Sony Cancels Haven Studios' Fairgame$ After Playtest Misses Targets
Sony Interactive Entertainment has canceled Fairgame$, the live-service PvP heist shooter in development at subsidiary Haven Studios, according to a Bloomberg report.
2 sources 18h ago
Reporting from 2 sources: GameBusiness.jp, Game Spark.
Why it matters
The cancellation turns on retention data from a several-thousand-player test rather than on the game's concept, and Sony is keeping the studio intact to support other teams instead of cutting staff.
Key Facts
- Sony Interactive Entertainment canceled Fairgame$, the PvP heist shooter in development at subsidiary Haven Studios, according to Bloomberg.
- Haven Studios was founded by Jade Raymond and acquired by SIE in 2022; Fairgame$ was announced at the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase.
- A closed playtest of "Project Espresso," reported by Insider Gaming to be Fairgame$'s codename, recruited participants on Player.gg in September 2026.
- A PlayStation spokesperson said the cancellation brings no layoffs and Haven Studios will support other studios within the organization.
A closed playtest involving several thousand participants met operational and live-service readiness goals but fell short on player reactions and retention, an internal email dated November 10 said. A PlayStation spokesperson said the cancellation brings no layoffs and Haven will move to supporting other studios.
Haven Studios was founded by Jade Raymond, a producer on the original Assassin's Creed, and Sony acquired it in 2022. Fairgame$ was announced at the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase and drew no further updates. Founder and CEO Raymond left in May 2025, and game director Daniel Drapeau departed that August.
In September 2026, participants were recruited on Player.gg for a closed playtest of "Project Espresso," which Insider Gaming reported is the codename for Fairgame$. The November 10 email to employees said the test showed some success in operational capability and readiness for live operations, but player reactions and retention fell below set targets. PlayStation executives cited those results and the market for PvP shooters.
Written with AI by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited. See our editorial policy.
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