Sony axes PS5 live-service shooter Fairgames after poor playtest

Sony has pulled the plug on Fairgames, the heist-themed multiplayer shooter in development at first-party studio Haven. The cancellation was reported by Bloomberg and confirmed by multiple outlets.

According to an internal PlayStation email verified by Bloomberg, the game was scrapped after a recent playtest failed to meet Sony's targets. Executives Sean Decker and John Doyle reportedly wrote that, while the test showed good technical and operational performance, player response and long-term engagement metrics were underwhelming.

The email cited a crowded market for competitive shooters as a contributing factor, per Kotaku. Haven Studios, which is based in Montreal, will not see layoffs. Instead, the team will pivot to assisting other PlayStation studios on their projects, according to a statement obtained by Kotaku.

The game was originally announced in 2023 and was briefly led by industry veteran Jade Raymond. It had already been delayed to 2026 prior to its cancellation. Sony acquired Haven in 2022 before the studio had released any titles.