PlayStation is shifting its strategy to focus on fewer live service games, more big franchises, and stricter oversight of its owned studios. In an interview with Financial Times, CEO Hermen Hulst said the company aims to mitigate future risks by learning from past mistakes.
Last year’s high-profile success, Astro Bot, sold over 2.3 million copies as of March 2025, while the failed game Concord cost Sony around $250m and was shut down just two weeks after launch. Hulst believes that more supervision is needed to prevent similar failures in the future.
To achieve this, PlayStation has implemented more rigorous testing methods and increased communication between internal studios. This includes group testing and closer relationships between studio executives.
Hulst also wants to focus on Sony’s owned IPs, like The Last of Us and Uncharted, which have led to massive franchises. He plans to encourage studios to think about how their IP can be turned into bigger franchises over time.
Several games are currently in development, including Ghost of Yōtei and Lost Soul Aside this year, and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Housemarque’s Saros for 2026. Other notable titles like Fairgames, Marvel’s Wolverine, and Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet are also in the works.
With these changes, PlayStation aims to strike a better balance between innovation and risk management, while continuing to develop iconic franchises that appeal to both gamers and non-gamers alike.
Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/playstation-boss-says-company-now-does-much-more-rigorous-and-more-frequent-testing-after-concords-failure