List of PlayStation 5 games
The list of PlayStation 5 games comprises all video games released natively for the PlayStation 5 (PS5), Sony Interactive Entertainment's ninth-generation home video game console.[1] Launched on November 12, 2020, in select markets including the United States, Japan, and Canada, the PS5 supports a diverse library that leverages its hardware innovations, such as the ultra-high-speed SSD for reduced load times, ray tracing for enhanced visuals, and the DualSense wireless controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.[1] As of November 2025, this catalog includes more than 7,500 native titles, encompassing first-party exclusives from PlayStation Studios, major third-party releases, and independent games across genres like action-adventure, role-playing, shooters, and sports.[2] This compilation excludes games accessible solely through the PS5's backward compatibility with the PlayStation 4 library, which numbers over 8,500 titles and allows seamless play with performance enhancements via Game Boost in many cases.[3] Launch titles such as the remake of Demon's Souls by Bluepoint Games, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales from Insomniac Games, and the pre-installed Astro's Playroom demonstrated the console's capabilities from day one, while subsequent years have seen high-profile releases like God of War Ragnarök (2022) and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024).[1] In 2025 alone, notable additions include Ghost of Yōtei, a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, expanding the ecosystem with ongoing support for PlayStation VR2 titles and cloud streaming via PlayStation Plus Premium.[4] The list serves as a reference for players, developers, and historians, often organized alphabetically or chronologically to track the platform's evolution amid a competitive ninth-generation market.[5]Overview
Console Launch and Game Ecosystem
The PlayStation 5 console launched on November 12, 2020, in select regions including the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, followed by a worldwide release on November 19, 2020, in Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia, and South Africa.[1] This debut marked Sony Interactive Entertainment's entry into the ninth generation of video game consoles, emphasizing enhanced performance and immersive experiences from day one.[6] Initial launch titles highlighted the platform's potential, with Astro's Playroom pre-installed on every PS5 to demonstrate its hardware features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, the remake of Demon's Souls by Bluepoint Games offering a visually upgraded action RPG, and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales by Insomniac Games delivering a narrative-driven superhero adventure optimized for the new system.[1][6] These titles, developed in close collaboration with Sony's partners, set the tone for a library that leveraged the console's capabilities, such as faster loading via its custom SSD.[7] Developer support for the PS5 ecosystem was anchored by Sony's first-party studios under PlayStation Studios, including Naughty Dog, known for narrative masterpieces like The Last of Us series, and Santa Monica Studio, creators of the God of War franchise, both contributing to exclusive and enhanced titles.[8] Third-party partnerships further broadened the game offerings, with publishers like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft integrating their catalogs through services such as EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics, ensuring cross-progression and a steady flow of multiplatform releases.[9][10] The ecosystem expanded through strategic acquisitions by PlayStation Studios, such as Bungie in 2022 for $3.6 billion to bolster live-service expertise with titles like Destiny, and Haven Studios in March 2022 to develop new multiplayer IPs.[11][12] Complementing these efforts, the PlayStation Indies initiative, launched in July 2020, supports independent developers by showcasing emerging titles, providing development hardware loans, and integrating indie games into services like PlayStation Plus to foster innovation and accessibility.[13][14]Technical Specifications Impacting Games
The PlayStation 5 features a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads, operating at variable frequencies up to 3.5 GHz, which provides enhanced processing power for complex game logic, AI behaviors, and physics simulations compared to previous generations.[7] The integrated GPU, based on AMD's RDNA 2 architecture with ray tracing acceleration and variable rate shading support, delivers up to 10.3 teraflops at frequencies reaching 2.23 GHz, enabling developers to implement advanced rendering techniques that improve visual fidelity without excessive performance costs.[7] Complementing this is 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with 448 GB/s bandwidth, allowing for seamless handling of high-resolution textures and large open-world environments.[7] A standout hardware element is the custom 825 GB SSD, offering raw I/O throughput of 5.5 GB/s and up to 9 GB/s with compression, which dramatically reduces loading times and enables innovative game design such as seamless world transitions and instant asset streaming.[7][15] Ray tracing integration in the GPU simulates realistic light interactions, producing lifelike shadows, reflections, and refractions that enhance immersion in PS5-native titles.[7] The Tempest 3D AudioTech engine supports object-based spatial audio, delivering precise sound positioning through compatible headphones or TV speakers to heighten environmental awareness and narrative depth.[16] Additionally, the DualSense controller's advanced haptic feedback and adaptive triggers provide tactile responses that simulate in-game actions, such as varying resistance for drawing a bow or textured vibrations for different surfaces, directly influencing player interaction mechanics.[17] Developers can leverage performance modes to balance visuals and smoothness; for example, in games like The Last of Us Part 1, Fidelity mode targets native 4K resolution at 30 fps with full graphical enhancements like ray tracing, prioritizing visual detail, while Performance mode aims for up to 120 fps at dynamic resolutions around 1440p-4K, emphasizing fluid gameplay.[18] Variable rate shading further optimizes rendering by applying higher shading rates only to focal areas, reducing computational load in peripheral regions to maintain higher frame rates in demanding scenes.[19] For backward compatibility, the PS5's Game Boost mode automatically enhances eligible PS4 titles with higher frame rates and resolutions, while select games receive PS5-specific patches for features like 4K output at 60 fps, Tempest 3D Audio, and DualSense integration, bridging generational improvements without requiring full remakes.[20] The PlayStation 5 Pro, released on November 7, 2024, builds on these specifications with a more powerful GPU featuring 60 compute units (a 67% increase over the base model) based on enhanced RDNA 3 architecture for advanced ray tracing, 16 GB GDDR6 memory at 576 GB/s bandwidth, and a 2 TB SSD. It introduces PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), an AI-driven upscaling technology that enables higher frame rates and improved visuals in 4K, with many PS5 games receiving free Pro Enhanced patches to leverage these capabilities for enhanced performance and fidelity.[21]Released Games
Chronological List by Year
The PlayStation 5's game library began with a modest selection at launch, expanding rapidly as developers adapted to the console's capabilities. As of November 2025, over 3,900 native PS5 titles have been released commercially, encompassing a diverse range of genres from action-adventures to indies.[22] This growth, driven significantly by indie developers and digital-only releases, reflects the console's market penetration, with releases accelerating after the initial supply shortages in 2020-2021.[2] Release trends show an initial reliance on cross-generation titles compatible with PS4, which accounted for a significant portion of early output to ease the transition for existing users. By 2022, however, there was a marked shift toward PS5-native games, driven by the desire to utilize features like ray tracing, SSD loading, and the DualSense controller's haptic feedback; dual releases declined sharply post-2021 as developers prioritized next-gen optimizations.[23] Annual release volumes increased from around 20 in 2020 to over 500 in 2021, reaching 800-1,000 per year by 2024-2025, with approximately 700 titles in 2025 up to November, including major expansions in live-service and multiplayer genres.[22]2020
The PS5 launched on November 12, 2020, in select regions, with about 20 native titles available by year's end, focusing on high-profile exclusives and cross-gen ports to establish the ecosystem. These launch games emphasized graphical fidelity and fast loading times enabled by the console's hardware.| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro's Playroom | Team Asobi | Sony Interactive Entertainment | November 12, 2020 | Platformer |
| Demon's Souls | Bluepoint Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | November 12, 2020 | Action RPG |
| Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | November 12, 2020 | Action-Adventure |
| Godfall | Counterplay Games | Gearbox Publishing | November 12, 2020 | Action RPG |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | Treyarch / Raven Software | Activision | November 13, 2020 | First-Person Shooter |
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft | November 12, 2020 | Action RPG |
| Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition | Capcom | Capcom | November 12, 2020 | Action |
2021
Over 500 games launched in 2021, marking a surge as supply chains stabilized and third-party support grew; notable releases included several PS5 exclusives that showcased the console's performance potential.| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returnal | Housemarque | Sony Interactive Entertainment | April 30, 2021 | Roguelike Shooter |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | June 11, 2021 | Platformer |
| Resident Evil Village | Capcom | Capcom | May 7, 2021 | Survival Horror |
| Deathloop | Arkane Studios | Bethesda Softworks | September 14, 2021 | First-Person Shooter |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade | Square Enix (port by CyberConnect2) | Square Enix | June 10, 2021 | Action RPG |
| Guardians of the Galaxy | Eidos Montréal | Square Enix | October 26, 2021 | Action-Adventure |
| It Takes Two | Hazelight Studios | Electronic Arts | March 26, 2021 | Co-op Action |
2022
Approximately 800 titles arrived in 2022, with a pivot to native PS5 experiences; blockbusters like God of War Ragnarök highlighted narrative depth and seamless world traversal.| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | FromSoftware | Bandai Namco Entertainment | February 25, 2022 | Action RPG |
| God of War Ragnarök | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment | November 9, 2022 | Action-Adventure |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | February 18, 2022 | Action RPG |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Polyphony Digital | Sony Interactive Entertainment | March 4, 2022 | Racing Simulator |
| Stray | BlueTwelve Studio | Annapurna Interactive | July 19, 2022 | Adventure |
| Dying Light 2 Stay Human | Techland | Techland | February 4, 2022 | Survival Horror |
| Tiny Tina's Wonderlands | Gearbox Software | 2K Games | March 25, 2022 | Looter Shooter |
2023
With around 900 releases, 2023 emphasized expansive open worlds and remakes, including cross-platform hits that boosted PS5 adoption through enhanced visuals and performance modes.| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldur's Gate 3 | Larian Studios | Larian Studios | September 6, 2023 | RPG |
| Resident Evil 4 | Capcom | Capcom | March 24, 2023 | Survival Horror |
| Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | October 20, 2023 | Action-Adventure |
| Final Fantasy XVI | Square Enix | Square Enix | June 22, 2023 | Action RPG |
| Street Fighter 6 | Capcom | Capcom | June 2, 2023 | Fighting |
| Hogwarts Legacy | Avalanche Software | Warner Bros. Games | February 10, 2023 | Action RPG |
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | Respawn Entertainment | Electronic Arts | April 28, 2023 | Action-Adventure |
2024
Over 1,000 games were released in 2024, a peak year for variety, featuring innovative platformers and expansions in live-service titles that integrated PS5's social features.| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Bot | Team Asobi | Sony Interactive Entertainment | September 6, 2024 | Platformer |
| Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree | FromSoftware | Bandai Namco Entertainment | June 21, 2024 | Action RPG Expansion |
| Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | Square Enix (Creative Business Unit I) | Square Enix | February 29, 2024 | Action RPG |
| Helldivers 2 | Arrowhead Game Studios | Sony Interactive Entertainment | February 8, 2024 | Co-op Shooter |
| Dragon's Dogma 2 | Capcom | Capcom | March 22, 2024 | Action RPG |
| Stellar Blade | Shift Up | Sony Interactive Entertainment | April 26, 2024 | Action |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Game Science | Game Science | August 20, 2024 | Action RPG |
2025
By November 17, 2025, approximately 700 titles had launched, with a focus on multiplayer and remasters; November releases included shooters and strategy games, continuing the trend of high-profile annual drops.| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Sandfall Interactive | Kepler Interactive | April 24, 2025 | Turn-Based RPG |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | Warhorse Studios | Plaion | February 4, 2025 | Action RPG |
| Split Fiction | Hazelight Studios | Electronic Arts | March 6, 2025 | Co-op Adventure |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | Capcom | Capcom | February 28, 2025 | Action RPG |
| Satisfactory | Coffee Stain Studios | Coffee Stain Publishing | November 4, 2025 | Survival Crafting |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 | Treyarch | Activision | November 14, 2025 | First-Person Shooter |
| Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition | Relic Entertainment | World's Edge | November 4, 2025 | Real-Time Strategy |
Alphabetical List with Key Details
The alphabetical list below catalogs native PlayStation 5 games released as of November 2025, encompassing digital-only releases, physical editions, and enhanced ports optimized for PS5 hardware. This excludes titles available solely through backward compatibility from PS4 without PS5-specific upgrades, such as improved graphics, faster load times, or new features. The list includes over 3,900 verified native titles, with metadata on developers, publishers, initial release dates, and platform notes (e.g., EX for PS5 exclusive, MP for multiplatform across PS5 and other consoles like Xbox Series X/S or PC, CB for cross-buy with PS4, CP for cross-play support). Special editions like Deluxe or Ultimate are noted where they introduce significant content expansions. Data is sourced from comprehensive game databases and verified for accuracy up to late 2025.[22] For brevity in this encyclopedic reference, the table presents representative entries spanning A-Z, highlighting key examples across genres and release years; a full exhaustive catalog exceeds practical scope here but can be referenced via official platforms.| Title | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Initial Release Date | Platforms & Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Bot | Team ASOBI | Sony Interactive Entertainment | September 6, 2024 | PS5 EX; features DualSense haptic feedback, no CB |
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft | November 12, 2020 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); next-gen upgrade from PS4, CP enabled |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | Larian Studios | Larian Studios | September 6, 2023 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); split-screen co-op, Deluxe Edition with digital soundtrack |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | Treyarch, Raven Software | Activision | October 25, 2024 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); CP across platforms, Zombies mode included |
| Demon's Souls | Bluepoint Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | November 12, 2020 | PS5 EX; remake with ray tracing, no multiplatform |
| Destiny 2: The Final Shape | Bungie | Bungie | June 4, 2024 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); free-to-play base with expansion, CP raids |
| Elden Ring | FromSoftware | Bandai Namco Entertainment | February 25, 2022 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); open-world action RPG, Shadow of the Erdtree DLC (2024) |
| Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | Square Enix (Creative Business Unit I) | Square Enix | February 29, 2024 | PS5 EX (timed); CB not available, orchestral soundtrack edition |
| God of War Ragnarök | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment | November 9, 2022 | PS5 EX; Valhalla DLC (free, 2023), haptic combat feedback |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Polyphony Digital | Sony Interactive Entertainment | March 4, 2022 | PS5 EX; 25th Anniversary Edition with extra cars, online MP |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | February 18, 2022 | PS5 MP (PC 2024); Burning Shores DLC, machine learning-based climbing |
| It Takes Two | Hazelight Studios | Electronic Arts | March 26, 2021 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); Friend's Pass for co-op, no single-player |
| Jedi: Survivor | Respawn Entertainment | Electronic Arts | April 28, 2023 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); ray-traced lighting, Deluxe Edition cosmetics |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | Warhorse Studios | Plaion | February 4, 2025 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); historical RPG, CP in multiplayer modes |
| Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth | Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | SEGA | January 26, 2024 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); turn-based combat, Deluxe Edition with art book |
| Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | October 20, 2023 | PS5 EX; fast travel via wingsuit, no CB from PS4 |
| No Man's Sky | Hello Games | Hello Games | November 12, 2020 (PS5 enhanced) | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox, Switch); continuous updates, cross-save CP |
| Persona 3 Reload | Atlus, P-Studio | Atlus, SEGA | February 2, 2024 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); remake with modern graphics, Expansion Pass available |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | June 11, 2021 | PS5 EX; dimension-hopping via SSD tech, no multiplatform |
| Sackboy: A Big Adventure | Sumo Digital | Sony Interactive Entertainment | November 12, 2020 | PS5 MP (PC 2022); co-op platformer, CB with PS4 |
| The Last of Us Part II Remastered | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment | January 19, 2024 (PS5) | PS5 EX; enhanced from PS4, No Return roguelike mode, CB |
| Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection | Naughty Dog, Iron Galaxy (port) | Sony Interactive Entertainment | January 28, 2022 | PS5 MP (PC 2022); 4K/60fps upgrades, photo mode additions |
| Valheim | Iron Gate Studio | Coffee Stain Studios | March 21, 2023 (PS5) | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); survival crafting, CP co-op up to 10 players |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition | CD Projekt Red | CD Projekt | December 14, 2022 (PS5) | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox, Switch); next-gen update with new quests, free upgrade from PS4 |
| Yakuza: Like a Dragon | Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | SEGA | November 10, 2020 | PS5 MP (PC, Xbox); enhanced port from PS4, CP in online elements |
Upcoming and Future Games
Announced Titles with Release Windows
As of November 2025, numerous PlayStation 5 games have been officially announced with projected release windows extending into late 2025, 2026, and beyond, following major events such as Sony's State of Play broadcasts in June and September 2025. These announcements, drawn from developer roadmaps and showcases like Tokyo Game Show 2025, highlight a diverse lineup including sequels, remasters, and new IPs, with several titles delayed from earlier projections due to ongoing supply chain issues, including semiconductor shortages affecting development timelines.[24] Approximately 50 confirmed titles fit this category, spanning genres from action-adventure to RPGs, though exact counts vary by source as windows are subject to change.[25] Releases are categorized by window for clarity, with high-profile examples noted below. Delays have been common, such as those impacting multi-platform projects amid 2024-2025 hardware constraints.Late 2025 (Q4)
| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Window | Announcement Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [No entries as of November 17, 2025; previously listed titles have released.] |
2026
| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Window | Announcement Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon | Nihon Falcom / PH3 GmbH | NIS America | January 15, 2026 | Nintendo Direct June 2025, PS5 port announced[26] |
| Code Vein II | Bandai Namco Studios | Bandai Namco Entertainment | January 30, 2026 | Summer Game Fest 2025[26] |
| Deus Ex Remastered | Aspyr | Aspyr | February 5, 2026 | State of Play September 2025[26][27] |
| Crimson Desert | Pearl Abyss | Nexon | March 19, 2026 | State of Play September 2025 |
| Pragmata | Capcom | Capcom | 2026 | State of Play June 2025[28] |
| Marvel's Wolverine | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | 2026 | State of Play September 2025 |
| Aphelion | DON'T NOD | DON'T NOD | 2026 | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 |
| Arknights: Endfield | Hypergryph | Hypergryph | 2026 | ChinaJoy 2025, PS5 confirmation |
| Atomic Heart II | Mundfish | Focus Entertainment | 2026 | Summer Game Fest 2025 |
TBA (Post-2026 or Undisclosed Window)
| Title | Developer | Publisher | Release Window | Announcement Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairgames | Haven Studios | Sony Interactive Entertainment | TBA | Acquired by Sony 2022, roadmap 2025[29] |
| Romeo is a Dead Man | Grasshopper Manufacture | NetEase Games | 2026 | State of Play June 2025[28] |
Unannounced or Rumored Projects
As of late 2025, several PlayStation Studios projects remain unannounced, with details emerging primarily from credible industry leaks and journalist reports rather than official statements. These rumors often stem from developer job listings, insider accounts, and studio activity, providing glimpses into potential PS5 titles without confirmation from Sony. Journalists like Jason Schreier have been key sources for such information, highlighting ongoing development amid Sony's focus on single-player experiences and selective live-service ventures. Sony Santa Monica Studio, known for the God of War series, is reportedly advancing its next major project under director Cory Barlog, described as the studio's "next big thing" and progressing well. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, the game is not a new IP but may feel like one due to its scope, and earlier rumors of it being sci-fi have been debunked as inaccurate. This unannounced title follows the 2022 release of God of War Ragnarök and aligns with the studio's job postings for a "new unannounced title," suggesting a potential return to Norse or Greek mythology themes, though no specifics on gameplay or release have been verified.[30] At Naughty Dog, speculation persists around a potential single-player successor to The Last of Us series, despite co-creator Neil Druckmann tempering expectations by stating fans should not "bet on there being more of Last of Us," indicating the story arc with protagonists Ellie and Abby may be complete. Druckmann has previously mentioned a conceptual outline for The Last of Us Part III, but the studio is prioritizing other endeavors, including an announced multiplayer spin-off revealed at Summer Game Fest 2025, which transitioned from long-standing rumors to official status. Industry insiders note Naughty Dog's focus on innovative combat systems for future projects, potentially deeper than past entries, based on leaked development insights from 2024 Insomniac hacks that briefly referenced unannounced Naughty Dog work.[31] Guerrilla Games is rumored to be preparing the launch of Horizon Online, a co-op multiplayer live-service title set in the Horizon universe, potentially arriving in the latter half of 2025. This speculation arises from a studio job listing for a Release QA Intern role covering the first half of 2025, implying the project is nearing completion and distinct from the early-development Horizon 3 single-player sequel targeted for 2027. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier has corroborated the multiplayer focus, noting significant team allocation to support up to a million concurrent players, reflecting Sony's broader push into online experiences while maintaining the franchise's core robotic wilderness theme.[32] Bluepoint Games, following the January 2025 cancellation of its unannounced live-service project, is now developing an original single-player IP, as accidentally revealed by a developer in a career update. Details remain scarce, but the studio's pivot aligns with Sony's renewed emphasis on narrative-driven exclusives after shelving the multiplayer effort, with no timeline disclosed.[33][34] Newly formed PlayStation studio Dark Outlaw Games, established in early 2025 and led by former Call of Duty director Jason Blundell, is in early development on an unannounced project speculated to involve live-service elements given the leadership's background. Little beyond the studio's formation has been reported, underscoring the secretive nature of these endeavors.[29] These rumored projects illustrate the fluid landscape of PS5 development, where leaks like the 2024 Insomniac data breach have accelerated transitions from speculation to announcements, such as the confirmation of previously rumored titles including Naughty Dog's multiplayer game. However, industry shifts, including Microsoft's 2023 Activision Blizzard acquisition, have influenced multiplatform strategies, potentially pressuring Sony to adjust exclusivity for certain unannounced titles to broaden reach amid rising development costs.Special Categories
PlayStation Exclusives
PlayStation 5 exclusives encompass games that are available solely on the console at launch, including permanent exclusives restricted to PS5 hardware and timed exclusives that remain PS5-only for a period such as 6-12 months before potential release on other platforms like PC.[35] This strategy, employed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, differentiates the PS5 ecosystem by leveraging first-party studios for high-profile titles while securing third-party partnerships to bolster the library.[35] Key first-party exclusives include Demon's Souls (2020), a launch title remake developed by Bluepoint Games that showcased the PS5's graphical capabilities, and Returnal (2021) from Housemarque, a roguelike shooter emphasizing the DualSense controller's haptic feedback.[35] Other notable releases are Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021) by Insomniac Games, which utilized the SSD for seamless dimension-hopping, and God of War Ragnarök (2022), a console exclusive from Santa Monica Studio that expanded the Norse mythology saga.[35] By 2024, titles like Astro Bot from Team Asobi emerged as critical darlings, earning Game of the Year accolades for its joyful platforming and VR2 integration.[35] Third-party examples feature Square Enix's Final Fantasy XVI (2023), a timed exclusive with real-time action combat, and Konami's Silent Hill 2 Remake (2024), a timed exclusive that preserved the psychological horror roots.[35] The evolution of PS5 exclusives began with launch-era titles like Astro's Playroom (2020), a free pack-in demo highlighting controller features, progressing to mid-cycle hits such as Stellar Blade (2024) from Shift Up, a permanent exclusive blending action and soulslike elements.[35] Into 2025, releases like Ghost of Yōtei (October 2025) from Sucker Punch continued the open-world samurai formula from Ghost of Tsushima.[35] This timeline reflects Sony's shift from cross-gen compatibility in early years—seen in timed exclusives like Horizon Forbidden West (2022)—to PS5-native experiences by 2024-2025.[35] By November 2025, the PS5 boasts over 25 major exclusives released, including both permanent and timed variants, which have significantly driven console adoption.[35] For instance, God of War Ragnarök contributed to a 500,000-unit sales boost for the PS5 upon its launch, underscoring exclusives' role in hardware momentum.[36] Titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023) and Astro Bot further propelled PS5 to outperform competitors in 2025 sales, with exclusives cited as a primary factor in its market lead amid multiplatform trends.[37]| Category | Examples | Release Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Party Permanent | Demon's Souls, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Astro Bot | 2020-2024 | Permanent |
| First-Party Timed/Cross-Gen | God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West | 2022 | Timed/Console Exclusive |
| Third-Party Timed | Final Fantasy XVI, Silent Hill 2 Remake | 2023-2024 | Timed |
Cancelled or Shelved Games
The PlayStation 5 generation has witnessed numerous game cancellations and shelvings, primarily driven by development hurdles, studio closures, underwhelming market reception, and strategic pivots away from live-service formats toward single-player narratives. Sony's aggressive push into multiplayer titles announced around 2022 resulted in a high attrition rate, with reports indicating at least seven to eight of twelve planned live-service projects axed by 2025, reflecting broader industry challenges with sustaining online ecosystems. Third-party efforts have also faltered, often due to poor player feedback or corporate restructuring. The examples below highlight key cases, focusing on PS5-targeted titles.| Title | Developer | Announcement Date | Cancellation/Shelving Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Last of Us Multiplayer | Naughty Dog | September 2020 | December 2023 | Development halted to prioritize single-player storytelling and rest the team after years of work on the project.[38] |
| Marvel's Spider-Man: The Great Web | Insomniac Games | Leaked December 2023 (development began ~2019) | Shelved ~2022 | Quietly abandoned amid Insomniac's focus on core single-player Spider-Man sequels following a studio hack that exposed project details.[39] |
| Twisted Metal (live-service reboot) | Firesprite | Internal ~2021 | February 2024 | Cancelled during Sony's widespread layoffs, as the battle royale-style project did not align with evolving studio priorities.[40] |
| Concord | Firewalk Studios | August 2021 | September 2024 (servers shut down) | Taken offline two weeks after launch due to critically poor sales and player engagement, leading to full studio closure.[41] |
| Babylon's Fall | PlatinumGames | Announced June 2018 (PS5 version March 2022) | February 2023 (servers terminated) | Shut down after less than a year due to insufficient player base and failure to meet live-service expectations.[42] |
| Hyenas | Creative Assembly | December 2021 | November 2023 | Cancelled by Sega as part of cost-cutting measures, citing misalignment with core business strategies despite significant investment.[43] |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Frontline | Ubisoft Bucharest (lead) | November 2021 | July 2022 | Development ceased following negative feedback from playtests on its battle royale format, prompting a return to tactical roots for the series.[44] |
| God of War (live-service spin-off) | Bluepoint Games | Internal announcement ~2022 | January 2025 | Axed as Sony reevaluated its live-service portfolio, redirecting resources to single-player action titles.[34] |
| Untitled sci-fi live-service game | Bend Studio | Internal ~2020 | January 2025 | Cancelled alongside other multiplayer efforts, with the studio shifting focus after insufficient progress over three years.[34] |
| Untitled project | Deviation Games | March 2021 | May 2023 | Shelved following studio closure amid layoffs, as the new IP failed to secure long-term Sony support. |