Sony had to make a gaming monitor for PC because PS5 is not enough

It’s no secret that Sony makes a gaming monitor for PC that can also work well with the PS5. The PC gaming business is simply too big to ignore, and it’s just money on the table to be had by other monitor makers.

Sony didn’t say those exact words, but it wasn’t necessary for me to know that this was one of the reasons I made the decision To announce two gaming monitors this week. Another reason is that Sony’s increased focus on services means the PS Plus will eventually outpace the console. Showing its games in front of more people rather than locking them has become because, in the past few years, exclusive games have been a welcome change in strategy.

Though, Sony was late for this particular party. The Nintendo Switch’s Steam Deck and Valve’s Steam Deck can be played anywhere by design, and while Microsoft doesn’t see making gaming monitors (indeed, that’s the norm), it’s spreading its focus on Xbox development by improving PC compatibility and showcasing its cloud capabilities across more From devices, such as phones and tablets and even now, Select Samsung TVs. Bar someone joins Xbox Game Pass, giving them instant access to a wide variety of games from their couch, phone, or office for a reasonable monthly fee, Unbelievably a little. You’re almost silly not to give it a try.

Sony’s new gaming monitors see the company expanding itself in a very limited way. It’s a big deal since Sony has historically cared about controlling the living room, not the office or wherever you set up your computer. But it stands out as odd unlike Nintendo, Microsoft, and Valve, which are now focused on giving you ways to play your games wherever you are.

Regardless of the success of Sony’s new M9 monitor, it is interesting to think about it this is, the $899 screen (and the $529 model coming this winter), is Sony’s next big step to reach more gamers. You will definitely arrive some Gamers: Those who see more value in a 27-inch screen than buying a 48-inch OLED screen or something larger with less impressive specs for the same roughly $1,000 price tag. But it looks like Sony is trying to make the most of (and perhaps improve) the embarrassing but ultimately fixable issues in its console strategy thus far.

To be clear, Sony is by no means in a sad place because of the PS5. He. She It has sold 17.3 million consoles since its launch in late 2020 through the end of 2021. Become PS5 The first bestselling Nintendo Switch line breaker console for 33 months in the United States. It’s been almost a year since then Sony announces that the $499 PS5 is making money Instead of losing every console.

Sony’s gaming business is doing just fine… at the moment. But there are components of its business that need improvement in order for Sony to better meet gamers wherever they are: everywhere, and play on every device.

Sony’s new multi-level subscription to PS Plus It currently cannot compete directly with the value, simplicity, and wide availability of Xbox Game Pass. I’m sure it’ll get better over time, but its new interface and game library feel so full of information that it sells me on a service I’m already paying for and lack experiences to try — at least for the PlayStation that never came.

While Sony is working on it, I also love this whole service, complete with PS5 game streaming, to get to PC, Mac, and mobile as quickly as possible. Heck, maybe Sony can just clean up its messaging, because apart from console usage, it’s pretty confusing how you can and can’t play Sony’s large library of console games. He is currently making a file Remote Play app For PC, Mac, and mobile, but it requires that you own a PS4 or PS5 and be on the same network. On PC, Sony is actually halfway with the current PS Plus app, which allows You can stream games on PCBut it only supports the older DualShock 4 controller, not Sony’s PS5 DualSense controller. Plus, PS5 games are missing from the PC app entirely – it’s just PS4 games with some old console classics in the mix.

In order to spread to other places besides the couch, Sony will really have to figure out what cloud game streaming is. Has bad reputation Those potatoes fumbled Long ago and still didn’t really know where she wore it, though ironically, Microsoft itself powers Sony’s streaming technology. I’ve heard others report good experiences with streaming PS3 and PS4 games via PS Plus, but even though my PS5 is connected over ethernet to a more than capable network, game start-ups are much slower and slower than with the excellent xCloud experience.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales/The Verge

Great screens won’t solve Sony’s gaming anywhere problem, but they do the next best thing: They provide Sony’s own solution to the requirements of gamers who don’t want to sit on their sofa to play on a console. People work remotely. They sit at their desk at home all day. Selling these folks a monitor that handles normal PC tasks alongside games, while also including nifty features for PS5 owners, keeps Sony where people want to play — not where Sony thinks they should. Or at least that’s the plan.

I have really enjoyed using the M9 screen so far. I’m still testing it, but it ticks a lot of boxes – for both PS5 and PC players. It has a 4K IPS panel with a refresh rate of 144Hz, and full local dimming with 96-zones is instantly stunning, helping HDR look even more impressive. We’ll have to see if it’s really good to compete with the best current gaming monitors in this price range. But its presence will not be confusing. Sony is no longer just competing for time on your TV; Now, you want to be where you play somewhere else as well.