PlayStation’s Live-Service Strategy Faces Scrutiny from Former Studio Head
Ex-PlayStation executive shares candid thoughts on Sony’s controversial live-service gaming direction.
The ongoing debate around PlayStation’s live-service gaming strategy has gained a notable voice, as former SIE Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida reveals his skepticism about the company’s direction. Yoshida, who led the division from 2008 to 2019, expressed concerns about the inherent risks of focusing on live-service titles during a recent appearance on Kinda Funny Games.
“I’m sure they knew it was risky. The chance of a game becoming successful in this hugely competitive genre would be small,” Yoshida stated. The industry veteran, who has been with PlayStation since its inception in 1993, even suggested that his resistance to this business model might have influenced his departure, noting, “If I was in Hermen’s position, I would probably would have tried to resist that direction. Maybe that’s one of the reasons they removed me from the first-party!”
Sony’s 2024 live-service ventures have shown dramatically mixed results. While Helldivers 2 emerged as PlayStation Studios’ fastest-selling title to date, Firewalk Studios’ Concord faced a devastating launch. The 5v5 hero shooter lasted merely two weeks before its servers were shut down, leading to refunds for all purchases and the studio’s closure.
Sony President Hiroki Totoki addressed these challenges in a recent financial call, acknowledging the learning curve associated with live-service development. Regarding Concord’s failure, Totoki admitted that the company should have identified problems earlier in development, while also pointing to the game’s unfortunate release timing near Black Myth: Wukong.
The live-service struggles have led to several project cancellations at PlayStation. Recent reports from industry insider Jason Schrier revealed the termination of an unannounced action game from Days Gone developer Bend Studio and a live-service God of War project by Bluepoint Games. These join other canceled projects, including a Twisted Metal title and The Last of Us Online, suggesting a potential shift in Sony’s live-service ambitions.