In a major pivot following its costly failure with Concord, PlayStation is redefining its game development strategy. Having tasted success with titles like Astro Bot, the gaming giant aims to invest in fewer live service games while prioritizing iconic franchises and robust internal oversight.

In an eye-opening interview with the Financial Times, PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst acknowledged the lessons learned from Concord's failure. "I want teams to push boundaries, but let’s ensure we fail early and modestly when we do," he stated, emphasizing the need for calculated risks in game development.

Concord was anything but a modest failure. Analysts believe Sony poured approximately $250 million into the project, only for it to be abruptly canceled two weeks post-launch, leading to the closure of its developer, Firewalk Studios. In stark contrast, Astro Bot became a hit, amassing critical acclaim and selling over 2.3 million copies as of March 2025.

The contrasting fates of these two games highlight the importance of oversight. Hulst is adamant that closer supervision of in-house studios is essential to catch potential pitfalls before they escalate into disasters. "We've instituted more rigorous and frequent testing to identify issues sooner," he remarked.

Multiple studio heads at Sony echoed Hulst's sentiments, pointing out that enhanced communication and collaborative testing among studios will help avoid duplication of effort and potential failures. Jason Connell, art director at Sucker Punch, highlighted the value of sharing crucial information, like identifying projects that might be heading towards the same concept.

Hulst also hinted at a strategic shift away from the saturated market of multiplayer live service shooters. While PlayStation is still committed to upcoming titles like Bungie's Marathon, which has faced its own share of delays and uncertainties, the focus may be transforming.

Aiming to cultivate vast Sony intellectual properties, Hulst cites Astro Bot’s evolution as an example of how a franchise can incrementally grow into something iconic. “We are intentional about IP development, aiming for new concepts to become franchises that resonate beyond games,” he added.

Looking ahead, the pipeline is rich with promising titles, including Ghost of Yōtei and Lost Soul Aside slated for this year, along with Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Housemarque’s Saros planned for 2026. Other anticipated projects like Fairgames, Marvel's Wolverine, and Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet are also in various stages of development.