Sony's String of Game Cancellations Sparks Fan Criticism

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, much to the dismay of gamers.

In 2022, then-president Jim Ryan unveiled Sony's ambitious vision. This shift towards game services was intended to adapt to the evolving gaming landscape. However, the strategy faced immediate backlash from many gamers concerned about a potential decline in single-player titles. Despite assurances to the contrary, Sony has now confirmed the cancellation of nine of the twelve planned services.

While Helldivers 2 proved successful, notable 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. Other canceled projects encompass a Bend Studio multiplayer game, a Twisted Metal title 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 represent a significant setback for Sony's foray into the games-as-a-service market. Many critics argue that Sony became overly fixated on this trend, neglecting its core strengths and established franchises. Projects from studios like Bend and Bluepoint are now facing considerable delays.