One of the most intense areas of competition in the gaming world is live service games and long-term online content support. Sony had announced plans to release 12 different live service games by 2026, but recent studio closures and cancellations are making this goal look increasingly distant. Meanwhile, Microsoft seems to have pulled ahead of PlayStation in this area with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the expansion of Xbox Game Pass, and popular live service games.
Has PlayStation’s Big Goals Fallen Apart?
While Sony is known for its single-player story-driven games, the company had hoped to invest in multiplayer and long-term revenue-generating games in the new era. However, the cancellation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Online project, the shelving of Bluepoint Games’ God of War game, and the cancellation of NCSoft’s Horizon MMO have shown that PlayStation’s plans have been a complete failure.
Although Bungie’s Marathon and the highly anticipated Helldivers 2 keep Sony’s hopes alive, the number of cancelled projects reveals that PlayStation is facing significant challenges in the live service gaming arena.
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In addition, Microsoft’s $72 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard gives it control over massive live service games like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft. This puts PlayStation at risk of losing one of its biggest assets: Call of Duty, in the long term.
Moreover, the arrival of Sea of Thieves on PlayStation and Microsoft’s increasing push to make more of its games multiplatform are further complicating matters for PlayStation. With the advantages offered by Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s infrastructure seems to be stronger in the live service game ecosystem than PlayStation’s.
So, do you think Sony can catch up with Microsoft in live service games? Or is this area now firmly under Xbox’s leadership? Share your thoughts in the comments!
