Jade Raymond Leaves Fairgames Amid Sony's Live Service Challenges

Jade Raymond's departure from Haven Studios, a Sony-owned developer working on the online multiplayer shooter Fairgames, marks another setback for PlayStation's live service ambitions. According to Bloomberg, Raymond left the studio she founded several weeks after an external test of Fairgames, which did not meet expectations. Originally slated for a fall 2025 release, the game has now been delayed to spring 2026.

Bloomberg reports that PlayStation leadership did not provide Haven staff with a reason for Raymond's exit. However, it followed closely on the heels of the disappointing external test. Some developers at Haven expressed concerns about the game's reception and its development progress, though they chose to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Despite these challenges, Sony remains committed to Haven and Fairgames, appointing new co-studio heads Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski to lead the studio forward.

This news is another blow to Sony's troubled live service strategy, which has faced significant hurdles. While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 achieved remarkable success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks and becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, other live service titles have struggled. Sony's Concord, for example, was a major disappointment, lasting only a few weeks before being taken offline due to low player numbers, eventually leading to the game's cancellation and the closure of its developer.

Sony's challenges with live service games extend further. The company canceled Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer project and, earlier this year, reportedly axed two unannounced live service titles: a God of War game from Bluepoint and another from Bend Studio, known for Days Gone.

In February 2022, Sony announced ambitious plans to launch over 10 live service games by March 2026, aiming to cater to different genres and audiences. To support this initiative, Sony acquired studios like Bungie, Haven Studios, and Firewalk Studios. However, in 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced a strategic review, deciding to launch only six of the 12 planned live service games by the end of the financial year 2025, which ends in March 2026. Totoki emphasized the importance of quality over quantity, indicating that the release dates for the remaining six games were still under consideration.

Bungie continues to uphold Sony's live service efforts with the ongoing Destiny 2 and the upcoming full launch of Marathon later this year. Additionally, Sony recently unveiled a new PlayStation studio, teamLFG, which is working on a live service incubation project. Guerrilla's Horizon multiplayer game is also in development, signaling ongoing efforts despite recent setbacks.