Talking Point: Will PlayStation’s Mobile Push Be a Success or a Flop?

We all anticipated this development, but PlayStation’s endeavors in the mobile realm are finally manifesting.

The platform owner has been establishing a mobile branch of PS Studios, and it has taken several years to truly lift off, but following this week’s revelations, we’re at last beginning to see the investment yielding results.

It all aligns with the company’s strategy of expanding its intellectual properties beyond the PlayStation platform itself.

We’ve already witnessed several movies and TV series inspired by first-party IPs like Uncharted, The Last of Us, and even Gran Turismo, helping those cherished franchises to reach an even broader audience.

Porting titles to PC is also a significant component of the strategy, placing many of its games on Steam and the Epic Games Store to enlarge audiences.

Crucially, it all connects back to PlayStation, likely playing a substantial role in the PS5 becoming Sony’s second fastest-selling console in the US, second only to the PS2.

Launching mobile games is another key element in the puzzle, and it is a vital aspect that Sony has not yet fully capitalized on.

That is set to change, however, as not just one, but two significant first-party mobile titles have been revealed — Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble and Horizon Steel Frontiers.

The former is a multiplayer action title, where players compete in various modes, upgrading weaponry, and earning rewards.

The latter is an MMO where gamers unite to track down machines across a new segment of the Horizon universe.

Both games present something slightly unique compared to the core series from which they originate, yet they make perfect sense and appear to be well-executed.

The real test will be in the playing, but we hope both will find their audiences.

Ultimately, the main objective is to expose these franchises to a wider array of players, and mobile is a vast untapped opportunity for Sony to achieve just that.

Smartphones are in the hands of billions worldwide, overshadowing console sales, and the mobile platform represents the largest revenue generator in gaming. It would be incredibly short-sighted for Sony to not delve into mobile.

The company has ventured into this space previously with titles like Ultimate Sackboy and WipEout Merge, but this new approach appears to be far more assured.

Plausibly, the expectation is that players will develop an interest in Ratchet & Clank and Horizon, leading them to explore more games within those franchises, steering them toward PS5 or PC, where Sony’s high-quality titles await.

Horizon Steel Frontiers, in particular, has stirred some controversy; the game is set to launch on mobile and PC, but what of the PS5 itself?

Extending PlayStation franchises to other segments of the gaming market is logical, yet some fans are puzzled as to why these games would entirely bypass the PS5.

It’s plausible that the long-term goal involves bringing its most successful mobile games to console, but we remain in the nascent stages of this development. We hope the full extent of PlayStation’s intentions comes into clearer view as these games are released.

So, this strategy makes commercial sense and is something the company has been strategizing for a considerable period, but how do you feel about it?

We’d like to hear your opinions on PlayStation’s mobile initiative as we know it today, with two fan-favorite franchises jumping to smartphones in an effort to attract larger audiences.

Participate in our polls, and share your thoughts in the comments section below.