Sony has canceled Fairgames (stylized as FairGame$), the upcoming live-service shooter from Haven Studios, according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier.
The decision brings an end to a project that was first announced in 2023 as part of PlayStation’s push into the live-service market. The game had been in development for several years and underwent multiple reworks, with the studio even planning a re-reveal under a new title.
Fairgames struggled to find an audience
According to Bloomberg, a recent playtest involving thousands of players failed to meet Sony’s expectations. While the test demonstrated strong technical performance and live-service readiness, player feedback and retention numbers were mixed.
Insider Gaming first reported back in April that the game was struggling to “find the fun” in pre-alpha tests. Despite multiple changes to the game, including a likely name change to “Break In” and a move towards the extraction shooter genre, the game never got off the ground internally.
In an internal email to employees, PlayStation executives Sean Decker and John Doyle explained the decision to stop development.
“While the test demonstrated strong operational excellence, live ops readiness and community engagement, player feedback and retention results were mixed and fell short of the goals we had set,” the executives wrote.
They also pointed to challenging market conditions in the player-versus-player shooter genre as another factor behind the cancellation.
Despite the decision, Sony confirmed that there will be no job cuts at Haven Studios as a result. Instead, the Montreal-based developer will shift its focus toward supporting other studios within PlayStation.
Fairgames was one of several live-service projects Sony had pursued as part of its broader strategy to expand beyond traditional single-player experiences. That strategy has faced several setbacks, with the company reassessing its approach to live-service development.
The cancellation marks another major change for Haven Studios, which Sony acquired in 2022. It remains to be seen what projects the studio will support moving forward.
What are your thoughts on Fairgames (Fairgame$) being canceled? Are you surprised? Let us know down in the comments and in the official Insider Gaming Discord.
In other news, read about layoffs hitting Skydance’s games division just weeks after the acquisition of Warner Bros. Games. For even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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