Sony Halts Development on Two Major First-Party Live Service Games, One Featuring God of War

Sony’s Ambitious Live Service Plans Face Setbacks

In a bold move to expand its live service gaming portfolio, Sony acquired Bungie in 2022 for a staggering $3.6 billion. The company quickly announced its intention to develop and launch ten live service games by 2026. However, uncertainty now surrounds Sony’s commitment to that goal following the recent cancellation of two significant projects from its first-party studios.

Details on Canceled Projects

According to an article by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Sony confirmed the cancellation of two titles that were in development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. Bend Studio, renowned for its 2019 open-world zombie game Days Gone and the classic Syphon Filter franchise, has faced setbacks in its new ventures.

Bluepoint Games, acquired by Sony in 2021, has a rich history of delivering critically acclaimed remasters, including Shadow of the Colossus and the Demon’s Souls remake. The live service games envisioned by these studios were scrapped after a “recent review”by Sony. Importantly, both studios are expected to remain operational, although the possibility of layoffs due to the project cancellations has not been clarified.

Recent Developments and Challenges

This announcement follows the unfortunate fate of Sony’s recent live service project, Concord, which was pulled from stores and saw its studio shut down shortly after launch. This incident raised eyebrows regarding the viability of Sony’s live service model, further complicating its ambitious plans for the future.

In a statement issued to Bloomberg, Sony emphasized its commitment to its development teams: “Bend and Bluepoint are highly accomplished teams who are valued members of the PlayStation Studios family, and we are working closely with each studio to determine what are the next projects.”

Future Directions and Strategic Insights

Discussing the canceled projects, Schreier noted that one of the titles was a God of War-themed live service game being developed by Bluepoint. Currently, the exact direction for Bend Studio remains uncertain. However, Sony’s top executive, Hiroki Totoki, reiterated that the company is still navigating its understanding of live service games, affirming ongoing investments in multiplayer gaming ventures.

Sony’s strategic pivot to emphasize live service games reveals the gaming giant’s attempts to adapt to changing market dynamics, but recent developments suggest that the road ahead will be fraught with challenges.

For further insights, check out the article from Neowin.

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