Key Takeaways
1. Michael Pachter initially suggested that Fairgames was canceled but later clarified he misinterpreted the situation.
2. Sony’s focus on live service titles has faced criticism, highlighted by the quick shutdown of the hero shooter Concord.
3. Jade Raymond’s departure from Haven Studios raised concerns about Fairgames’ development status.
4. Reports indicated that a pre-alpha version of Fairgames received negative feedback, leading to speculation about its future.
5. Despite challenges, Sony remains committed to live-service games, which generated 40% of first-party software sales in Q1 2025.
Earlier, gaming expert Michael Pachter seemed to indicate that Fairgames was canceled. This project from Haven Studios is a multiplayer extraction shooter being created for PS5 and PC. However, Pachter has since clarified that he misinterpreted the situation during his podcast. Nonetheless, the PS5 title has encountered issues, joining other problematic live service PlayStation games.
Criticism of Live Services
In a recent episode, Pachter voiced his concerns regarding Sony’s focus on live service titles. He pointed to the hero shooter Concord as a case in point, which was shut down by PlayStation just two weeks after launch. Back in May, Sony announced that Jade Raymond, the founder of Haven Studios, had departed from the company. Pachter inferred that this departure meant Fairgames was no longer in progress.
Miscommunication and Speculation
As he mentioned to Destin Legarie, “I made a mistake. I said Jade was let go, and I guessed it was canceled. I really don’t have any information about the game. Feel free to quote me, I honestly don’t know.” Pachter does have some justification; there have been troubling signs for Fairgames. In May, reports surfaced about a pre-alpha version that did not impress. Many players described the gameplay as “super clunky” and unenjoyable, leading to speculation that PlayStation might decide to cancel the game.
Sony’s Commitment
Regardless of Fairgames’ future, PlayStation is committed to live-service games. In an investor call, Sony CFO Lin Tao acknowledged the company’s difficulties but pointed out that PS5 titles like Helldivers 2 and Gran Turismo 7 are generating consistent income. In fact, the Games as a Service (GaaS) model represented 40% of Sony’s first-party software sales in Q1 2025.
Despite facing criticism, publishers are finding that games with regular updates can be very profitable. These games aim to create a loyal community that continually buys new content. In contrast, single-player games might find it harder to keep players engaged over time.
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