PlayStation Studios has acknowledged the lessons learned from its high-profile failures, including the cancellation of live service project Concord. According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, the company will be more deliberate in the future.
Hulst emphasized that ambition is necessary, but also noted that failure should not come at a high cost. The number of live service releases was never the main priority for Sony, but rather having diverse player experiences and communities.
To address this, Sony has tightened oversight across its studios through rigorous testing and more frequent evaluations. This change aims to build iconic franchises that can extend beyond gaming.
The collapse of Concord had significant consequences, leading to a re-evaluation of in-development games and the cancellation of multiple live service titles. Industry journalist Jeff Grubb reported that the fallout left Sony “shell shocked”, with some teams like Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games seeing their projects canceled as a result.
As a result, PlayStation is now opting for caution, focusing on maintaining a balance of experiences rather than pursuing live service dominance at all costs. The company has canceled eight out of twelve live service titles, and it appears that the failure of Concord will shape future decisions.
Source: https://twistedvoxel.com/hermen-hulst-addresses-concords-failure-says-playstation-will-take-cautious-approach-to-live-service-games