Game Changer: Xbox Console Exclusive Makes Epic Debut on PlayStation

Highlights

Somerville is now available on PlayStation consoles, after being an Xbox exclusive.

The game received positive reviews and was highly regarded on Xbox Game Pass.

The PlayStation ports were optimized for the PS5, utilizing the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers.

Somerville, an adventure game with a dreamlike atmosphere, is now available on the latest two generations of PlayStation consoles. Originally exclusive to Xbox consoles, the game's release for PlayStation was initially leaked in July.

Although Somerville is developed by a new studio called Jumpship, the British company gained recognition prior to the game's launch due to its co-founder, Dino Patti, who is also associated with Playdead, a Danish developer renowned for the critically acclaimed games Limbo and Inside. Somerville was originally released in November 2022 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It received mostly positive reviews and quickly established itself as one of the top titles on Xbox Game Pass, where it was available from day one.

Less than a month after confirming its arrival on PlayStation, Jumpship's highly anticipated game, Somerville, is now available on both the PS4 and PS5. Following the trend of many contemporary indie games, this latest addition to Sony's gaming lineup follows a digital-only distribution model, exclusively accessible through the PlayStation Store. The newly introduced ports are priced at $24.99, aligning consistently with the cost of Somerville on PC and Xbox consoles.

The Somerville PlayStation Store page reveals that the PS5 version supports the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers, which provide varying levels of resistance based on on-screen events. This suggests that Jumpship took the effort to optimize its debut game for the PS5, rather than relying solely on backward compatibility with the PS4.

Thunderful Group, a Swedish holding company specializing in indie and niche games, publishes the Somerville PlayStation ports. Despite being established in 2019, Thunderful has already made several acquisitions, including Jumpship shortly after the release of Somerville in late 2022. With the game now available on Sony's consoles, Thunderful's focus is expected to shift towards the upcoming installment of the steampunk franchise, SteamWorld Build, which is set to launch on PC and the previous two console generations on December 1.

In addition to Somerville, there are other former Xbox console exclusives that have made their way to PlayStation recently. High on Life, a visually stunning sci-fi FPS developed by Squanch Games, and Naraka: Bladepoint, a melee-focused battle royale published by Chinese gaming giant NetEase, were both released on PlayStation in July. Moreover, Scorn, a survival horror game, is set to launch on the PS5 on October 3, after being exclusively available on Xbox consoles for a year.

Currently, Somerville can be played on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.