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

Jade Raymond has left Haven Studios, the Sony-owned developer behind the online multiplayer shooter Fairgames, following an external test that reportedly did not meet expectations. This development has led to the game's delay from its originally planned fall 2025 release to spring 2026, marking another setback for PlayStation's live service ambitions.

According to Bloomberg, Raymond's departure occurred several weeks after the external test of Fairgames. The reasons for her exit were not disclosed to the Haven staff, but there were concerns among some developers about the game's reception and progress. Despite this, Sony remains committed to Haven and Fairgames, with new co-studio heads Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski now leading the studio.

This news comes amidst broader challenges for Sony's live service strategy. While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 achieved significant success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks to become the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game, other live service titles have faced difficulties. Sony's Concord, for instance, was a notable failure, lasting only a few weeks before being taken offline due to low player numbers and eventually being canceled along with its developer.

Further complicating Sony's plans, Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer game was canceled, and earlier this year, Sony reportedly canceled two other unannounced live service projects: one from Bluepoint, which was working on a God of War title, and another from Bend, the developer behind Days Gone.

In February 2022, Sony announced ambitions to launch over 10 live service games by March 2026, aiming to cater to diverse 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 revealed a review of the 12 live service games in development, committing to launch only six by the end of the financial year 2025, with the release dates of the remaining six still under consideration. Totoki emphasized the importance of 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, Bungie continues to support Sony's live service efforts with the ongoing Destiny 2 and the upcoming full launch of Marathon later this year. Additionally, Sony recently announced a new PlayStation studio, teamLFG, which is working on a live service incubation project, and Guerrilla's Horizon multiplayer game remains in development.