Article Key Points
Sony has delayed half of the 12 PlayStation live service games that it planned to release by March 2026.
The delays seem to be associated with concerns regarding quality. It is not clear which specific projects have been postponed.
Currently, only two out of Sony's twelve upcoming live service games have been officially confirmed: Bungie's Marathon and The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off.
Sony has postponed several PlayStation games, originally planned for release in the next two and a half years. These titles are part of the double-digit batch of live service games confirmed by Sony in February 2022. Previously, Sony announced its intention to release at least ten games utilizing the games-as-a-service (GAAS) business model by the end of fiscal year 2025. However, PlayStation Studios Head Hermen Hulst later revealed that this roadmap has expanded to 12 titles as of October 2022. Furthermore, Hulst assured that all these abundant live service games from PlayStation will be available on PC from their initial release.
Sony Now Aims to Release Only 6 PlayStation Live Service Games by March 2026
The number of planned releases has seemingly been cut in half according to Sony Group COO Hiroki Totoki during the company's recent earnings call. Although he did not directly use the term "delay," Totoki mentioned that Sony is currently determining the release dates for half of the initially promised GAAS titles. On the other hand, VGC reports that Totoki confirmed the launch of the remaining six games by early 2026. These statements suggest that there have been modifications to the original plan of releasing all 12 of the upcoming live service games within the next two and a half years.
The specific titles that were postponed from the company's initial GAAS batch remain unknown, as most of them have not been announced yet. Only two live service titles have been confirmed by Sony so far: Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off and Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon. Totoki suggested that these delays were due to concerns regarding quality standards, emphasizing that Sony should not compromise on the "game quality" aspect of its GAAS venture.
Despite this setback, the gaming giant's overall strategy remains unchanged. Totoki confirms that live service games will continue to be a crucial part of Sony's long-term plans. PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan has previously stated that the company will not prioritize GAAS offerings over its AAA single-player experiences, but rather include them as well.
It is still uncertain whether such ambitious diversification can be achieved without further major acquisitions, similar to the 2022 Bungie deal. After all, providing long-term support for a live service game can be as challenging as developing it initially, if not more so. This is evident from the fact that even companies like Blizzard, who have more GAAS experience than Sony, sometimes struggle to meet the fans' expectations in terms of quality and quantity, as stated by Blizzard's own president who now says that players lack patience.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Sony's decision to postpone the release of six PlayStation games. On the one hand, I am disappointed that I will have to wait longer to play these highly anticipated titles. On the other hand, I understand that Sony is making this decision to ensure that the games are of the highest quality possible. I believe that it is better for Sony to take its time and release a polished, high-quality game than to rush it out and release a buggy, unfinished product.
I am also concerned about the potential impact of this delay on the PlayStation brand. Sony has been on a roll lately, with the PlayStation 5 being a huge success and the company's first-party studios releasing a string of critically acclaimed games. This delay could potentially damage Sony's momentum and give Microsoft an opportunity to gain ground in the console wars. However, I believe that Sony is still in a strong position, and I am confident that the company will be able to weather this storm.