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

Jade Raymond's departure from Haven Studios, a Sony-owned developer, marks a significant setback for the studio and Sony's broader live service ambitions. Haven Studios, known for developing the online multiplayer shooter Fairgames, faced a delay following an external test that did not meet expectations. Originally slated for a fall 2025 release, Fairgames is now postponed to spring 2026.

According to Bloomberg, Raymond's exit occurred several weeks after the external test of Fairgames, which raised concerns among some developers about the game's reception and progress. PlayStation leadership did not provide a specific reason for her departure. Despite this, Sony remains committed to Haven and Fairgames, with new co-studio heads Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski taking over.

This development is part of a broader challenge for 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 struggled. The launch of Concord was a notable failure, lasting only a few weeks before being taken offline due to low player engagement. Sony eventually canceled the game and shut down its developer.

Sony's difficulties with live service games extend further. The company canceled Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer project and two other unannounced live service games earlier this year, including a God of War title from Bluepoint and a project from Days Gone developer Bend.

In February 2022, Sony announced plans to launch over 10 live service games by March 2026, aiming to cater to different genres and audiences. This initiative included significant investments in studio acquisitions, such as Destiny developer Bungie, Haven Studios, and the now-closed Firewalk Studios.

However, in 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced a review of the 12 live service games in development, committing to launch only six by the end of the financial year 2025. Totoki emphasized the importance of quality over quantity, indicating that the timing for the remaining six games was still under consideration.

Despite these setbacks, Sony continues to pursue its live service strategy. Bungie remains a key player with Destiny 2 and the upcoming Marathon. Sony also recently announced a new studio, teamLFG, working on a live service incubation project, and Guerrilla is developing a Horizon multiplayer game.