Apparently, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PS5's SSD is not necessarily required for PC gamers.
In a surprise announcement that has left the gaming community reeling, Sony recently revealed that its popular title "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart" is set to debut on PC on July 2023. While the news may have sparked excitement among PC gamers, it has also provoked a wave of criticism and disappointment among PlayStation loyalists.
Why the mixed reaction? The heart of the issue lies in Sony's previous assertion that this game could only run on the ultra-fast SSD of the PlayStation 5 - a claim that now appears to have been a marketing ploy to push PS5 sales.
The Ratchet & Clank PS5 SSD High-Octane Promise
When Sony unveiled "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart", the impressive gameplay and stunning graphics certainly caught the eye. However, what truly turned heads was Sony's claim that such an experience was only possible due to the "screaming fast" SSD of the PlayStation 5. The premise was simple: the high-speed SSD allowed for near-instantaneous world rendering and quick character switching, which the game heavily utilized.
This assertion was music to the ears of gamers, especially those seeking to justify investing in a new console amidst a difficult economic climate. By tying the success of "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart" to the unique capabilities of the PS5 SSD, Sony was making an implicit promise: the best gaming experiences can only be had on our platform. This claim undeniably contributed to the PS5's highly successful launch and robust sales figures.
The Announcement That Shifted the Narrative
Fast forward to Sony's recent announcement: "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart" is coming to PC. While PC gamers cheered the news, others felt betrayed. If the game could indeed run on PCs, then Sony's initial statement was misleading at best. The PC port implies that the PS5's SSD is not as essential to the game's performance as Sony initially led consumers to believe.
Critics argue that Sony leveraged a well-loved franchise and a supposedly unique technological capability to boost PS5 sales. Instead of being a shining testament to the power of the PS5, "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart" has become a point of controversy and disillusionment.
Compounding the surprise, Sony's announcement also included details about an array of enhancements the PC version of "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart" will offer. The list is quite comprehensive, starting with an unlocked framerate, which stands to elevate the fluidity and responsiveness of gameplay significantly. Widescreen monitor support is another considerable upgrade, as this will allow PC gamers to enjoy the rich, vibrant universe of "Ratchet and Clank" on a grander scale. Furthermore, the PC version is poised to exploit additional graphics capabilities inherent in high-end PC systems, such as ray tracing, improved textures, and superior lighting effects. With these improvements, "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart" is not merely a port but an elevated experience optimized for PC gaming. The richness of these enhancements suggests that Sony is committed to ensuring that the game will shine on PC as brightly as it does on PS5, further blurring the lines between console and PC gaming.
Marketing Strategy or Betrayal?
Yet, the question remains: was this a calculated marketing strategy or a breach of trust? In the fiercely competitive world of gaming, companies often highlight exclusive features to distinguish their products. From this perspective, Sony's initial PS5-only claim was a strategic move to spur sales, albeit one that may have overstated the PS5's exclusive capabilities.
On the other hand, the perceived misrepresentation could damage Sony's credibility with its loyal customer base. For PlayStation enthusiasts who purchased a PS5 specifically for exclusives like "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart", the news of a PC port feels like a betrayal. The key to maintaining trust, however, will be in how Sony manages these concerns moving forward.
Moving Ahead
This event offers a valuable lesson for gaming companies: transparency matters. Gamers appreciate and expect straightforwardness about the capabilities and limitations of hardware and software. While marketing is an essential part of selling any product, crossing into the territory of misrepresentation can undermine consumer trust and loyalty.
As for "Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart", the game's release on PC will undoubtedly bring the beloved franchise to a wider audience. While the controversy surrounding Sony's marketing choices continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this event will shape Sony's future strategies and its relationship with its gaming community. Regardless, it is clear that honesty, transparency, and maintaining customer trust should always be at the core of any strategy.
~Smash
I'm deeply disappointed by Sony's behavior in the last few years since they launched the PS5. I've been disappointed when customers received damaged collectors edition boxes for the last of us remake, collectors editions of GOW Ragnarok did not include a disc, the closure of Japan Studio, PSVR 2 not backwards compatible with the original Psvr games & the cost of the PS5 going up in my market. Now how they were lying to us about Rift Apart it just doesn't set in well with me at all.
All Sony had to do was a couple years ago was just showoff Ratchet & Clank and how fun the game looks & that's it. There's only so many lies & deceiving…
I have an NVME ssd in my 2015 desktop pc, my steam deck has an nvme, Sony didn’t do anything revolutionary by installing an ssd, that’s been the industry standard for computing for almost a decade. There should have been a Sata 3 ssd in the ps4 pro but they cheaped out. Spawnwave has a good video about upgrading the hard drive in the ps4 pro to great effect in the ps4 pro