PlayStation Expands Live-Service Game Portfolio with Diverse Releases

Over the past 18 months, PlayStation has made significant strides in the live-service game sector with the acquisition of three dedicated studios. This journey began with the acquisition of Destiny developer Bungie in January last year, followed by Haven Studios in March, and most recently, Firewalk Studios. This strategic expansion is part of Sony's broader vision to diversify its gaming portfolio beyond single-player narrative adventures, although the company assures that such games will continue to be developed. Currently, Sony has ten live-service games in development, sparking curiosity about the company's expectations for success. PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst emphasized that the term 'live-service' does not imply a uniform genre or business model, but rather a variety of games targeting different genres, release schedules, and audiences. Hulst expressed confidence in PlayStation's ability to deliver high-quality games, drawing from its track record of creating engaging worlds and stories. The acquisition of Firewalk Studios, which is currently developing its first game, marks a significant step in this strategy. According to Hulst, the decision to acquire studios is based on the unique needs and trajectories of each team, with the goal of providing the necessary support for growth and success. Tony Hsu, studio head at Firewalk, highlighted the benefits of being part of the PlayStation team, including access to a global network of studios and central technology and service teams. This collaboration enables the sharing of knowledge and expertise, particularly valuable for live-service games that present complex challenges. Notably, many of Firewalk's founders are former Bungie employees, and the studio is excited to join the same family of studios as Bungie. The game currently in development at Firewalk will not be a PS5 exclusive, as it is also being developed for PC, reflecting a strategic approach to launching live-service titles across multiple platforms to maximize audience reach. While Hulst remains cautious about committing to this approach for all service-based titles, he acknowledges the progress made in delivering games on PC and the potential benefits of multi-platform releases. The acquisition of Firewalk by PlayStation marks its departure from ProbablyMonsters, a collective of AAA studios focused on creating a positive work environment and developing games that teams can be proud of. However, Harold Ryan, CEO and president of ProbablyMonsters, views the sale as a step towards achieving the company's mission of bringing new AAA game teams and IPs to life, emphasizing the importance of culture and empowerment in game development. Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu, reassures that joining PlayStation will not alter the studio's independent culture and development philosophy, which has been supported by both ProbablyMonsters and PlayStation. This transition is expected to further empower Firewalk's unique approach to game development.