Sony cancels another live service game ahead of release, but at least there won't be any layoffs this time
Fairgames was revealed in 2023, but nothing more was ever seen of it.
via PC GamerReported by 2 outlets
Sony scraps Haven Studios heist shooter Fairgames without planning layoffs
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AI summary of the reporting below · Updated · How we work
Sony has canceled Fairgames, the multiplayer heist shooter in development at Haven Studios, according to a Bloomberg report. First announced in 2023, the PvP title faced the axe following internal and external evaluations, officially ending years of development that began around 2021. A PlayStation representative confirmed that the cancellation will not trigger layoffs, with Haven Studios set to assist other PlayStation Studios teams while exploring new projects. [1][2]
The decision followed a large-scale playtest where player feedback and retention metrics failed to satisfy Sony's benchmarks. In an internal email sent to Haven employees, PlayStation executives Sean Decker and John Doyle cited those mixed player retention results alongside harsh competitive pressure in the PvP shooter market as the primary drivers behind halting the project. [1]
The move marks another retreat from Sony's previous target of launching 12 live-service games by 2025. Following the catastrophic release and rapid shutdown of Concord in September 2024, Sony has scrapped several multiplayer projects, including online titles set in The Last of Us and God of War universes. [1][2]
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Sony cancels live-service shooter Fairgames
Sony has canceled Fairgames, a heist game announced in 2023, according to Bloomberg. Fairgames had once been part of Sony's big planned push for PlayStation live service games, but the company ended up canceling some planned live service titles, including in the God of War and The Last of Us franchises, and it shut down…
via The Verge