Overview
- Bloomberg reported the cancellation after an internal memo said a recent large-scale playtest failed to meet PlayStation’s goals for player feedback and retention.
- Executives Sean Decker and John Doyle told staff the test showed strong operational readiness but mixed player feedback and weak retention that fell short of internal benchmarks.
- PlayStation said there will be no layoffs at Montreal’s Haven Studios and that its developers will be moved to support other teams inside PlayStation Studios.
- Fairgames was unveiled in May 2023 as a competitive, heist-themed PvP live-service shooter, but the project was reworked several times, lost its original lead Jade Raymond in 2025, and had leaked playtest footage before this decision.
- The cancellation highlights strains in PlayStation’s wider live-service strategy—which has produced hits like Helldivers 2 and high-profile failures such as Concord—and may lead the company to be more selective about future multiplayer live-service projects.