2024 had the high of Helldivers 2's release, one of the best PS5 multiplayer games in recent memory, at its start, followed by the abysmal release and speedy shutdown of Concord at its end. In a rare show of humility, Sony's online PS5 games in 2025 will have a very different approach when it comes to their launches.
Sony's renewed outlook for online PS5 games in 2025 could result in more strategic launch windows
- In Sony's Q2 2024 shareholders Q&A, the company answered a tricky question regarding the releases of both Helldivers 2 and Concord
- Within Sony's vague answer is a hint that it believes each game's success and failure came down to timing
- The company also touched on some discombobulation behind the scenes
Sony's Q2 2024 shareholders Q&A, which it held in November 2024, saw shareholders ask some incredibly tough questions that the company had to provide answers to. Some of these, such as the topic of PS5 players moving over to PC, offered an enlightening look at Sony's thought processes.
The hardest topic of all, though, came from one shareholder who wanted an explanation as to why Helldivers 2 was a success and Concord a failure, and what Sony plans to do moving forward.
The question reads, "[G&NS segment] What is the current state of your live service games? There have been two extreme results, Helldivers 2, which was a huge hit, and Concord, which was shut down. How do you see the current situation, including how to successfully manage development within your portfolio?"
Sony's response is as ambiguous as we've come to expect, but there is some concrete strategy being touched upon. "There are some aspects of new IP that cannot be understood until we try them, but there are some points that we should reflect on, such as the fact that we should have verified at an earlier stage when to implement user tests and internal evaluations.
"Also, due to a level of organizational fragmentation, the coordination of planning, development, and sales across the organization were not always carried out smoothly. Looking to the future, it will be necessary to select the most appropriate windows for first-party titles and third-party titles, and conduct title launches in a way that allows us to maximize our profits and avoid cannibalization within our platforms."
Jamie's Take —
Sony could move upcoming launch dates around to avoid busy periods and big name releases
Conversely, Concord was released in August 2024, close to both Black Myth Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws. It was speedily shut down after just two weeks on the market, and there's no sign of it returning in a paid or free-to-play format.
Sony's answer above blames issues in the launch pipeline, namely around planning coordination, development, and sales, along with a packed release window, for Concord's failure. I don't think this holds much water since February 2024 also saw the release of many bigger games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Granblue Fantasy Relink. Had Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League not been a looter shooter, I think it would have killed Helldivers 2.
While I believe Sony is making excuses, it undoubtedly has a fair point. Moving into 2025, Sony's online PS5 games will likely see much more considered launch strategies. Fairgames, for example, doesn't have a release date at the time of writing.
With 2024's hindsight, Sony could either massively delay it into 2026 or bring its release up to March 2025, especially if it wants to avoid clashing with GTA 6. After all Marvel Rivals has proven launching an online game during a traditionally quiet month can lead to massive success, so it makes sense Sony would follow suit.
That said, there's another, much more obvious reason 2024's PS5 online games landed the way they did — Sony didn't interfere with Arrowhead Game Studios when Helldivers 2 was released. However, it not only interfered with Concord developer Firewalk Studios, it closed the company and metaphorically washed its hands of anything to do with the game's name.
Fairgames stands a chance of being one of the best FPS games on PS5, but it could all come down to timing if what Sony believes is correct. Are you on board with the company's logic? Or is there something more Sony could be doing? Let us know in the comments!