[GameSpot] - PlayStation Boss Teases New Live-Service Projects

[343iBot]

PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst has commented on the company's ambitious plans to create more live-service games in the future. Speaking to GI.biz, Hulst said the company's ambition is to "deliver the highest quality games," and he doesn't believe there is any one way to define what "live service" means.

"We understand the competitive environment that is out there, and the time investment from players that live services offer," Hulst said. "There is a risk that we talk about 'live service' in generic terms--as if it is a single genre, or even a single business model."

Hulst went on to say that PlayStation's live-service games won't fit one mold; they will target different genres, release schedules, and "scales," Hulst said.

"We are also creating games for different audiences, and I take confidence from our track record in creating worlds and stories that PlayStation fans love," Hulst said.

Sony is looking to have 10 live-service games in the market by 2026. In addition to this significant investment in the live-service space, PlayStation wants fans to know it remains committed to single-player games as well.

Sony just recently acquired Firewalk, a team headed up by former Bungie bosses, which is now developing an unannounced live-service game. Sony also owns Assassin's Creed veteran Jade Raymond's Haven Studios, which is also making a live-service game. And of course, Sony's biggest investment yet in terms of live-service was its buyout of Destiny developer Bungie.

In other news, PlayStation 5 sales are soaring right now thanks in part to wider availability of systems around the world.

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