Sony is doing better than ever in the gaming industry. The latest PlayStation console has sold nearly 40 million units, outselling rivals like the Xbox Series S|X consoles. However, Sony is changing plans to continue this momentum in the coming years.
It is no secret that live service gaming will be a huge focus for Sony in the future. The company has acquired Bungie for its expertise in the genre and also intends to increase PC users through these offerings.
A new report from Nikkei states that Sony is investing nearly $2.13 billion into research and development. These efforts will help PlayStation’s live service ambitions and extended reality focus.
Why it matters: Live service gaming is highly profitable, and nearly every major developer is looking for a big hit in the genre. The strong appeal of microtransactions and seasonal content allows the genre to generate revenue for several years.
According to the report, PlayStation intends to release as many as 12 live service games on the market by March 2026.
This led to partnerships with studios like Deviation Games. Three live service games have already been announced at the PlayStation Showcase, with Bungie returning to the Marathon IP and new IPs like Fairgame$ from Haven Studios.
However, the company’s efforts have been far from smooth so far. Deviation Games’ project was reportedly canceled after the company recently laid off nearly 90 employees. Similarly, The Last of Us Multiplayer has experienced a significant setback.
By the fiscal year ending in March 2026, PlayStation will allocate 60% of its game development budget to live service titles. Additionally, Sony has goals to invest in fields like the metaverse.
This means that efforts are also focused on extended reality. These efforts entail using game development studios for extended reality content.
Fans of traditional PlayStation offerings can also look forward to various single-player games.
It remains to be seen if the company can continue to offer a steady output of such high-quality single-player games alongside the live service focus, but games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are coming in 2023, and others like Marvel’s Wolverine have already been announced for the next few years.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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