Key takeaways
- PlayStation cancelled Fairgames, the PvP heist shooter from Montreal's Haven Studios (Bloomberg, The Escapist)
- An internal note from Sean Decker and John Doyle cited a large playtest with mixed feedback and weak retention (The Escapist)
- A PlayStation spokesperson said no jobs will be cut because of the cancellation (The Escapist)
- Haven will now support other PlayStation Studios teams and explore new projects (The Escapist)
- The game was first revealed in 2023 (The Escapist)
Sony Interactive Entertainment has cancelled Fairgames, the competitive heist shooter in development at Haven Studios in Montreal. The decision was reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier on November 10, 2026 and confirmed by PlayStation, which said no jobs will be cut as a result.
Why was Fairgames cancelled?
According to an internal note from PlayStation executives Sean Decker and John Doyle, as described by The Escapist, the game went through a large playtest that produced mixed player feedback, and players did not stick around as long as Sony wanted. The executives also pointed to tough market conditions for player-versus-player shooters. They praised the team for running the test smoothly, saying the live service systems held up and players engaged with the game.
What happens to Haven Studios?
Haven stays open with its current staff but no longer has its own game in development. Sony says the studio will help other PlayStation Studios teams and look for new creative opportunities. PlayStation has not said which projects Haven will support.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2021 | Haven Studios founded with Sony funding |
| March 2022 | Sony announces it is acquiring Haven |
| 2023 | Fairgames revealed at a PlayStation showcase |
| May 2025 | Studio head Jade Raymond leaves Haven |
| November 10, 2026 | Fairgames cancellation reported and confirmed |
Haven was set up in Montreal in March 2021 with funding from Sony Interactive Entertainment. When Sony announced the acquisition in March 2022, the studio had more than 60 employees and became the 18th team in PlayStation Studios, with PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst describing its debut project as a AAA multiplayer game.
What was Fairgames?
Creative director Mathieu Leduc pitched it as Haven's first new IP: a competitive game about pulling off heists against the ultra-rich. The project was reworked several times, and Bloomberg had reported that Sony planned to reveal it again under a new name. After Raymond's exit, Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski became co-heads of the studio.
What does it mean for PlayStation's live service plans?
Fairgames joins a list of cancelled PlayStation live service projects that includes The Last of Us Online and Bungie's Payback. SIE CEO Hideaki Nishino told Famitsu that PlayStation will keep backing live service games, so the cancellation does not signal an exit from the genre. It does mean Haven, acquired more than four years ago, has yet to ship a game.
FAQ
Why was Fairgames cancelled?
An internal PlayStation note cited a large playtest with mixed feedback and retention below Sony's targets, plus tough market conditions for PvP shooters.
Were there layoffs at Haven Studios?
No. PlayStation said no jobs will be cut as a result of the cancellation. Haven will support other PlayStation Studios teams.
Sources
See our editorial policy.