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

Jade Raymond has departed from Haven Studios, the Sony-owned developer behind the online multiplayer shooter Fairgames. This exit comes in the wake of an external test of the game that reportedly did not meet expectations, leading to a delay in Fairgames' release from fall 2025 to spring 2026. This development represents another setback for PlayStation's ambitions in the live service gaming sector.

According to Bloomberg, Raymond's departure occurred several weeks after the external test of Fairgames. PlayStation leadership did not provide a reason for her exit, but it followed a period during which some Haven developers expressed concerns about the game's reception and progress. Despite these challenges, Sony continues to support Haven and Fairgames, with Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski stepping in as new co-studio heads.

This news adds to the difficulties Sony has faced with its live service initiatives. While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 achieved significant success, becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game with 12 million copies sold in 12 weeks, other live service titles have struggled. Sony's Concord, for example, was a major disappointment, lasting only a few weeks before being taken offline due to low player numbers and ultimately being canceled along with its developer.

Sony's challenges in this area are further highlighted by the cancellation of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer game and two unannounced live service titles earlier this year—one a God of War project at Bluepoint and another at Bend Studio, known for Days Gone.

In February 2022, Sony announced plans to launch over 10 live service games by March 2026, aiming to cater to various genres and audiences. This strategy involved significant investments in studio acquisitions, including Destiny developer Bungie, Jade Raymond's 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 (March 2026). Totoki emphasized that Sony remains focused on quality over quantity, stating, "It's not that we stick to certain titles, but for the gamers quality should be the most important."

Despite these setbacks, Sony continues its live service efforts with Bungie's ongoing Destiny 2 and the upcoming Marathon. Additionally, Sony recently announced a new PlayStation studio, teamLFG, working on a live service incubation project, and Guerrilla's Horizon multiplayer game remains in development.