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 significant backlash from gamers.
In 2022, then-president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan, unveiled the ambitious 12-service initiative, a response to evolving market dynamics. However, this strategy was met with skepticism from many gamers concerned about a potential shift away from single-player titles. Despite assurances to the contrary, Sony has now confirmed the cancellation of nine of the twelve planned services.
While Helldivers 2 found success, high-profile casualties include Concord, Payback, The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title in development at Bluepoint 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 largely impact Sony's push into the games-as-a-service market. The response from gamers has been overwhelmingly negative, with many criticizing the company for prioritizing trends over its core strengths and established franchises. Projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, among others, face significant delays.
