything has been consistent about PlayStation, it’s that it’s always evolved with every generation, and I expect the PlayStation 6 generation to be no different.

So this is a thank you from us, the players, for all the great memories that PlayStation has brought us. It’s a celebration that even through some tough moments, the PlayStation brand is stronger than ever. All due to it’s unwavering commitment to it’s fans. You could say that PlayStation has benefitted enormously from the success it’s had in being a premium brand for gamers out there. However, it has always given us great enjoyment many times in our lives. For many, that’s priceless, which is why so many have stayed loyal to the brand.

Of course, PlayStation does things a lot differently now. However, it’s always looked to bring joy and a platform that meets the expectations of it’s fanbase. These days, with Sony’s commitment of getting back to releasing more single-player story-driven games every year moving forward. It’s a move that respects the traditions of what has made PlayStation as a brand so successful. It’s always about what the fanbase wants, and I think they’ve heard the fans loud and clear there. No other brand other than Nintendo has been as successful in doing that. That’s why these companies are in the positions they are in their respective positions in the gaming industry.

So where does PlayStation go from here? The journey continues, and I do think that we’re going to see a consistent array of games as we move forward onto the PlayStation 6. Sony themselves have already said as much. But as we’re seeing, there does seem to be a sea of change happening in the gaming industry. Not only with new hardware but with the way PlayStation wants to reach more fans.

There seems to be no price that PlayStation fans themselves will rule themselves out of when it comes to new hardware. Not only has the PS5 Pro sold well, but a poll recently even stated by fans that the price of an upcoming Sony handheld wouldn’t be that important to them. I think if anything, that just shows how different the gaming industry is now. You have PlayStation that is offering these premium products. But also, I see potential in the way other companies are stepping in to fill the gap to provide value. I think everything has it’s place, no matter if it’s cloud gaming or a subscription model. These are just other revenue streams that give fans options and provide affordability to those that just want to play.

I think that’s incredibly important moving forward that we still get those options and that competition. As the industry continues, this hobby of ours is getting more and more expensive. If anything, the way these companies have operated recently shows that growth is of the upmost priority for all of them. We’re heading into a generation that is going to be incredibly important for the industry as a whole, in my opinion. I feel as though it’s going to be the moment where engagement and not hardware sold is the most important thing for game studios and their developers. That’s why exclusivity is becoming less important to some. And others, they’re creating other opportunities to play their games as to promote buying the hardware.

I think about how successful all of this will be for each company. It’s going to be about the games. It always is about that. PlayStation has shown the path to how successful you can be if you meet the expectations of your fans consistently. As has Nintendo. It’s always about doing the right things with not just your platform but also the content themselves and providing a balance on what that content is so as not to piss anyone off. Nine times out of ten, if you do that well. Then, as we’ve seen over 30 years of PlayStation. You become the main go-to platform around the world, and almost everything in the relationship with the consumer becomes a success.

PlayStation has been instrumental in my life of gaming and getting through some tough moments. As it has many of yours as well, I’d assume. I think if that says anything, it says that there is always a place for us all away from all aspects of this reality that engages us into a sense of real escapism, and sometimes one platform can do that more for you than any other. But if your playing, then your already winning. It never truly matters what platform you are playing on, as long as you meet that mindset.

Thank you, PlayStation. From us all, most importantly to every single person out there that works on a videogame no matter what platform they’re working on. We’re all in this together, and that’s what makes this industry so exciting, no matter if you’re creating or playing. It’s contributing to the success of an artform that is becoming more and more important than ever before to everyone. And that much is clear.