PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst is aiming to reduce costly risks in future game development, particularly following the unsuccessful launch of the live-service shooter Concord. Speaking to the Financial Times, Hulst emphasized the importance of learning from failure. “I don’t want teams to always play it safe, but I would like for us, when we fail, to fail early and cheaply,” he stated.
In response to Concord’s failure, PlayStation has implemented increased oversight of its owned studios. Hulst explained, “We have since put in place much more rigorous and more frequent testing in very many different ways…The advantage of every failure…is that people now understand how necessary that [oversight] is.”
Analysts estimate that Concord cost Sony approximately $250 million. The game was shut down a mere two weeks after its release, leading to the closure of its developer, Firewalk Studio. In contrast, Astro Bot achieved significant success, selling 1.5 million copies in its first month and reaching 2.3 million copies by March of this year.
Hulst indicated that PlayStation is now less focused on releasing live-service games, a shift influenced by Concord’s performance. This aligns with statements from Sony’s CFO, Lin Tao, who conceded earlier this month that their live-service strategy is “not entirely going smoothly.” Bungie’s Marathon reboot has also been indefinitely delayed after its initial unveiling.
Hulst’s strategy involves cultivating Sony’s intellectual properties into enduring franchises, similar to the positive reception garnered by each Astro Bot game. “We take a very intentional approach to IP creation…understanding how a new concept can turn into an iconic franchise for PlayStation, that can then again become a franchise for people beyond gaming,” Hulst said, highlighting the ambition to extend PlayStation franchises beyond the realm of gaming.
