According to Sony`s recently released Corporate Report for 2025, the company shared new details and updates concerning all of its business divisions, including PlayStation. A notable aspect of the report is Sony`s renewed dedication to live-service games, despite experiencing various setbacks and challenges in recent times.
The document highlights that Sony “continues to cultivate its live services expertise,” citing successful titles such as MLB The Show, Helldivers 2, Gran Turismo, and Destiny 2 as prime examples of this ongoing commitment.
Sony also emphasized the future importance of Bungie`s Marathon to its live-service portfolio. This game recently faced an indefinite delay and has been embroiled in allegations of stolen art assets. Interestingly, the report refrained from mentioning other upcoming live-service titles, notably the reportedly troubled Fairgame$.
Fairgame$ is currently under development at Sony`s Haven Studios. Its former studio head, Jade Raymond, reportedly departed the company following concerns regarding the game`s direction. The title`s release was reportedly pushed back to Spring 2026, placing its launch in close proximity to Grand Theft Auto 6, which is also expected in May 2026.
Adding to the speculation, Fairgame$`s director, Daniel Drapeau, also left the company earlier this year. However, these personnel changes and the game`s omission from Sony`s corporate report do not definitively confirm that Fairgame$ is encountering severe difficulties.
At one point, Sony had ambitious plans to release twelve live-service games over the coming years, alongside its unwavering commitment to single-player experiences. Nevertheless, in May 2023, Sony announced a significant reduction in its planned live-service game output, with management emphasizing a strategic shift to prioritize quality over sheer quantity. This strategic adjustment notably resulted in the cancellation of Naughty Dog`s The Last of Us multiplayer game in December 2023.
Conversely, early 2024 brought a significant triumph for Sony in the live-service sector with Helldivers 2. The game shattered sales records, securing its position as the third best-selling game of 2024 in the US, and a recent update has further boosted its immense popularity.
However, Sony also encountered a notable setback with Concord, which launched in August 2024. Its initial performance was so dismal that Sony promptly withdrew the game from sale and issued refunds to all players. Subsequently, its developer, Firewalk, was closed down. By the end of 2024, Sony confirmed the cancellation of multiple other projects, including a live-service God of War title and another live-service game from Bend Studio.
In the aftermath of Concord`s failure, key executive Hermen Hulst stated that Sony has since implemented new structures and processes to better ensure the successful launch and sustained quality of its future live-service games.