Live service games have proven to be a challenging venture for Sony and PlayStation. After several attempts, the company has faced cancellations, disappointing launches, studio closures, and, of course, frustrated fans. Despite these setbacks, Sony isn’t giving up on the model and plans to keep investing in these types of games.
Lin Tao, Sony’s CFO, openly admitted that the company has encountered significant challenges trying to establish itself in the live service market; however, she also emphasized they will continue moving forward, revealing a tentative release window for Marathon to underline the message.
Sony Owns Up to Failures
During Sony’s latest financial briefing, Lin Tao was asked about their live service strategy and the recent setbacks. She acknowledged things haven’t gone perfectly but stressed that the lessons learned along the way will be valuable moving forward.
Tao is aware that this approach hasn’t been popular with everyone, and it’s affected how some perceive the PlayStation brand and its future. Still, she made it clear the company believes in the live service space.
“Last year, Concord shut down, and this year Marathon was delayed, so there have been some negative headlines. But if you look back over the last five years, live service games were almost nonexistent for PlayStation Studios. Now we have Helldivers 2, MLB The Show, Gran Turismo 7, and Bungie’s Destiny 2. These four live services contribute steady sales and profits.”
She added that live service titles make up roughly 30% of PlayStation’s first-party software revenue.
“In terms of transformation, it hasn’t been completely smooth, but over a longer perspective, looking at changes across five years, you can clearly see the shift.”
Marathon’s Release Window Becomes Clearer
Marathon faced delays following a plagiarism controversy and criticism from players who tested its Beta. Many agreed the extraction shooter needed more time, and Bungie’s game ultimately missed its release date.
Tao assured the goal remains to launch Marathon within this fiscal year but emphasized that the game is still in the works, with an official release date expected to be announced this fall.
“Regarding Marathon, when we include it in our forecasts, we expect a launch within this fiscal year. Having said that, this isn’t a commitment yet. There hasn’t been an official announcement. We’re making changes in development, and based on progress, we believe we’ll be able to share a release date this fall.”
