Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO and president Hideaki Nishino has stated that the company will continue to invest in and develop live-service games, despite a significant number of recent cancellations and workforce reductions. Speaking to Famitsu, Nishino expressed the belief that live-service titles are key to attracting a global audience and aim to revitalize the market through both first-party and third-party content.
"We believe that live service games are content that attracts users on a global level, so we want to continue to revitalize the market through both first-party and third-party content," Nishino told the publication. He added that Sony is not only focusing on new releases but also considering the long-term potential of older titles within the live-service model. Nishino emphasized the importance of continuous content delivery for live-service games and stated Sony's intention to keep taking on challenges within this evolving genre, which he described as "relatively new."
This stance comes after a period of significant setbacks for Sony's live-service ambitions. The company reportedly canceled eight out of twelve planned live-service games originally slated for 2025. Among the casualties was Concord, a title that faced considerable development issues. Furthermore, the notes indicate that most developers who worked on Destiny 2 have been laid off, with the game itself reportedly being wound down. This situation contrasts with earlier statements from Sony CFO Lin Tao, who acknowledged that live-service development had not been "entirely going smoothly" and that the company needed to "learn the lessons from mistakes and make sure that we introduce live service content where there's less waste and it's more smooth."
Despite these challenges and the high-profile cancellations, Sony's leadership appears undeterred, signaling a continued commitment to the live-service model in the hopes of future success in the market. The company intends to pursue this strategy by continually offering new content and exploring innovative approaches within the genre.