Sony's Live Service Struggles Persist: PlayStation Exec Jade Raymond Leaves Fairgames Developer Post-Test Concerns

Jade Raymond has departed from Haven Studios, the Sony-owned developer behind the online multiplayer shooter Fairgames. This exit comes in the wake of an external test that reportedly didn't meet expectations, leading to the game's delay from its planned fall 2025 release to spring 2026. Bloomberg reported that PlayStation leadership did not provide a specific reason for Raymond's departure, which occurred several weeks after the test. Some developers at Haven expressed concerns about the game's reception and progress, though they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Despite this setback, Sony remains committed to Haven and Fairgames, with new co-studio heads Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski now leading the studio.

This development is another challenge for Sony's live service ambitions, which have faced significant hurdles. While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 achieved remarkable success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks and becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, other projects have struggled. Sony's Concord experienced a disastrous launch and was quickly taken offline due to low player numbers, eventually leading to its cancellation and the closure of its developer. Additionally, Sony canceled Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer game and two other unannounced live service titles, including a God of War game from Bluepoint and another from Bend Studio.

Sony initially aimed to launch over 10 live service games by March 2026, a plan announced in February 2022. The company invested heavily in studio acquisitions to support this initiative, including Destiny developer Bungie, Jade Raymond's Haven Studios, and the now-closed Firewalk Studios. However, in 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced a review of the 12 live service games in development, committing to launch only six by the end of the financial year 2025. Totoki emphasized the importance of quality over quantity, indicating that the timing for the remaining six games was still under consideration.

Bungie continues to uphold Sony's live service efforts with Destiny 2 and the upcoming Marathon, set for a full launch later this year. Sony also recently unveiled a new PlayStation studio, teamLFG, which is working on a live service incubation project. Additionally, Guerrilla's Horizon multiplayer game remains in development, signaling ongoing efforts to expand Sony's live service portfolio.