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 of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan, unveiled the ambitious 12-service plan, a response to the evolving gaming landscape. 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 the successful launch of Helldivers 2 demonstrated some progress, high-profile projects have been cut, including The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title in development at Bluepoint Games. Other casualties include Concord, Payback, and several unannounced titles.
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 affect Sony's push into the games-as-a-service market. Criticism is mounting, with many arguing that Sony became overly focused on this trend, neglecting its core strengths and established franchises. Projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, among others, face significant delays.
