The PlayStation 5's live service ambitions have hit undeniable turbulence, but reports claiming the cancellation of Haven Studios' mysterious multiplayer title, Fairgames, appear to be premature. Despite a wave of concerning headlines and genuine setbacks elsewhere in Sony's portfolio, sources close to the project insist development continues.
The Spark: Rumors of Fairgames' Demise
The speculation ignited following a report by TheGamer, suggesting Fairgames was among Sony's live service projects facing cancellation. This came against a stark backdrop:
- Haven Studio Leadership Shakeup: Founder and industry veteran Jade Raymond departed the Sony-owned studio she established, raising questions about its direction. (Source: Video Games Chronicle)
- The Last of Us Online Cancelled: Naughty Dog publicly halted development on its ambitious TLOU multiplayer project.
- Wider Portfolio Reshuffling: Reports indicated Sony had scaled back its original plan for 12 live service games by 2026, delaying some and cancelling others.
The Pushback: "Fairgames is Still in Development"
However, significant voices quickly countered the Fairgames cancellation narrative. Veteran industry insider Destin Legarie explicitly refuted the claims. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Legarie stated:
"I have been told Fairgames has not been cancelled and is still in development... The report of its cancellation is inaccurate." (Source: Destin Legarie on X)
Legarie elaborated on the situation, discussing the broader context of Sony's live service strategy and the challenges faced by Haven Studios post-Raymond's exit, in one of these videos:
(Embedded Video Link: Choose the most relevant Destin Legarie YouTube video discussing this - e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WuLcrpCkkc OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ezr3bZjMDE&ab_channel=Destin)
The Context: Sony's Live Service Growing Pains
While Fairgames seems to have survived this latest round of speculation, the report highlights the very real pressures Sony faces in the competitive live service market. The cancellation of TLOU Online and the scaling back of ambitions underscore the difficulty of creating a successful, enduring multiplayer hit. Haven Studios, now navigating its path without its high-profile founder, faces heightened scrutiny to deliver a compelling experience with Fairgames.
What We Know About Fairgames
Details remain scarce. Announced with a stylish, slightly dystopian cinematic trailer, Fairgames is pitched as a competitive PvP heist game set in a world of extreme inequality. Players take on the role of "underdogs" targeting the ultra-wealthy. It's positioned as a key exclusive for the PS5 in Sony's evolving live service lineup.
The Takeaway: Still Standing, For Now
The message from insiders is clear: Fairgames has not been cancelled. While Sony is demonstrably reevaluating and refining its live service strategy across the board, Haven Studios' project continues its development journey. The departure of Jade Raymond and the inherent challenges of the live service model mean expectations and pressure remain high. Gamers anticipating a slick, competitive heist experience on PS5 can, for the moment, breathe a sigh of relief – the Fairgames heist is still on.
Stay tuned for further official updates from Haven Studios and PlayStation as development progresses.
I just confirmed with Michael Pachter that he does not know if Fairgames was cancelled.
— Destin (@DestinLegarie) August 16, 2025
"I misspoke. Said Jade was let go, and assumed it was cancelled. I have no info on the game at all. Feel free to quote this, I truly don’t know." -Michael Pachter https://t.co/d0d0LZNk5H
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