In an interview, PlayStation Studio Head Hermen Hulst revealed more about the future release strategy on the PS5. They aim to create special social connections between players, while also continuing to work on single-player experiences.
- Sony revealed a few weeks ago that by 2026 10 MMOs with live service will be coming to the PS5.
- To achieve this, they are also seeking help from outside or acquiring new studios. Bungie and Haven have been acquired, and there are collaborations with other studios such as Firewalk.
- In several interviews, the head of PlayStation Studios has now revealed more about the strategy, mentioning that single-player epics like “Horizon” remain important.
MMO plans on PS5 – 10 games by 2026
What is known so far? Sony has not revealed too much yet. However, one thing is certain: 10 live service games are set to be released by March 2026, which typically indicates a focus on multiplayer.
This year, a lot has already happened at Sony in this regard, and PlayStation Studio Head Herman Hulst has shared small details in a series of interviews (references can be found below in the sources).
It is already known that 3 studios are working on completely new games that will establish a new universe. 2 of the studios have already been fully acquired by Sony:
- Bungie
- Known for Destiny
- Acquisition for $3.2 billion
- Will continue Destiny 2, expand the Destiny universe, and is working on a completely new IP with multiplayer
- Haven Studios
- Young studio
- Complete acquisition by Sony, price unknown
- Head is Jade Raymond (previously worked at Ubisoft as a producer on Assassins Creed and Watchdogs)
- A completely new IP with multiplayer is also being developed here
- Firewalk Studios
- Close collaboration with Sony
- Employs Destiny veterans (e.g. Ryan Ellis, former Creative Director at Bungie)
- Planning a new IP with multiplayer in AAA format
They want to give the studios as much freedom as possible and eliminate “distractions.” The small studios should fully focus on their games without being thrown off by financial concerns, for example.
Hulst emphasizes that it’s not about imposing any projects on the studios. They should rather tap into their full potential, with Sony as a partner in the background.
Which Sony-owned MMO projects would be interesting can be read here:
Acquisitions and partnerships bring new ideas
Why doesn’t Sony just develop it themselves? This is part of a diversification strategy from Sony. The Japanese company wants to broaden its approach, intensively serve more gaming target groups, and not just rest on its past hits.
Everything is always done with an eye on “talents,” meaning highly specialized employees and up-and-coming prospects.
Many gaming giants are currently struggling for talent and having problems finding new employees for their games, also due to the scandals that have recently rocked the gaming sector.
A popular strategy among larger companies: They acquire smaller players, let them continue to operate independently, and ideally strengthen each other. If things don’t go well, integration follows.
Similar to what Microsoft did with Minecraft developer Mojang. To this day, the block designers are allowed to work independently, and the acquisition of the studio was nearly 8 years ago.
Clearly, Microsoft ultimately wants to profit financially from this. However, it is also very valuable to learn from the small partner.
Therefore, large corporations today have an interest in letting smaller companies continue to work in their familiar structures and not to let them sink within the giant corporation. They remain more flexible and can keep their flat hierarchies.
Ideally, the large partner manages to be inspired by the innovations and ideas of the smaller partners – whether in a game or in business processes.
However, there are also acquisitions that are clearly driven by profit intentions. Buy, build, cash in. But with Sony and Microsoft, these are clearly strategic acquisitions with long-term ambitions.
Singleplayer remains a big topic at Sony
PlayStation Studio Head Hulst also explains that single-player projects are not being written off:
Of course, we will continue to develop narrative single-player games like Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, and Horizon Forbidden West. But it is true that we have invested a lot in live-service games because that is incredibly exciting for us. It allows us to create larger worlds. It allows us to truly establish special social connections between players.
Further studio acquisitions could also be part of the strategy. When asked, Hulst mentioned that they currently do not have any growth targets to share with the public.
But they are always looking to secure the best talents in the industry and deliver exciting and new experiences to players.
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