Jade Raymond's departure from Haven Studios, the Sony-owned developer behind the online multiplayer shooter Fairgames, marks another setback for PlayStation's live service ambitions. According to Bloomberg, Raymond left the studio she founded shortly after an external test of Fairgames, which did not meet expectations. Originally slated for a fall 2025 release, the game has now been pushed back to spring 2026.
Bloomberg reported that PlayStation leadership did not provide Haven staff with a reason for Raymond's exit, which occurred several weeks after the external test. Some developers at Haven expressed concerns about the game's reception and its overall progress, according to sources who wished to remain anonymous.
Despite this, Sony remains committed to Haven and Fairgames, with Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski stepping in as new co-studio heads.
This development is part of a broader struggle for Sony's live service strategy. While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 has been a success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks and becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game to date, other live service titles have faced significant challenges. Sony's Concord, for instance, was a major disappointment, lasting only a few weeks before being taken offline due to low player engagement and ultimately being canceled along with its developer.
Sony's difficulties in this space were further highlighted by the cancellation of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer game and two other unannounced live service projects earlier this year—one a God of War title from Bluepoint and another from Bend, the developers of Days Gone.
In February 2022, Sony announced plans to launch over 10 live service games by March 2026, aiming to cater to different genres and audiences. The company made significant investments in studio acquisitions, including Destiny developer Bungie, Jade Raymond's Haven Studios, and the now-closed Firewalk Studios.
However, by 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced a review of the 12 live service games in development, committing to launch only six by the end of the financial year 2025, or by March 2026. Totoki emphasized that Sony would prioritize quality over sticking to specific titles, indicating flexibility in their approach to the remaining six games.
Bungie continues to support Sony's live service efforts with ongoing updates for Destiny 2 and the upcoming full launch of Marathon later this year. Additionally, Sony recently unveiled a new PlayStation studio, teamLFG, which is working on a live service incubation project, while Guerrilla's Horizon multiplayer game remains in development.
