PlayStation service games strategy seriously questioned? An announcement reveals plans for all upcoming PS5 titles in development. There is change!
Even if PlayStation is known and recognized for its high-quality single-player games, the manufacturer has shared its desire to explore other horizons. Those of multiplayer titles that can be played and generate money in the (very) long term. In other words, the Japanese firm will produce GaaS (Game as a Service) or Game as a Service here. The project is enormous but it has just taken a turn for the worse.
PlayStation service games late… or even canceled on PS5?
PlayStation will never let down its single-player games, especially after the hit Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 which sold more than 5 million copies in 11 days on PS5. And obviously, other AAA blockbusters are in the pipeline such as Marvel’s Wolverine, Death Stranding 2… not to mention the possible Ghost of Tsushima 2 or The Last of Us 3 etc. But we know that these titles will be forced to coexist with around ten service games planned by March 2025.
A seemingly well-oiled plan… or not! Hiroki Totoki, chief financial officer, warned investors that half of the PlayStation service games are being pushed back, while the other half will be available by the end of fiscal year 2025. That is, between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025 . “We are evaluating this (editor’s note: service games in development)… We are making sure as much as possible that these games are appreciated by players, and for a long time. Of the 12 titles, six will be released by the end of fiscal year 2025 – this is our current plan. As for the other six, we are still working on them”.
The releases of six PlayStation service games are sacrificed… permanently? Impossible to say. In the end, there may be cancellations, but for now, they are mostly big delays. A bad sign for The Last of Us Factions? The game clearly had problems since Bungie, which is a PlayStation Studios, expressed its fears about the long-term interest of the software. Naughty Dog has therefore announced a postponement, but the teams are still working on it.
Sony is implementing GaaS with The Last of Us Factions, Marathon, Fairgame…
“ [ndlr : 12] is the total number of service and multiplayer games in the medium and long term. We want to push this type of production and PlayStation’s policy remains unchanged. The quality of the games must be the most important element » Totoki-san added. Although there must be multiple reasons for Jim Ryan’s departure, the GaaS strategy desired on PS5, and surely beyond if successful, must have played a lot. According to Jason Schreier, this change of heart and this openness caused problems internally, as with Naughty Dog. How to guarantee a solid game service from expert solo developers? The delay, after the negative feedback from Bungie, shows that it was obviously not that simple.
In PlayStation GaaS, there will therefore be The Last of Us Factions, but also Marathon from Bungie (Destiny), Concord from Firewalk Studios or Fairgame from Jade Raymond’s studio (Assassin’s Creed). The next Horizon game should also be part of this list since it is a multiplayer experience. The misfortune of some making the happiness of others, some players will be delighted if the list of service games ends up being completely reduced.