Two Unexpected Live Service Games Axed by Sony
Sony has made the decision to cancel the development of two unannounced live service games, as confirmed by a company spokesperson. Both projects were in the works at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, two well-known PlayStation studios.
According to Bloomberg, the cancellation came after a recent review by Sony. Bend Studio is recognized for creating PlayStation exclusives like Days Gone, while Bluepoint Games is known for their remasters and remakes such as the PlayStation 5 release of Demon’s Souls and the PlayStation 4 version of Shadow of the Colossus.
Despite the setback of these cancellations, both Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games will continue to operate. The spokesperson reassured that both studios are valued members of the PlayStation Studios family and discussions are ongoing to determine their next projects.
Sony expressed their commitment to minimize the impact on their business and employees amidst these cancellations. Bluepoint Games was reportedly working on a live service title based on God of War, similar in concept to the canceled The Last of Us Online project from Naughty Dog in December 2023.
The decision to cancel these live service games is part of Sony’s strategic shift towards investing in such titles. While live service games like Fortnite and Destiny 2 have shown great success, the market is highly competitive making the launch of new live service titles risky ventures.
In the past year, Sony saw success with the release of Helldivers 2, a prime example of a hit live service game. However, they are also aware of the challenges, as seen with the failure of Concord, a high-budget title that struggled with sales and was shut down shortly after launch. These cancellations are likely preemptive measures to avoid similar challenges.