Sony recently canceled nine games and fans criticized the company for the string of failures

Sony's ambitious games-as-a-service strategy falters, leading to widespread player disappointment. The company's 2022 announcement of twelve planned game services by 2025 has dramatically backfired, with a recent cancellation of nine projects. This abrupt shift has angered many gamers.

Initially presented as an adaptation to the evolving gaming landscape, Sony's strategy faced immediate backlash. Concerns arose that the focus on service-based games would overshadow the development of single-player titles, a fear seemingly validated by the recent cancellations. While Sony initially reassured players of their commitment to single-player experiences, the reality proved otherwise.

Of the twelve anticipated projects, only three remain: the successful Helldivers 2, and two others. High-profile casualties include The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title from Bluepoint Games. The cancellation of these and other projects, including those from Bend Studio and Firesprite, has sparked significant criticism.

Sony's Canceled Games:

• Concord (failed to meet expectations)
• God of War (Bluepoint Games)
• Bend Studio's multiplayer game
• The Last of Us: Factions
• Spider-Man: The Great Web (Insomniac Games)
• Twisted Metal (Firesprite)
• Unannounced fantasy game (London Studio)
• Payback (Bungie)
• Networking project (Deviation Games)

The majority of these canceled titles were central to Sony's push into the games-as-a-service market. The resulting player outcry highlights concerns that Sony prioritized a fleeting trend over its established strengths, leaving many anticipated projects indefinitely delayed. Fans of Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, in particular, face a significant wait for future releases.