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 Jim Ryan unveiled Sony's ambitious vision, aiming to adapt to the evolving gaming landscape. However, this strategy faced immediate criticism from players concerned about a potential shift away from single-player titles. Despite assurances to the contrary, Sony has now confirmed the cancellation of a significant portion of its planned services.
While Helldivers 2 proved successful, high-profile projects like The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title from Bluepoint Games have been scrapped, along with several others including Concord, Payback, and various unannounced titles. This represents a substantial setback for Sony's foray into the games-as-a-service market.
Cancelled Sony 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 have fueled widespread discontent amongst gamers, who argue that Sony prioritized a trendy market approach at the expense of its core strengths and established franchises. Projects from studios like Bend and Bluepoint face significant delays, leaving fans uncertain about their future.
