Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
Trouble in Development: Fairgame$ Delayed, Studio Head Departs
Sony’s live service PlayStation game strategy is facing new obstacles. The multiplayer heist shooter Fairgame$ has reportedly been postponed following feedback from external testing. Additionally, Jade Raymond, the head of Haven Studios, the first-party studio developing the game, has left the company.
Delay Details and Internal Concerns
Bloomberg reports that the PlayStation 5 title, initially slated for a fall 2025 release, is now expected to launch sometime in 2026. This delay reportedly stems from internal reservations about the state of the game’s development, particularly after external testing. Fairgame$ is being developed by Haven Studios, a Montreal-based studio composed of former Google Stadia developers, which Sony acquired in 2022. Raymond, a veteran of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and EA Motive, had been leading the studio.
Sony’s Statement on Raymond’s Departure
“Jade Raymond has been an outstanding partner and a visionary force in establishing Haven Studios,” a Sony representative stated to Bloomberg. “We are profoundly appreciative of her leadership and contributions, and we extend our best wishes for her success in her future endeavors.”
Fairgame$: A Heist Shooter Concept
Fairgame$ was unveiled at a 2023 PlayStation showcase, but details remained scarce. The game is centered around class conflict with an “emergent sandbox gameplay” approach, reminiscent of a blend between Robin Hood and Payday 2, potentially developed by Ubisoft. Haven Studios was formed in 2021, subsequent to Google’s closure of its internal development teams, previously managed by Raymond, after the discontinuation of its cloud gaming platform, Stadia.
Sony’s Stance and Leadership Changes
Despite the setback, Sony is committed to Fairgame$, with Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski appointed as co-studio heads. However, the console maker’s ambitious live service strategy is showing signs of instability, following:
- The cancellation of The Last of Us Online in 2023.
- The removal of hero shooter Concord last year.
- The shelving of an online God of War spin-off.
- A co-op shooter at Bend Studio earlier this year.