PlayStation states it will follow Helldivers 2 for live service success after lessons “learned” from Concord

PlayStation are continuing their efforts to break into the live service genre despite most of their efforts resulting in cancelations or failures. Concord is the biggest failure part of Sony’s push, but, on the flip side, there has also been the triumphant success of Helldivers 2. With the success of Helldivers 2 leading the way as an example, PlayStation are continuing their live service efforts with lessons “learned” from Concord.

PlayStation are continuing live service push with Helldivers 2 example of success

Sony Interactive Entertainment recently conducted a business presentation. Slides from the presentation and quotes from Sony have been provided, sharing the company’s plans for the future of PlayStation.

Live service games have been very divisive amongst the PlayStation community. It has also been difficult for Sony as numerous attempts have resulted in failure. A Last of Us multiplayer game was cancelled, and so were live service projects for God of War, Twisted Metal, Spider-Man and more. As for what has been released, there was the colossal failure of Concord which was so bad its servers were shut down just a week after launch with the game no longer available to buy from the PSN store or Steam.

Amongst these failures, Helldivers 2 has been a triumphant success both critically and commercially. Sony are aware of this, and HD2 is now regarded as the blueprint for what success looks like.

As part of the business presentation, CEO, Hermen Hulst, said Sony are “continuing to invest in Live Service games with Helldivers 2 being an example of success if we get things right”. The CEO further stated that Sony “have learned from many challenges including Concord,” and the company has “restructured the development and review process of our games, [so as] not make the same mistakes twice”.

In addition to the above, Eurogamer quotes Hulst as praising the upcoming Marathon as “innovative and bold”. Bungie’s Marathon will be published by PlayStation, and so too will the other upcoming live service game, Fairgames$, which is being developed by Haven Studios.

Unfortunately, Marathon has been involved in a lot of controversy over stolen artwork, as well as divisive impressions about the game. Fairgames$ isn’t fairing any better as the Studio Head recently left, and there are reports that the game has been delayed to 2026 as a result of worrying external tests.

It remains to be seen if Sony can strike oil twice with another live service success comparable to Helldivers 2, or if Marathon and Fairgames$ will be more duds in their pursuit of gold. Regardless of what happens, don’t expect Sony to give up their push of live service games.

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