Sony’s Strategic Shift Focuses on Live-Service Games as Major Franchise Releases Delayed
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hiroki Totoki recently disclosed in a financial call that Sony’s first-party gaming lineup will experience a notable hiatus, with no major PlayStation franchise titles slated for release before April 2025 at the earliest. Totoki elaborated that while significant projects are in progress, Sony’s primary focus for the upcoming fiscal year, ending on March 31, 2025, will revolve around bolstering its live-service offerings rather than launching new installments in established franchises.
In Totoki’s words, “Regarding first-party software, we aim to continue to focus on producing high-quality works and developing live-service games. But while major projects are currently under development, we do not plan to release any new major existing franchise titles next fiscal year like God of War Ragnarok and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Although the burden of acquisition-related costs will ease next fiscal year, we expect profit from first-party software to decrease slightly from this fiscal year due to the impact of the decrease in sales.”
While enthusiasts may have to wait longer for new Spider-Man or God of War installments, the absence of major franchise releases in 2025 also suggests a delay in anticipated sequels from other iconic Sony series such as Ghost of Tsushima or The Last of Us. Nevertheless, Sony’s gaming horizon is not devoid of excitement, with new video game franchises like FairGame$, Marathon, and Concord actively in development. Additionally, the forthcoming year promises a plethora of PlayStation timed exclusives including Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Rise of the Ronin, and Stellar Blade, offering players a diverse array of gaming experiences to anticipate.
In other revelations from the briefing, Sony acknowledged its failure to meet the ambitious sales target of 25 million PS5 units for the current fiscal year, revising the projection down to 21 million sales. Notably, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has surpassed 10 million copies sold, underscoring the continued success of Sony’s flagship titles. Furthermore, the company disclosed that the PS5 has entered the “latter stage” of its lifecycle, hinting at potential shifts in its future gaming strategies and hardware endeavors.