You buy a device knowing it's ecosystem is controlled by the manufacturer.
When I buy a PS5, I understand that Sony 100% controls what games are offered on it.
When I buy a PS5, I understand that Sony 100% controls what games are offered on it.
For a PS5, it’s quite a bit different. We all can agree that piracy got out of control back in the 90’s/00’s. This is the price we pay to have games. Our phones never had this problem.
Somebody noted well in another thread that the main difference is that game consoles are often sold at or below cost, so a "software monopoly" on a given console platform can be seen as a way of "paying back the advance" on the console to the manufacturer/platform.
I don't think anybody would seriously argue that iPhones are a loss leader.