"Sony's Live Service Struggles Persist: Jade Raymond Leaves Fairgames Amid Testing Concerns"

Jade Raymond's departure from Haven Studios, the Sony-owned developer behind the online multiplayer shooter Fairgames, marks another setback for PlayStation's live service ambitions. According to Bloomberg, Raymond left the studio she founded shortly after an external test of Fairgames did not meet expectations, leading to the game's delay from fall 2025 to spring 2026.

PlayStation leadership has not provided a specific reason for Raymond's exit, but it followed closely on the heels of the disappointing external test. Some developers at Haven expressed concerns about the game's reception and its development progress. Despite this, Sony remains committed to Haven and Fairgames, with Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski stepping in as new co-studio heads.

This development adds to the challenges facing Sony's live service strategy. While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 achieved remarkable success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks, other Sony live service titles have faced significant hurdles. The launch of Concord was a major disappointment, with the game being taken offline after only a few weeks due to low player engagement, eventually leading to its cancellation and the closure of its developer.

Sony's struggles in this space are further highlighted by the cancellation of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer game and two other unannounced live service projects earlier this year, including a God of War title from Bluepoint and another from Bend Studio, the developers of Days Gone.

In February 2022, Sony announced plans to release over 10 live service games by March 2026, aiming to diversify its offerings across various genres. To support this initiative, Sony acquired several studios, including Destiny developer Bungie, Haven Studios, and Firewalk Studios, which has since been shuttered.

However, in 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki revealed that the company was reevaluating its 12 planned live service games, committing to launch only six by the end of the financial year 2025. Totoki emphasized the importance of quality over quantity, indicating that Sony would carefully consider the release timing of the remaining six titles.

Despite these setbacks, Bungie continues to support Sony's live service efforts with Destiny 2 and the upcoming Marathon. Sony also recently announced the formation of a new studio, teamLFG, which is working on a live service incubation project. Additionally, Guerrilla's Horizon multiplayer game remains in development, signaling that Sony's commitment to live service gaming persists despite the recent challenges.