Sony Cancels Nine Games, Fans Outraged at Failures

Sony finds itself in a precarious situation following the collapse of its ambitious plan to launch 12 game services by 2025. The sudden cancellation of nine projects has sparked outrage among the gaming community.

In 2022, Jim Ryan, who was then the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, unveiled the company's strategy to introduce 12 game services by 2025. This initiative aimed to adapt to the evolving landscape of the gaming industry. However, many gamers expressed concerns that Sony was shifting its focus away from single-player experiences. Despite assurances from Sony that it would continue to support single-player games, the reality has proven otherwise.

It has now been confirmed that nine of the planned 12 projects have been canceled. While Helldivers 2 has been a notable success, drawing in millions of players, other projects like Concord and Payback have been shut down. Additionally, high-profile cancellations include The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a game set in the God of War universe developed by Bluepoint Games.

Here's Sony's list of canceled games:

• Concord (failed to meet expectations)
• God of War by Bluepoint Games
• Bend Studio's multiplayer game
• The Last of Us: Factions
• Spider-Man: The Great Web by Insomniac Games
• Twisted Metal by Firesprite
• Unannounced fantasy game from London Studio
• Payback by Bungie
• Networking project from Deviation Games

The majority of these canceled projects were integral to Sony's strategy to penetrate the games-as-a-service market. Fans are vocalizing their frustration, feeling that Sony has lost sight of its core values in pursuit of current trends. Projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games are now expected to be delayed by several years.