PlayStation Puts Marathon to Fix Live Service Flops

PlayStation leaders talked with investors about online gaming plans today. Hermen Hulst runs the Studio Business Group and reports to CEO Hideaki Nishino after recent company changes. The team remains focused on making live service games after seeing success with Helldivers 2 and failure with Concord. Hulst said Concord failed because it entered a crowded market without enough unique features. Sony wants to avoid making the same mistakes with Marathon.

PlayStation builds a strong collection of online games across different types. MLB The Show, Destiny 2, and Helldivers 2 give the company good examples to follow. These games created lasting player communities that keep people coming back. Helldivers 2 shows what happens when everything works perfectly. The game makes more than half its money from small purchases players make inside the game.

Concord received lots of work from talented developers before it launched. The game faced tough competition from established shooters already popular with players. Sony changed how it tests new games to prevent future failures. The company checks creative ideas more often during development to catch problems early. Marathon represents the first new game from Bungie in over ten years and launches September 23.