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

Sony's ambitious plan to launch 12 game services by 2025 has hit a major snag, leaving many gamers disappointed. The company recently canceled nine of these projects, a move that has sparked considerable backlash.

In 2022, then-president Jim Ryan unveiled this strategy, aiming to adapt to the evolving gaming landscape. However, this shift raised concerns among players worried about a potential decline in single-player titles. Despite assurances to the contrary, Sony has now confirmed the cancellation of nine of the twelve planned services.

While Helldivers 2 proved a success, high-profile casualties include Concord, Payback, The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title in development at Bluepoint Games. The cancellations also affect projects from Bend Studio, Insomniac Games (with Twisted Metal by Firesprite), London Studio, and Deviation Games.

Sony's Canceled Games:

• Concord (failed to meet expectations)
• God of War (Bluepoint Games)
• Bend Studio's multiplayer game
• The Last of Us: Factions
• Spider-Man: The Great Web (Insomniac Games)
• Twisted Metal (Firesprite)
• Unannounced fantasy game (London Studio)
• Payback (Bungie)
• Networking project (Deviation Games)

The majority of these canceled projects were integral to Sony's games-as-a-service strategy. This abrupt shift has fueled criticism, with many expressing concern that Sony prioritized trends over its core strengths and established franchises. Projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, in particular, face significant delays.