In 2021, Sony delivered plenty of things fans can be happy about, including lots of exclusive content, console improvements, and, of course, amazing games. Just like with anything related to entertainment, though, the company will need to continue to improve the quality of its product in order to stay relevant in 2022.
To help them stay in the game, we’ve come up with a list of five New Year’s resolutions that Sony should make and keep for 2022 so that they can continue to dominate the video game market. Let’s begin!
PS5 Production & Availablity
Now, it is completely understandable that the COVID pandemic has caused a lot of issues when it comes to the production of PS5. With that said, it is still unfortunate that the console is impossible to find a year after its release.
Currently, many that want to get their hands on a PS5 are forced to buy from a reseller at an upsold price. Getting more of these next-gen consoles out there is imperative for Sony in 2022, especially when it comes to our next point: making more PS5 exclusive titles.
PS5 Exclusive Titles
Transitioning to a new console generation is always a bit challenging. On the one hand, making a game for both PS4 and PS5 is time-consuming for developers and holds back the game’s potential due to previous-gen hardware restraints.
On the other, only making games for the PS5 obviously makes it impossible for anyone that doesn’t have one to play these exclusive titles. If Sony is able to meet the previous resolution of making their next-gen console even more available in 2022, then people will have the option of purchasing a PS5 in order to play its exclusives. While change is obviously hard and scary, exclusives like Returnal and Demon Souls have proved that the improved visuals and smooth performance that come with the PS5 are totally worth it.
Currently, there are only seven PS5 exclusive titles (not counting remasters). The only two big named games slated as PS5 exclusives currently for 2022 are Forspoken and Ghostwire: Tokyo. If Sony really wants to take advantage of the next-gen power of the console, Sony games in the vein of God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West should consider leaving the PS4 behind going forward.
Here is to hoping that titles that may come out in 2022 can help push PS5 exclusivity a little more this year.
Continue Adding Great PS Plus Games
Sony really stepped it up in 2021 with its PS Plus offerings, as users got a lot of fantastic games that made the subscription service worth the price of admission. In total, the service gave out 40 free games, including a handful of new titles and plenty of previous Game of the Year candidates:
Some of those include Game of the Year candidates, including:
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider (January)
- Concrete Genie (February)
- Control: Ultimate Edition (February)
- Destruction AllStars (February)
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake (March)
- Days Gone (April)
- Star Wars: Squadrons (June)
- A Plague Tale: Innocence (July)
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (November)
In 2022, Sony needs to keep up the momentum by putting out more great games in order to give fans a reason to keep purchasing the service. So far, they are off to a great start, as January features Persona 5 Strikers, Deep Rock Galactic, and Dirt 5.
Deliver a True Game Pass Rival
While Sony is doing a great job with its PS Plus titles, the service still pales in comparison to what Microsoft is doing with Game Pass.
In 2021, Xbox and PC gamers that subscribed to the service got to play hundreds of their favorite titles, with a vast majority of them arriving on Game Pass the same day as their official release. If Sony wants to keep up, they’re going to need to deliver a true competitor.
While it has its issues, PS Now still has plenty of potential to be that platform, especially considering how much better PS4 and PS5 exclusives have been over the years. As long as Sony has the guts to follow a similar day one release model that Xbox has used, it is easy to see them going toe to toe with Game Pass in the near future.
Continue to Improve the PS5 UI
In April, Sony released an update for the PS5 that dramatically improved aspects of the console’s User Interface (UI). Those changes included cross-generation Share Play, the ability to see available parties and online friends in Game Base, and much more.
Despite these changes, the PS5 could still use some more tweaks in 2022. Some of the updates we’d love to see are:
- The ability to turn off the PS5 from the PlayStation Button
- Reconfigured Trophy Lists
- Folders
- Setting Wallpaper
- Media Tab Default Screen
You can see a bit more in-depth reasoning behind these UI additions here if you’re interested.
When it comes down to it, Sony really needs to make the PS5 more customizable in 2022. In doing so, each console will feel tailored to the user, making their specific PS5 feel more homely and user-friendly, all according to their unique specifications.
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