Shawn Layden, a former executive at Sony, recently shared his concerns about the video game industry’s heavy focus on games that continuously update and offer in-game purchases – often called “live service” games. While many large game companies see these games, like Fortnite, as very profitable, Layden believes the pursuit of similar success can be misleading and ultimately unattainable.
Shawn Layden led Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios from 2014 to 2019. He was responsible for the creation of some of PlayStation’s most successful single-player games, including titles like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ghost of Tsushima.
Former Sony Executive Compares Live Service Games to a ‘Mirage’
In a recent interview with The Ringer, former executive Layden cautioned against companies blindly pursuing the success of ongoing, live service games. He described this pursuit as a tempting but ultimately unattainable goal, like chasing a mirage. Layden pointed to Fortnite as a rare instance of incredible luck – “catching lightning in a jar” – and emphasized that such success can’t be planned for, as it relies on more than just a good idea. He personally disliked the idea of making these types of games, arguing they aren’t truly “games” but rather repetitive activities designed to keep players engaged.
Looking back at Sony recently, it makes sense why Layden feels the way he does. We’ve seen some massive wins with single-player games like The Last of Us Part II and God of War: Ragnarok – those were huge! But then you have something like Concord, which was a total flop. It’s crazy that a live service shooter shut down after just two weeks. It really shows you how risky those kinds of games can be.
Following the disappointing performance of Concord, Sony is shifting away from games designed as ongoing live services. Earlier this year, in January, Sony canceled two such projects: a multiplayer military shooter being developed by Bluepoint Games and a God of War multiplayer game from Bend Studios. Additionally, Bungie’s Marathon has been delayed to allow for further development and refinement.
It’s important to note that not all live service games fail. Helldivers 2, for instance, has sold over 19 million copies and continues to be a popular action game. However, it was created by Arrowhead Game Studios, a team with a lot of experience in this area. The big question now is whether companies like Sony will keep trying to launch new live service games, or if they’ll listen to advice and concentrate on making traditional, single-player games instead.
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2025-10-27 19:34