In recent times, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has been noteworthy for its investment in the development of live service videogames; however, a significant shift has been observed. Just a few years ago, they had a commendable list of these games queued for release, a number that has been gradually dwindling over time. From a robust list of twelve in early development, the number had already slipped to a mere six by the culmination of 2023.
This fluctuation was marked by a combination of breakthrough successes and unfortunate missteps in the gaming world. 2024 saw the successful release of Helldivers II, which was well received by gamers. Conversely, the same year was also tainted by the ill-fated launch of Concord; a game, that arguably, did not meet gamers’ expectations.
Now, it’s been confirmed from inside sources at Sony, two more of these longitudinally served games have faced the axe, even before the public could catch a whiff of their development. The canceled titles were reportedly being developed by Bend Games and Bluepoint Games.
Bend Games, renowned for their work on Syphon Filter and Days Gone, had a serving title under their wing that won’t see the light of day now, reaching an unfortunate cessation. Bluepoint Games, another studio under Sony’s umbrella, had also been working on a live-service God of War title for some time, which also met the same fate.
Bluepoint Games, for context, is one of the most significant acquisitions Sony made while focusing on creating a pipeline of live-service projects. This studio was previously renowned for various ports and remasters, including some of the industry’s most loved games like Demon’s Souls, Shadow of the Colossus, and the Uncharted trilogy, to name a few. Although they are no longer carrying on with the previously slated live-service projects, the studio is expected to remain open, albeit their future endeavors remain undisclosed.
In hindsight, the live service model for videogames seemed like a potentially expansive and lucrative landscape. Success stories revolving around games like Fortnite, had set a precedent for future expectations. However, the experiences cultivated by games like Sony’s Concord, Anthem, and Redfall, have underscored the challenges inherent in this model.
To name a few examples of canceled service titles at Sony, there has been a Spider-Man game whose existence came to light through an unfortunate ransomware breach at Insomniac Games. Add to that list, Twisted Metal, and another game that was expected to be tied to Destiny, called Payback. Bungie was at the helm of this eventually abandoned project, which amplifies the perception that the live service games model, despite its potential, has hurdles that can derail even the most resourceful and experienced developers.
All hope is not yet lost, though. We’re still braced for refreshing developments on the horizon from these studios. For example, we’re eagerly awaiting more information about the revamped Marathon shooter, spearheaded by Bungie. From Haven Studios, a new PvP heist game called Fairgames is another project, the information about which the gaming community is waiting with bated breaths.
Through the peaks and valleys, one thing is for certain: the landscape of live service games development will continue to be a transformative journey. And we at https://awesomeradicalgaming.com/ will be here to bring you all the updates.
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