Sony's Live-Service 'Spell' Went Sideways: CFO Admits Things Aren't Exactly 'Smooth'
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Sony's CFO has finally admitted their ambitious live-service strategy has hit some major snags, with a string of cancellations and flops, while also confirming that Bungie's legendary independence is getting significantly reined in as they're pulled deeper into PlayStation Studios.
Right, so apparently, the digital tea leaves at PlayStation HQ have been brewing up some pretty wild prophecies lately, and it looks like a few of those grand visions for live-service games have... well, they've gone a bit *kaboom*. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, but not in the way you intended? Or, perhaps, it just fizzles out and sets your eyebrows on fire? Yeah, reckon Sony's CFO, Lin Tao, just had an eyebrow-singeing moment.
She's gone on record admitting that PlayStation’s ambitious live-service strategy is, and I quote, "not entirely going smoothly." Fair dinkum, Lin, we could’ve told you that from the sidelines! This isn't just a bump in the road; it's more like a crater where a whole bunch of planned titles used to be. And if that wasn't enough, it looks like Destiny legends Bungie are about to get a much tighter leash, with their famed independence becoming "lighter" as they're officially folded deeper into PlayStation Studios.
Let’s rewind the digital tape for a sec, shall we? Back in 2022, the former PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, bless his cotton socks, launched this grand, almost wizard-like decree: PlayStation would embrace live-service games! Twelve of 'em by 2026, he said! Many of PlayStation's beloved single-player studios were gently (or perhaps not so gently) nudged towards this brave new world. They even splashed out a cool $3.6 billion on Bungie, because who better to lead the live-service charge than the maestros behind Destiny, right? It was a bold move, a real roll of the dice in the magical realm of gaming development.
But almost as soon as the ink was dry on those plans, the rumblings started. Ryan stepped down in 2023, and pretty quickly, reports began to surface, like a mischievous imp whispering secrets, that Sony was feeling a bit "uncomfortable" with the whole live-service gambit. And then, the axe began to fall. The Last of Us multiplayer standalone? Chopped. A live-service Twisted Metal? Gone. Insomniac’s Spider-Man multiplayer? Poof. London Studio’s project? Farewell, mate. And after the big, dramatic flop of *Concord* last year, we saw a cascade of layoffs, studio closures, and even more live-service cancellations, including whispers of a *God of War* game from Bluepoint and something from the *Days Gone* crew at Bend. Bloody hell, that’s a lot of spells that didn't quite land!
Throw in the increasingly public marital spat between Sony and Bungie management – seemingly culminating in the recent, indefinite delay of *Marathon* – and it doesn't take a master diviner to see that Ryan's live-service prophecy was, shall we say, a bit off-kilter.
Which brings us to today, with Lin Tao addressing investor concerns during Sony's latest financial results Q&A. She acknowledged the "somewhat negative news" – a wonderfully corporate way of saying "we messed up big time on a few fronts" – specifically calling out *Concord* and *Marathon*'s hiccup. While admitting the "transformation" hasn't been smooth, she did try to put a positive spin on it, looking at the "longer-term perspective." Five years ago, PlayStation Studios barely had live-service games, she noted. Now? We've got *Helldivers 2* (the darling of the moment!), *MLB*, *Gran Turismo 7*, and *Destiny 2*. She reckons these four are "contributing to sales and profit in a stable manner." And yeah, fair enough, *Helldivers 2* is a certified hit, proving that players *will* embrace a live-service game if it’s genuinely good and respects their time.
But what about the messy bits? "Of course," she added, "we recognise that there are still issues – many issues – so we should learn lessons from mistakes and make sure that we introduce live service content, where there's less waste and it's more smooth." Sounds like a corporate promise to clean up the lab after a particularly explosive experiment. PlayStation Studios boss Herman Hulst echoed this sentiment earlier in the year, insisting they’re still committed to a "diverse and resilient" portfolio.
Now, about Bungie. Oh, Bungie. Since their acquisition in 2022, they've been embroiled in more drama than a reality TV show – management issues, executive toxicity, delays, layoffs, lawsuits, tumbling staff morale, even plagiarism scandals. And let's not forget the increasing frustration from fans about *Destiny 2*'s direction. It’s been clear for a while that their fabled autonomy was on thin ice, and it seems Sony’s finally decided to put on some skates.
"At the time of acquisition, we were offering [Bungie] a very independent environment," Tao explained. "However, thereafter, we have gone through structural reform... So this type of independence is getting lighter. So Bungie is shifting into a role which is becoming more part of PlayStation Studios. In the long term... the direction is to become part of PlayStation Studios." Reckon that’s a polite way of saying the kid gloves are off, and Sony’s moving in to supervise.
As for *Marathon*, the PvP-focused reboot that apparently had a rather chilly reception at its unveiling, it was delayed indefinitely. Tao *hopes* it’ll launch within Sony’s current fiscal year, adding that it’s "not a commitment" and "no official announcement has been given yet." If it gets cancelled, they'll have to "do a revision of the valuation" – which is peak corporate speak for "we'll have to admit we massively overpaid." But, as of now, they believe it will launch.
So, what does this all mean for us, the actual players? It means Sony’s learning, hopefully, that you can’t just sprinkle "live-service fairy dust" on any old single-player studio and expect a gold rush. It means they’re acknowledging the bumps, even if they're still committed to the path. And it certainly means that the once fiercely independent Bungie is about to feel the full gravitational pull of the PlayStation mothership. Will this lead to more focused, better-executed games, or will it stifle the creativity that made Bungie desirable in the first place? That, mate, is the million-dollar question we'll all be watching unfold.
Tags: PlayStation, LiveService, Bungie, GamingIndustry, Development
Original article: Eurogamer