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‘It Felt Like a PowerPoint Deck of Executive Ideas’: Beta Testers Share Thoughts on PS5’s Cancelled Fairgames
Sony has cancelled Fairgames, Haven Studios’ heist shooter, after a recent playtest failed to meet the company’s goals. Testers described the game as unappealing and unfinished, reinforcing doubts that it could attract enough players to sustain a live service.
Fairgames was announced more than three years ago, but the playtest trailer released in September offered the first substantial public look at it in years. One tester said the game felt like a set of executive ideas, while another called cancellation the right decision; a third found it fun but questioned whether it was worth buying. Haven staff will be reassigned to support other PlayStation Studios projects, and Sony’s live-service record has otherwise had few successes beyond Helldivers 2.
In short
- Sony cancelled Fairgames after a playtest.
- Testers questioned its appeal and readiness.
- Haven staff will support other PlayStation games.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Cancelling Fairgames may have been a responsible use of time and money after the playtest suggested the game was unfinished and lacked a compelling appeal. In a crowded live-service market, continuing without confidence that enough players would stay could have wasted resources and delayed Haven staff from contributing to other projects.
The case against
A disappointing playtest does not necessarily mean Fairgames could never have found an audience; one tester saw fun in it, and further development might have addressed its rough edges. Cancelling after years of work also ends the chance to learn from players and deliver a distinctive game, while leaving staff and supporters without the project they had invested in.
Explained simply
Fairgames was a planned online game from Haven Studios, a developer owned by Sony and part of its PlayStation Studios group. It was designed around teams carrying out heists, with players competing against one another.
Sony has invested in online games designed to keep players coming back over time. These games need a lasting audience to support continued play and updates, so companies test them before release. Fairgames’ cancellation means the project will not be released, while Haven staff are being moved to other PlayStation Studios projects.
The decision sits within Sony’s broader effort to build a lasting range of online games. Helldivers 2 has been one of its few clear successes in that area, making the prospects for other projects a point of interest for players and the games industry.