Sony recently canceled nine games and fans criticized the company for the string of failures

Sony's ambitious games-as-a-service strategy has hit a major snag. The company's plan to launch 12 game services by 2025 has faltered, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of nine projects, much to the dismay of gamers.

In 2022, then-president Jim Ryan unveiled this ambitious plan, a response to the evolving gaming landscape. However, this strategy was met with skepticism from many gamers concerned about a potential shift away from single-player titles. Despite assurances to the contrary, Sony has now confirmed the cancellation of nine of the twelve planned services.

While Helldivers 2 proved successful, high-profile projects like The Last of Us: Factions, Spider-Man: The Great Web, and a God of War title from Bluepoint Games have been scrapped, along with others including Concord, Payback, and several unannounced titles.

Sony's Canceled Games:

• Concord (failed to meet expectations)
• God of War (Bluepoint Games)
• Bend Studio's multiplayer game
• The Last of Us: Factions
• Spider-Man: The Great Web (Insomniac Games)
• Twisted Metal (Firesprite)
• Unannounced fantasy game (London Studio)
• Payback (Bungie)
• Networking project (Deviation Games)

The cancellations primarily affect Sony's push into the games-as-a-service market. Criticism is mounting, with many feeling Sony prioritized a fleeting trend over its core strengths and established franchises. Projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, among others, are now facing significant delays.