Recently, there’s been buzz in the gaming community about Sony Interactive Entertainment’s decision to cancel live service projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. On a recent Game Mess Decides podcast episode, industry insider Jeff Grubb pointed fingers at the troubled rollout of Concord as the catalyst for these changes.
Grubb revealed that the cancellations at Bend Studios and Bluepoint Games stem from Concord’s rocky debut, where the servers went dark just two weeks post-launch. He further explained that this has pushed Sony into a state of introspection, putting every ongoing project—and especially live services—under the microscope.
“This all ties back to Concord; I want that to be obvious,” Grubb emphasized on the podcast. “Sony’s still reeling from the Concord mishap, and now they’re taking a hard look at every project on the table. If you’re a live-service title, you’re facing significant hurdles just getting off the ground now.”
He went on to assert, “It’s highly unlikely any live service project will get the green light soon. The teams are fully aware of this reality.”
For some PlayStation fans, this might feel like a relief, but it spells complexity for the developers. As Grubb noted, for many studios under Sony’s live service push, there was a streamlined way to secure funding. Now, obtaining backing for more conventional projects might prove more challenging.
Before the cancellations, Bluepoint Games was reportedly developing a multiplayer spin on God of War. Information about Bend Studio’s live service venture remains under wraps. Nonetheless, Sony has confirmed it’s collaborating with both studios to map out future endeavors. So, while these developments aren’t leading to any studio closures, we might not see any major releases from these teams until possibly the next console generation.
(Source: Jeff Grubb’s Game Mess)
