"The genre itself is relatively new, and I think many people are trying various things, so we also want to continue to take on challenges within that context"

Image credit: SIE

The CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Hideaki Nishino, has said that he wants to "revitalise" live-service projects through a combination of first- and third-party content.

Speaking to the Japanese media outlet Famitsu – translated by Wccftech – the executive said that live service is still a relatively new kind of game and that it is "important to continuously provide something".

"We believe that live service games are content that attracts users on a global level, so we want to continue to revitalise the market through both first-party and third-party content," Nishino said.

"We are not only focusing on promoting new releases, but also considering what we can do with older titles in the medium to long term. Also, this year we are planning to release our own live service title, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and we hope everyone will enjoy it."

He continued: "With live service games, it's important to continuously provide something. The genre itself is relatively new, and I think many people are trying various things, so we also want to continue to take on challenges within that context."

It appears this interview was conducted some time ago. There are remarks that Nishino made about how PlayStation decides what projects are exclusive to its consoles and which come to other platforms, such as PC, that were posted to and discussed on ResetEra weeks ago.

But the online version of the interview went live on June 26, the day after Sony announced it was making severe cuts at Destiny maker Bungie, which the PlayStation maker acquired for $3.6 billion in 2022.

At the time, then-Sony Interactive Entertainment boss Jim Ryan told GamesIndustry.biz that the deal was about multiplayer and live-service titles.

Sony has had little luck with its live-service slate; Concord was pulled from sale after just two weeks following its August 2024 release and the company has cancelled service-based projects from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games.

Sony shut down Concord's developer, Firewalk Studios, following the debacle. The platform holder has since closed Bluepoint Games.

The only major success that PlayStation has had with this kind of game is Helldivers 2, which, according to Alinea Analytics, has sold over 20 million copies and generated more than $700 million in revenue.

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