It seems Sony’s plans for live-service games have hit another setback. After canceling the God of War live-service game last week, it has now been revealed that the development of the Horizon MMO has been halted. The project, believed to have been developed by NCSoft, was shelved following a ‘feasibility review’ conducted by the company. So why is Sony abandoning these major projects?
Is Sony abandoning live-service games?
It was well known that PlayStation had big plans for live-service games. However, recent developments this year suggest that the company is distancing itself from this strategy. First, a live-service God of War game being developed by Bluepoint Games, the creators of the Demon’s Souls remake, was canceled. Then, another project worked on by Bend Studios, the developers of Days Gone, was also cut.
Most recently, it was reported that three different projects by NCSoft were halted. One of these, the project codenamed ‘H,’ is believed to be the canceled Horizon MMO. However, it’s been noted that the developers working on these projects won’t be laid off but rather reassigned to different projects within the company.
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Rumors about Sony working on an MMO set in the Horizon universe have been circulating for a long time. With the rich and deep world created by Guerrilla Games, the Horizon series was a strong candidate for the MMO genre. However, no clear explanation has been given as to why the project was shelved.
Sony’s focus on single-player games
Sony has long been known for its single-player, story-driven games, which made the move to live-service projects seem like a strange decision for some fans. In a market dominated by giants like Destiny 2, Fortnite, and World of Warcraft, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for new live-service games to succeed. Especially after a huge project like Concord was officially scrapped, it’s not surprising that Sony seems to be retreating from this space.
The company’s decision to cancel such projects may indicate a return to focusing on single-player games in the future. This shift could further boost interest in Sony’s iconic franchises like God of War, The Last of Us, and Horizon, which have helped build the company’s loyal fanbase over the years.
What do you think about Sony’s decision to move away from live-service games? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
