Sony's ambitious games-as-a-service strategy has hit a major snag. The company's plan to launch 12 game services by 2025 has faltered, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of nine projects, sparking outrage among gamers.
In 2022, then-president Jim Ryan announced this ambitious initiative, intended as a response to evolving market trends. However, the strategy faced immediate backlash from players concerned about a potential shift away from single-player titles. Despite reassurances from Sony, the recent cancellations tell a different story.
Nine of the twelve planned services have been scrapped. While Helldivers 2 found success, projects like Concord, Payback, The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title from Bluepoint Games have been cut. Other casualties include a Bend Studio multiplayer game, Twisted Metal from Firesprite, an unannounced fantasy game from London Studio, and a networking project from Deviation Games.
Sony's Canceled Games:
- Concord (failed to meet expectations)
- God of War (Bluepoint Games)
- Bend Studio's multiplayer game
- The Last of Us: Factions
- Spider-Man: The Great Web (Insomniac Games)
- Twisted Metal (Firesprite)
- Unannounced fantasy game (London Studio)
- Payback (Bungie)
- Networking project (Deviation Games)
The cancellations primarily affected projects integral to Sony's games-as-a-service push. Critics argue the company prioritized this trend over its core strengths, leading to the shelving of significant titles and potentially delaying future projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games for years.
