Sony cancels Fairgames after player tests miss targets; Haven staff avoid layoffs
Sony has canceled Fairgames, Haven Studios’ live-service shooter announced in 2023, after a recent playtest failed to meet the company’s expectations. In an internal email reviewed by Bloomberg, executives Sean Decker and John Doyle cited mixed player feedback and retention, alongside difficult conditions for competitive PvP shooters; Haven will support other PlayStation studios, with no layoffs planned.
Bottom line — Haven will remain part of PlayStation, but Fairgames joins a list of canceled live-service projects.
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Bloomberg reported that the playtest involved thousands of players.
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The executives said the test showed operational readiness and community engagement, but player feedback and retention fell short of targets.
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Haven had reworked the game multiple times, according to Bloomberg reports cited by Polygon and Insider Gaming.
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Insider Gaming reported that Haven had planned to reveal the project again under a different name.
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The game was announced as a multiplayer heist shooter in which teams would target the ultra-wealthy and compete against rival crews, according to TwistedVoxel.