Summary
The seventh console generation was a time of great experimentation forPlayStation. After the disastrous unveiling of the PS3, Sony had to do everything in its power to win back the loyalty of its customers, especially given how stiff the competition from Microsoft and Nintendo was at the time. While the early years of the beleaguered system were somewhat underwhelming when it came to major exclusive releases, Sony eventually managed to turn things around for the PS3 in the latter half of the console’s lifespan. During this period inPlayStationhistory, the Japanese firm prioritized diversity in its first-party lineup of games to make its portfolio appeal to as many audiences as possible, both casual and hardcore. This led to the creation of various PlayStation titles in an array of different genres, from puzzle platformers and survival games to arcade racers and action RPGs.
Out of all theunique Sony properties from the PlayStation 3 generation,ResistanceandKillzonewere arguably some of the most significant ones. These sci-fi first-person shooter franchises not only found their footing in the then-crowded FPS genre, they were also some of the most critically-acclaimed PlayStation-published series of their time. Despite the success they enjoyed on the PS3, however, these Sony IPs have sadly remained dormant for more than a decade.KillzoneandResistancemay not have reached the same level of popularity as some of the franchises they were often compared to, likeHaloorCall of Duty, but if they were to be revived, they could fill in the major FPS gap that’s sorely missing in Sony’s first-party portfolio these days.
It’s Time for Sony to Bring Back Killzone and Resistance
Resistance Was One of the Multiple Sony-Owned Franchises That Debuted on the PS3
One of these two FPS properties, theResistanceseries, was created by Insomniac Games, the famed developer behindRatchet & ClankandMarvel’s Spider-Man. The franchise consists only of five installments, two of which were released exclusively for Sony’s handheld consoles. The firstResistancegame,Resistance: Fall of Man, was actuallya launch title for the PlayStation 3, and one of the best-selling ones at that. Subsequent mainline entries in the series, meanwhile, also made their debut on the PS3 and have remained trapped on the aging console to this day.
The Killzone Series Was at Its Peak During the PS3 Era
UnlikeResistance, theKillzoneseries didn’t start off on the PlayStation 3. Instead, the earliest installment in the Guerrilla Games-developed franchise, 2004’sKillzone, came out exclusively on the PS2. The series didn’t really hit its stride until the PS3 generation, however, thanks to the release ofwidely-acclaimed titles likeKillzone 2and3, both of which were considered big improvements over the first entry in the franchise.Killzonetook a bit of a dip in quality after the release of the divisive 2013 gameKillzone: Shadow Fall, which was launched alongside the PS4 and was met with lukewarm reception from fans.Shadow Fallwas thelast entry in the Killzonefranchise, and it was also the final, non-VR first-person shooter that Sony ever developed; that is, until the release ofConcord.
After The Failure of Concord, Sony Needs a Successful FPS Series like Killzone, Resistance
Concordwas the first flat-screen FPS game from a first-party PlayStation studio in over 10 years. However, as many may know by now, this troubled live service title wasn’t exactly the triumphant return to the first-person shooter genre that many were hoping for from Sony; rather, it was the exact opposite. The hero shooter was a massive critical and commercial failure. It sold so poorly, in fact, thatit was swiftly shut down by PlayStation only two weeks after its releaseon June 30, 2025.
Now thatConcordhas seemingly been thrown to the wayside, Sony sorely needs a high-quality first-person shooter more than ever before. If the company wants to diversify its lineup like it did in the PS3 era, thenit should consider bringingKillzoneandResistanceback to fill the hole thatConcordleft. These twoPlayStationfranchises would easily stand out among Sony’s catalog of predominantly third-person games and could have the potential to serve as strong competitors to the numerous FPS series that rival console manufacturer Microsoft now owns.
PlayStation
PlayStation is the console series from Sony, featuring mega hits like God of War, Horizon, The Last of Us, and many more. Here, you’ll find all the news, walkthroughs, analysis, and other content you need about the world of PlayStation.
