After Shutting Down Almost a Dozen Live-Service Games, Sony Forms a New Team to Work on a Live-Service Game

If someone invests in something but it fails, they usually learn from the experience and become more cautious next time, or even avoid similar situations altogether. However, this doesn't seem to apply to Sony, which has canceled not just one or two live-service titles, but as many as nine, only to establish a new studio to work on a live-service game.

For context, earlier, the studio shut down live-service God of War, The Last of Us Online, Spider-Man: The Great Web, unnamed projects from Deviation Games and London Studio, Twisted Metal, and a Destiny spin-off from Bungie. And the scar of hero shooter Concord's flop is still fresh, with the Firewalk Studio, a team of world-class talents, completely exiting the stage after the game that cost a few hundred million dollars to make was shut down only two weeks after its launch.

With that in mind, you might be surprised by the announcement of a new PlayStation studio, teamLFG, where LFG means "Looking For Group". It originates from Bungie and consists of developers who have worked on titles like Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite, Roblox, and Rec Room.

Setting up a new studio is usual for a gaming giant; what's uncommon is that their debut title, a team-based action game, will be a live service title. It "draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog-type games. Players will inhabit a lighthearted, comedic world set in brand-new, mythic, science-fantasy universe."

Regarding this new title, it's emphasized that the team wants to build it with the community, listening to the feedback and inviting players to be part of the development through "early access playtests."

The developers promise to reveal more details about this "ambitious incubation project" – which has made Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, really excited – at a later date. By then, we'll figure out if this is the rumored project codenamed Gummy Bear (speculated by Eurogamer), which, according to The Game Post, would be "a vibrant and colorful game, aiming to attract a younger audience."

Obviously, Sony is determined to continue investing and exploring the path of live service titles, despite all the struggles. Bungie's "ultimate live service" Marathon, which would not be free but with "the right price that makes you feel it's worth your value," is coming this September.