Live service games have become increasingly popular in recent years, with titles like Fortnite, Valorant, Apex Legends, and Destiny capturing the attention of gamers worldwide. However, PlayStation Studios head, Hermen Hulst clarifies that creating live service games does not mean copying Fortnite or Destiny.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Hermen Hulst shared some insight on PlayStation’s recent live services games and what players can expect from the company. “We understand the competitive environment that is out there, and the time investment from players that live services offer,” Hulst told GI.biz.
“And we want to deliver the highest quality games. 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 continued to explain how PlayStation Studios are creating live service games for different audiences and told GI that ‘live service’ doesn’t “automatically mean the company is making ten Fortnites or Destinys.”
“PlayStation Studios are making a variety of games that could be referred to as ‘live services’, targeting different genres, different release schedules, and at different scales. 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,” said Hulst.
Sony is heavily invested in creating live service games with the acquisition of Bungie last year and Firewalk Studios earlier this year. Sony later affirmed that it plans to release at least ten live service games by 2026 with one of them being The Last of Us Multiplayer game.
Bungie has also started hiring new talent for “cross company initiatives between Bungie and Sony” with two new positions (Business Operations Manager, Strategic Initiatives) on the company’s website.
