PlayStation live service push keeps hitting roadblocks as it revealed two unannounced projects have bit the dust. One of these was a God of War live service game developed by Bluepoint Games. The other was an undisclosed game created by Bend Studio, which was working on a project following the rejection of a Days Gone sequel. According to a report by Bloomberg, both projects, developed by PlayStation’s key subsidiaries, were ultimately scrapped amid ongoing challenges in the live service market.
Based in Austin, Bluepoint Games is known for developing various high-profile remasters and remakes. From Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection to Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls for PS4. The development studio was acquired by Sony in 2021.
Despite the setbacks, a PlayStation representative assured that neither studio would be shut down. “Bend and Bluepoint are highly accomplished teams who are valued members of the PlayStation Studios family,” said the spokesperson. “And we are working closely with each studio to determine what are the next projects.”
One silver lining: the cancellations will apparently not lead to job cuts in Bluepoint Games and Bend Studio. Based on a memo for the developer teams, the company said it’s going to ‘plan everything’ to ensure ‘minimal business impact.’
Speaking to Bloomberg, the PlayStation contact said that the God of War and the unnamed live service game were canceled following a ‘recent review.’ Nevertheless, the company will still continue pursuing both single-player and multiplayer projects.
So far, the PlayStation maker’s live service strategy has faced mixed results. Putting aside Destiny, which was bought for $3.6 billion in 2022, only Helldivers II emerged as a success. Additionally, Sony has canceled several other live service projects, including Spider-Man and The Last of Us spin-offs.
Late last year, President Hiroki Totoki acknowledged the need for more quality control to avoid another Concord situation. PlayStation also announced delays for six of its major 12 upcoming live service games, which were expected to launch before March 2026.
Despite these obstacles, PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst remains committed to live service games. Recently, it also selected 40 Bungie key employees to head a new multiplayer project internally called Gummy Bears.
