Summary
As per a recent report, Sony is apparently quite bullish on its next live-service game,Fairgames. In the aftermath of the unprecedented collapse of PlayStation’s latest live-service effort,Concord, this development suggests thatFairgamescould have a better shot at success in the crowded but potentially very profitable live-service space.
Developed by PlayStation first-party team Haven Studios,Fairgamesis billed as a “thrilling competitive heist game.” Although Haven was only formed about three years ago, the talent behind the studio makes it rather noteworthy, asAssassin’s Creed veteran Jade Raymondis leadingFairgames' development. The title was formally announced at the 2023 PlayStation Showcase with an action-packed CGI trailer that strongly echoed the themes of popular games likeWatchdogs,Payday, andThe Finals.
AfterConcord’s recent shutdown announcement, though, confidence in PlayStation’s live-service endeavors has wavered for a lot of fans. Many have even questioned if the company is doubting its current in-development live-service projects, likeFairgames. However, GamesIndustry.biz’s Christopher Dring claimed otherwise in the latest episode of the GI Microcast. According to Dring, Sony’s internal feedback onFairgamesis apparently “very positive,” and he’s heard “good things” about the Jade Raymond-led title. He also speculated that PlayStation is “really focussing” on supportingFairgamesand trying to make it work.
Fairgames Has One Crucial Advantage Over Concord
It’s undoubtedly very early to predict howFairgameswill fare commercially, especially without concrete details about its gameplay, monetization, or even a confirmed release window. Based on surface-level analysis, though,Fairgamesbeing a competitive heist shooter likePayday 3already gives it an edge overConcord, as the former serves a genre that is nowhere near as congested as the hero shooter space. One of the biggest things working againstConcord’s success was the overpopulated genre it launched into, whereOverwatchandValoranthave been established juggernauts for years andConcordcouldn’t differentiate itself enough to draw a lot of attention.
It’s also worth noting that internal feedback isn’t really a strong indicator ofFairgames' success. When Sony announced its partnership withConcorddeveloper Firewalk Studios in 2021, PlayStation Studios bossHermen Hulst remarked on Twitterthat the game was “ambitious” and “exciting.“PlayStation even acquired Firewalk in 2023, so one can reasonably fathom that internal sentiments aroundConcordwere rather positive as well. So far, Haven Studios is on a similar trajectory as it was also acquired by Sony before releasing its debut project. However, it’s likely learned a lot fromConcord’s release, and many will be watchingFairgameswith bated breath, wherever it shows up next.
