PlayStation will hold more tests to avoid another Concord disaster

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions when it comes to PlayStation‘s recent financial performance. On one hand, it’s heartening to see them learn from their mistakes, like the ill-fated Concord debacle. On the other, I find myself chuckling at the irony of a company that can churn out gaming giants like Helldivers 2, yet stumble over seemingly smaller projects.

Sony/PlayStation gathered their shareholders for a discussion to reveal their financial results from Q2 2024. At this gathering, the current Chief Financial Officer, Hiroki Totoki, fielded many queries concerning Concord, one of the most significant mishaps in the company’s history.

In simpler terms, Totoki shared that their exploration into the realm of Games as a Service (GaaS) on PlayStation is an ongoing learning process. They’ve gathered valuable insights from the Concord project in particular. This is based on his statements reported by VGC.

At present, we’re still in the middle of the learning journey. Regarding fresh ideas or projects (IP), remember that the outcome isn’t clear until it’s put into practice.

To ensure thorough review and improvement, it seems essential that we incorporate numerous checkpoints, such as user testing or internal assessment, along with their optimal timings. These checkpoints should ideally have been implemented sooner in our process than they were.

Additionally, our organization operates in silos, which might have made collaboration for development and sales processes less fluid. A more seamless flow could have been achieved.

As a gamer, moving ahead, I aim to choose the perfect windows for both our in-house and third-party games. The goal is to strategically place them on our platform without competing against each other, thereby enhancing our game launches and maximizing performance. That’s all for now!

As a gamer, I’d emphasize two crucial aspects: it’s essential to carry out extensive testing and internal audits to truly gauge a product or game’s potential, and it’s vital to maximize the use of release windows to prevent sales overlap between in-house and external games.

Concord and Helldivers 2: The Curious Case of Opposites

Despite Concord’s disastrous reception, Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Studios, has proven to be a stark contrast. It’s become one of the year’s most successful commercial ventures in 2024, selling over 12 million units.

Sadahiko Hayakawa, Sony’s VP of Finance, discussed the contrasting experiences between the two games (via VGC):

He shared that they released two games this year, specifically Helldivers 2 which turned out to be very successful, whereas Concord ultimately had to close. From both experiences, we’ve gathered a significant amount of knowledge and insights.

Our goal is to disseminate the insights gained from both our triumphs and setbacks throughout our various studios. This includes knowledge about title development, management, and the ongoing process of expanding content and growing the service post-release. The aim is to enhance our overall development management system.

Our goal is to develop an ideal collection of game titles during the current mid-term strategy period. This will involve a mix of single-player games, which we excel at and have a higher likelihood of success due to our established intellectual properties, and live-service games that offer potential for growth but carry some risk upon launch.

As a dedicated gamer, I’m picking up on Hayakawa’s vibe: Sony’s goal is to craft an enhanced gaming library by merging traditional single-player games with Game-as-a-Service (GaaS). This strategic move is all about reducing risks and ensuring a smoother journey for gamers like me.

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