Sony Cancels Fairgames Live-Service Shooter Amid Challenging Market Conditions

Image: Sony cancels live-service shooter Fairgames · Source

Sony has canceled Fairgames, a live-service heist shooter announced in 2023, due to mixed player feedback and tough competition in the PvP shooter market. Developer Haven Studios will shift focus to supporting other PlayStation projects.

Sony has officially canceled Fairgames, a live-service heist shooter that had been announced earlier in 2023 and was part of Sony’s effort to expand live-service games on PlayStation. According to a Bloomberg report cited by The Verge, the cancellation came after testing indicated that player feedback and retention rates did not meet Sony’s expectations. Additionally, challenging market conditions within the player-versus-player (PvP) shooter genre contributed to the decision.

Fairgames was developed by Haven Studios, which Sony acquired in 2022 to bolster its live-service ambitions. However, instead of layoffs, developer resources will be redirected to support other PlayStation studio projects. This cancellation aligns with Sony’s recent pattern of shelving other planned live-service titles, including projects tied to its flagship God of War and The Last of Us franchises. Sony also shut down its prior live-service shooter, Concord, soon after that title’s unsuccessful launch.

Despite these setbacks, Sony has seen some success with live-service titles such as Helldivers 2, which is available on both PlayStation and Xbox. Other efforts like Bungie’s Marathon faced difficulties at launch but are continuing to receive substantial updates, including new cooperative and competitive modes set for December.

Sony is also actively developing a live-service spinoff from its Horizon series, although that project has recently undergone a reboot. Overall, the cancellation of Fairgames reflects the complexities and competitive challenges of sustaining live-service shooters, especially in the crowded PvP market segment. Sony appears to be recalibrating its approach, focusing resources where live-service models have proven more viable while curtailing underperforming initiatives.