PlayStation Cancels Haven Studios Shooter Fairgames Amid Live-Service Struggles
PlayStation has officially halted development on the competitive shooter Fairgames at Haven Studios, according to reporting from GamesIndustry.biz. The decision follows a disappointing playtest that failed to meet internal retention targets. While the Montreal-based developer will not face immediate layoffs, the team is now shifting its focus toward supporting other PlayStation Studios projects and exploring different creative avenues.
Context from Industry Pulse
The cancellation of Fairgames is the latest in a series of contractions for Sony’s live-service portfolio. Following the $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie in 2022, PlayStation aggressively pursued the genre, yet the results have been volatile. The 2024 failure of Concord led to the shuttering of Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi, while Bluepoint Games was closed in 2026 with significant job losses. Even established properties like Destiny 2 have struggled, leading to layoffs and a reduction in Bungie's acquisition value. Sony's current strategy appears to be a consolidation phase, prioritizing projects that meet strict retention metrics over ambitious volume-based goals originally set during the Jim Ryan era.
The cancellation of Fairgames marks a significant shift for Haven Studios, a developer founded by Jade Raymond in 2021 and acquired by Sony the following year. As GamesIndustry.biz reports, the project was originally intended for a 2023 release before being rescheduled for Spring 2026. The decision to cease production was communicated to employees by executives Sean Decker and John Doyle, who cited mixed player feedback and difficult market conditions within the competitive shooter space.
Playtest results for the title showed that while the game was operationally sound and ready for live operations, it did not achieve the necessary engagement levels to justify further investment. Despite the project being scrapped, GamesIndustry.biz notes that Haven Studios will remain active within the PlayStation ecosystem. The studio is now tasked with collaborating with other internal development teams, marking a transition away from its debut standalone project following the departure of Raymond in May 2025.
This move is part of a broader trend of instability within Sony's live-service initiatives. GamesIndustry.biz highlights that the company previously set an ambitious goal under former leadership to launch over ten live-service titles by 2026. However, the publisher has faced several high-profile setbacks, including the closure of Firewalk Studios after the failure of Concord and the cancellation of unannounced projects at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games.
Financial pressures have also impacted Sony's major investments in the sector. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the company reduced the valuation of its Bungie acquisition by hundreds of millions of dollars following the underperformance of Destiny 2 and Marathon. While Sony Interactive CEO Hideaki Nishino still intends to pursue live-service content through both first-party and third-party partnerships, the recent string of cancellations and studio closures suggests a more cautious approach to the genre.
The Industry Pulse Bottom Line
Sony is pivoting away from high-risk live-service gambles like Fairgames to preserve stability. By integrating Haven Studios into a collaborative role, PlayStation aims to mitigate losses while searching for a sustainable formula in a crowded shooter market.