The live service games won’t be arriving until at least 2026.
Sony is recalibrating its live service ambitions, opting to postpone the release of some of its planned titles. This strategic shift coincides with a surge in enthusiasm for multiplayer games and robust sales of the PS5 console.
Sony previously went all in on transforming PlayStation into a live service giant but unfortunately, the endeavor wasn’t as smooth or as rapid as the company hoped. Sony president Hiroki Totoki revealed to investors that it planned to delay half its twelve upcoming live service games to 2026 and beyond.
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“We are reviewing this…we are trying as much as possible to ensure [these games] are enjoyed and liked by gamers for a long time,” Totoki said (transcript via VGC). “[Of] the 12 titles, six titles will be released by FY25 – that’s our current plan. [As for] the remaining six titles, we are still working on that.”
Totoki told investors that the number of planned live service and multiplayer titles remains unchanged in the mid-to-long term. He emphasized the importance of quality in the upcoming games. However, Totoki did not announce which titles have been pushed back. We do know of a few titles that have been delayed.
Sony revealed several upcoming live service games during its PlayStation Showcase back in May. One of the highly anticipated titles is Marathon, Bungie’s new extraction shooter based on an old sci-fi franchise. The extraction shooter has reportedly been delayed to 2025 amid a massive layoff at the studio. Marathon was seen by many PlayStation fans as one of the drivers of Sony’s games-as-a-service strategy.
Naughty Dog’s long-awaited multiplayer spin-off for The Last of Us Part 2 is also reportedly in limbo. According to insider information, the game received a negative evaluation from Bungie during a portfolio review by Bungie. The Last of Us multiplayer game hasn’t been canceled but is “on ice” until Sony decides its fate.
Guerilla Games is also rumored to be working on a multiplayer spin-off for the Horizon series. However, there has been close to no information about the title. The studio did mention it in its plans but we have yet to hear anything concrete about the game.
Firewalk Studio, which Sony acquired in April, is also working on a multiplayer title. According to Sony’s statement on the acquisition, Firewalk Studios brings their “technical and creative expertise to PlayStation Studios to help grow our live service operations and deliver something truly special for gamers.”
It will be interesting how these delays will affect the future sales of the PlayStation 5. Sony’s exclusive offerings this year haven’t been stellar outside of Final Fantasy XVI and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. With the delays, it does beg the question, is the PS5 worth buying in 2024?
