Jade Raymond has departed Haven Studios, the Sony-owned developer behind the upcoming online multiplayer shooter Fairgames, following a reportedly underwhelming external test of the game. The title, initially slated for a fall 2025 release, has now been pushed back to spring 2026.
According to Bloomberg, Raymond’s exit came several weeks after the external test failed to meet expectations. While PlayStation leadership has not publicly disclosed the reasons for her departure, sources familiar with the situation indicate that internal concerns were raised about the game’s reception and development progress. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity, citing non-disclosure agreements.
Despite the leadership change, Sony remains committed to Haven Studios and the Fairgames project. New co-studio heads Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski have been appointed to lead the team forward.
This latest development adds to a growing list of setbacks for PlayStation’s live service strategy, which has faced significant challenges in recent years. While Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 emerged as a surprise success—becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios title with 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks—other high-profile live service efforts have faltered.
Concord, once positioned as a flagship live service title, became one of the most notable failures in PlayStation’s history. Launched to minimal player engagement, the game was pulled from service within weeks and ultimately canceled, leading to the closure of its development studio.
This followed the cancellation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us multiplayer project and, more recently, two unannounced live service titles—one a God of War spinoff from Bluepoint Games, and another from Days Gone developer Bend Studio.
Sony first announced an ambitious plan in February 2022 to release over 10 live service games by March 2026, backed by major studio acquisitions including Bungie, Haven Studios, and the now-defunct Firewalk Studios. However, in 2023, Sony President Hiroki Totoki confirmed a strategic shift, revealing that only six of the 12 planned live service titles would be prioritized for release by the end of fiscal year 2025 (March 2026). The remaining projects are under review, with Sony emphasizing quality over quantity.
Bungie continues to support Destiny 2 and is preparing for the full release of Marathon later this year. Additionally, Sony recently unveiled a new studio, teamLFG, focused on a live service incubation project. Guerrilla Games is also continuing development on its Horizon multiplayer title.
Despite the turbulence, Sony maintains its investment in the live service space, though its approach has clearly evolved in response to market feedback and development hurdles.
