PlayStation has canceled Fairgame$, the online multiplayer PvP heist shooter in development at Haven Studios, after a large recent playtest produced mixed player feedback and retention results below Sony’s targets. The game had been planned for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Bloomberg reported the decision after reviewing an internal PlayStation email from executives Sean Decker and John Doyle. The test involved thousands of players and was intended to measure whether the project was ready to advance.
According to the email, the test showed that Haven had achieved strong operational execution, live-operations readiness and community engagement. However, PlayStation found that the player response and retention data were mixed and did not reach the targets set for the project.
The executives also pointed to difficult market conditions for PvP shooters when explaining why development would stop. That assessment brought the project to an end rather than another round of revisions or testing.
Sony confirmed that the cancellation will not directly result in job cuts. Haven Studios will remain open, and its developers will move to support other projects across PlayStation Studios. Sony has not announced what individual projects those teams will join.
Fairgame$ was revealed during the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase as Haven’s first game under PlayStation. It was presented as a competitive heist experience in which teams would target high-value locations while contending with rival crews.
The cancellation removes one of PlayStation’s announced multiplayer projects from its slate, but Sony’s immediate plan for Haven is to retain the studio and redirect its staff rather than close it.
Do you think PlayStation made the right call after the playtest results?
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