Former PlayStation Head Says They Would Have Resisted Live-Service Push

PlayStation’s live-service push has been well publicized. In 2022, the company confirmed it was going all in on these titles, planning to release ten by 2026. Since then, Concord failed spectacularly, Twisted Metal and The Last of Us had their live-service titles canceled, and Bungie’s Destiny and Marathon have faced serious challenges. Sure, Helldivers 2 was a success, but overall, it’s been a bit of a disaster.

That’s not stopped the company, though, with Sony vowing to continue making live-service titles “that pursue upside while taking on a certain amount of risk upon release.”

Related

PlayStation’s Concord Era Is Officially Over As Its Gear Store Sells Out Of Merch

The merch is gone, the Secret Level episode it out. There is officially no more Concord to come.

The direction PlayStation is taking has been a controversial one, and now, former president of SIE Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida has weighed in on the matter, saying, “If I was in the position of Hermen [Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO], I would try to resist that direction.”

Former Sony President Sheds Light On The Company’s Live-Service Push

Link Image

When Sony announced it was planning to release a million live-service games over a short period of time, there was fear that this could impact the company’s stellar single-player offerings. Speaking to Greg Miller on the Kinda Funny Gamescast, Yoshida shared details on how PlayStation allocates its resources, quashing fears that Sony is ditching single-player games for these online service titles.

“What they did after I moved on and Hermen took over is Sony gave a lot more resources. I don’t think they said to Hermen, ‘Stop making these single-player games,’ they said, ‘Oh, these games are great, continue doing that, and we’ll give you additional resources to work on these service games,'” Yoshida said.

“They knew it was risky; the chance of a game being successful in this hugely competitive genre will be small, but the company, knowing that risk, gave Hermen resources and a chance to try it. In my mind, that’s great. Hopefully, some games will become successful,” he added.

While Yoshida is positive about Sony’s live-service ambitions, he says that he’s not sure he’d have been as on board if he was still in charge. “If I was in the position of Hermen, I would try to resist that direction. Maybe that’s one of the reasons they removed me from first-party.”

So, although it’s not the most popular decision, it seems like Sony will continue trying to strike it lucky with live-service games. The good news, at least, is it’s not taking away from their single-player titles.

Helldivers 2

Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.
 

Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios. 
 

Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy. 
 

Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play. 
 

Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1
 

Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.