PlayStation tightens testing after Concord flop

Sony's PlayStation division is reshaping its approach following last year's contrasting outcomes with Concord and Astro Bot. The company is moving toward fewer live-service titles, prioritizing major franchises, and implementing stricter quality control across its first-party studios. 

Learning From High-Stakes Mistakes
  
In a candid conversation with Financial Times, PlayStation Studios chief Hermen Hulst acknowledged the need for smarter risk management. "We should empower creativity, but also recognize failures earlier—before they become costly," he remarked. 

Concord proved painfully expensive—analysts estimate Sony invested $250 million, only to pull the multiplayer shooter weeks after launch and close developer Firewalk Studios. Meanwhile, Astro Bot became a breakout hit, moving 2.3 million units by March 2025 and ranking among PlayStation 5's top sellers. 

A New Era of Oversight
The stark contrast prompted systemic changes. Hulst revealed intensified testing protocols and earlier intervention points. "Every misstep reinforces why this oversight matters," he noted. Multiple studio heads confirmed expanded playtesting, better inter-studio communication, and tighter executive review. 
  

Sucker Punch's Jason Connell framed it bluntly: "If we're marching toward another Concord-sized disaster—like duplicate projects—that intel saves everyone." Industry analysts attribute Concord's failure partly to an overcrowded live-service shooter market—a space PlayStation now approaches cautiously. 

Franchise First, Live-Service Second
  
While PlayStation still has live-service bets like Bungie's delayed Marathon, Hulst emphasized expanding tentpole IPs. "Astro Bot proves how beloved characters grow across sequels," he said, citing The Last of Us and Uncharted as blueprints for new franchises. 
  

The pipeline reflects this shift: 2024 brings Ghost of Yōtei and Lost Soul Aside, with 2026 reserved for Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Housemarque's Saros. Projects like Fairgames, Marvel's Wolverine, and Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet remain in development.