According to Shawn Layden, exclusive games shape the face of a brand.
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment head Shawn Layden has spoken about the role of exclusives. In the Pause for Thought podcast, he noted that not all games have to be tied to one console, but you can't abandon exclusives altogether.
There is huge brand value in having strong exclusives. If Mario starts appearing on PlayStation, that's the apocalypse, right? The same with Nathan Drake and Uncharted.
Mr. Layden believes that major series define the face of a brand and reveal the capabilities of the platforms to which they are tied, being an essential tool for competition. Abandoning exclusives deals a serious blow to the gaming industry.
At the same time, Layden admits that multiplayer service games like Helldivers 2 still need a wider audience.
