Sony recently canceled nine games and fans criticized the company for the string of failures

Sony's ambitious games-as-a-service strategy falters, leading to significant project cancellations. The company's 2022 announcement of 12 planned services by 2025 has resulted in the abrupt termination of nine projects, sparking considerable player backlash.

Initially presented as an adaptation to evolving market dynamics, Sony's shift towards services faced immediate criticism from gamers concerned about a potential decline in single-player titles. Despite assurances to the contrary, the recent cancellations tell a different story.

While Helldivers 2 saw success, notable casualties include Concord, Payback, The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title from Bluepoint Games. This represents a significant setback for Sony's plans.

Cancelled Sony Games:

• Concord: Failed to meet expectations.
• God of War (Bluepoint Games): Development halted.
• Bend Studio's Multiplayer Game: Project scrapped.
• The Last of Us: Factions: Cancelled.
• Spider-Man: The Great Web (Insomniac Games): No longer in development.
• Twisted Metal (Firesprite): Development ceased.
• Unannounced Fantasy Game (London Studio): Project cancelled.
• Payback (Bungie): Development terminated.
• Deviation Games Networking Project: Project abandoned.

The majority of these cancelled projects were integral to Sony's foray into the games-as-a-service market. The response from gamers has been overwhelmingly negative, with many expressing disappointment that Sony may have prioritized trends over its core strengths and established franchises. Projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, in particular, face considerable delays.