# Sony’s Live Service Challenges: An In-Depth Examination of Recent Game Cancellations

Sony’s bold venture into live service gaming seems to be stumbling, as the company has allegedly scrapped two additional projects in development at its Bend Studio in Oregon and Bluepoint Games in Texas. This information, initially reported by *Bloomberg* and subsequently confirmed by a Sony representative, highlights the difficulties the gaming titan has encountered while trying to shift towards the live service framework.

### The Projects That Were Canceled

Bend Studio, recognized for its 2019 open-world zombie survival game *Days Gone* and the iconic *Syphon Filter* series, was reportedly in the works on a live service game. On the other hand, Bluepoint Games, famous for its widely praised remasters and remakes such as *Shadow of the Colossus*, *Demon’s Souls*, and *Gravity Rush: Remastered*, had been crafting a live service spin-off of the *God of War* series. Although specifics about these projects are limited, the concept of a live service *God of War* title raised eyebrows, appearing to be an unusual shift from the franchise’s strongly narrative-centered, single-player origins.

### Sony’s Live Service Goals: An Evolving Strategy

These cancellations mark the latest in a string of disappointments for Sony’s live service aspirations. In January 2022, the company unveiled plans to launch 12 live service games by the fiscal year 2025, a bold initiative aimed at broadening its portfolio and taking advantage of the profitable live service sector. However, by mid-2023, Sony adjusted that goal to six games, indicating a significant reduction in its initial ambitions.

The choice to terminate projects at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games follows a series of other notable live service game cancellations, including:

– **Naughty Dog’s *The Last of Us: Factions***: A highly anticipated PvP multiplayer spin-off of the acclaimed *The Last of Us* series.
– **An online Spider-Man game**: A multiplayer initiative centered around the beloved Marvel character.
– **A live service *Twisted Metal***: A revival of the classic vehicular combat series.
– ***Destiny* spin-off *Payback***: A project associated with Bungie’s successful sci-fi shooter franchise.

Moreover, *Concord*, a live service shooter created by Firewalk Studio, received a poor response, resulting in the studio’s closure and the game’s removal from the store. These continuous setbacks have raised doubts about Sony’s capacity to compete in the live service arena, which is led by well-established giants like *Fortnite*, *Apex Legends*, and *Call of Duty: Warzone*.

### What Projects Remain in Sony’s Live Service Roadmap?

Currently, only a few live service titles are still in the pipeline under Sony’s oversight:

1. **Bungie’s *Marathon***: A reboot of the studio’s classic sci-fi shooter, which is expected to utilize Bungie’s expertise in live service gaming.
2. **Haven Studios’ *Fairgame$***: A heist-themed multiplayer title from the studio guided by industry veteran Jade Raymond.
3. **Speculated *Horizon* Projects**: Reports indicate that Guerrilla Games is developing two *Horizon*-themed live service projects, featuring a co-op game and an MMORPG.

Although these endeavors might still see fruition, Sony’s live service strategy appears to be undergoing a crucial reassessment.

### Reasons Behind Sony’s Struggles with Live Service Games

Sony’s challenges in the live service domain can be linked to several factors:

1. **Mismatch with PlayStation’s Core Strengths**: Sony has built its reputation on providing high-quality, narrative-rich single-player experiences like *The Last of Us*, *God of War*, and *Horizon Zero Dawn*. Moving to live service games, which require an entirely different development paradigm and consistent content updates, may not align with the company’s primary strengths.

2. **Market Oversaturation**: The live service market is crowded with established titles that have devoted player communities. Breaking into this market necessitates not just a compelling game but also a long-term dedication to updates, community interaction, and monetization strategies.

3. **Challenges in Execution**: Crafting a successful live service title is notoriously challenging. Even well-established studios like Bungie have grappled with keeping player engagement over time. For studios like Bluepoint and Bend, which possess limited experience in this field, the learning curve may have been steep.

4. **Changing Player Expectations**: Gamers have become increasingly wary of live service games, especially those that prioritize monetization over the quality of gameplay. Sony’s canceled projects may not have resonated with internal teams or early testers, resulting in their untimely cancellation.

### What Lies Ahead for Sony?

A Sony spokesperson highlighted that Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games continue to remain “