Overview
- The ex-PlayStation executive told the Pause for Thought podcast that strong exclusives "make the platform sing."
- He joked that "Mario on PlayStation is the apocalypse," using the example to underline the value of brand-specific series.
- Layden clarified that not every release should be locked to one system and noted that online multiplayer games often need broader reach.
- He argued that multiplatform projects are coded to a "lowest common denominator," while single-platform titles can "push every lever to 11."
- Coverage points to mixed strategies across the industry, with Microsoft publishing on PS5, Sony porting hits like Uncharted to PC and Helldivers 2 arriving on Xbox, while Nintendo largely maintains true exclusives.