Summary
It seems like PlayStation’s upcoming live-service titleFairgamesis not faring very well in closed playtesting, as per a recent report.Fairgamesdeveloper Haven Studios saw a major leadership shake-up just last week, and now, there are signs that the game itself could join the growing list ofPlayStation’sdoomed live-service projects.
Revealed at the 2023 PlayStation Showcase,Fairgamesis a live-service heist shooterin the works at Haven Studios, a team founded and formerly led byAssassin’s Creedveteran Jade Raymond. Sony joined forces with Raymond in 2021 to help set up Haven Studios, and the team was eventually acquired by the gaming giant in 2022 to expand PlayStation’s live-service portfolio. However, afterConcord’s historic failure last year, the pressure onFairgamesto perform well has increased greatly, and Haven might be buckling under the stress.
No new footage or gameplay ofFairgameshas been shown since its original debut, and on Jun 03, 2025,Jade Raymond exited Haven Studios, inciting more concerns surrounding internal confidence in the live-service title. While Sony affirmed that it remains committed to Haven andFairgames, some new info fromLast Stand Media’s paywalled Sacred Symbols podcast(episode 360) spells out more worrisome news. Apparently, a pre-alpha version ofFairgames- dubbedProject Hearts- was quietly distributed to a small group of playtesters via PSN, and the feedback from this early test has beenfar from encouraging.
Fairgames is Ostensibly a “Super Clunky” Cross Between Extraction Shooters and Battle Royales
Described as a hybrid ofFortniteandThe Division,Fairgamesreportedly drops players into large urban maps in teams of three to four. The objective is to infiltrate vaults and steal from the wealthy, while rival teams attempt the same in real time - a gameplay loop that sits somewhere between anextraction shooterand a battle royale. Though the concept promises a stylized, Robin Hood-style experience, the playtesters describedFairgames' gameplay as “super clunky” and devoid of polish.
These alleged details aboutFairgamesdon’t quite paint an encouraging picture for the game, especially in light ofConcordbeing one of the most high-profile flops in Sony’s history and the numerouslive-service project cancelations at PlayStation first-party studioslike Naughty Dog, Bend Studio, Bluepoint Games, and more. On the other hand, it’s worth noting thatProject Heartswas a pre-alpha build ofFairgames, and Haven could have incorporated feedback and addressed the concerns. With a rumored internal launch window of 2026, only time will tell if Haven has been able to matureFairgamesinto a commendable experience.
