Sony Aims to Launch At Least One Major Single-Player Game Each Year
Hermen Hulst, the head of PlayStation Studios, recently explained Sony’s strategy regarding the types of games it produces. The Japanese company’s goal is to release at least one flagship single-player title every year. This statement comes after a period of relative weakness, during which the strategy focused on live service games—an approach championed by former SIE CEO Jim Ryan. However, this strategy proved largely unsuccessful, with the company facing an uncertain future due to game cancellations, studio closures, and layoffs, including the most recent cuts at Bend Studio.
Sony’s Single-Player Commitment
Hulst specifically told investors, “On single-player, we are focused on consistently devlivering at least 1 tentpole title per year, at the right time in the year, at the right quality level which players have come to expect from PlayStation Studios.”
At the same time, Hulst reiterated that Sony’s live service strategy has not been abandoned.
Live Service and Transmedia Expansion
The company’s goal is to “build a recurring base of enduring live service titles that drive ongoing engagement and monetization.”
Additionally, the plan includes expanding Sony’s proprietary series into transmedia, meaning more movies and TV series—such as the adaptation of The Last of Us.
It’s important to clarify that launching at least one single-player game does not necessarily mean only one per year. Moreover, the count does not include second-party titles, such as Stellar Blade, Rise of the Ronin, and Lost Souls Aside; it applies only to games developed by PlayStation Studios.