During an annual Sony business presentation, CEO Hermen Hulst emphasized the company's dedication to creating a varied and strong lineup of live service games, including the upcoming titles Marathon and Fairgames. This commitment comes in the face of setbacks and controversies surrounding these games.

Hulst mentioned that Sony is drawing inspiration from successful titles like Helldivers 2 and Destiny 2 for their future projects. He expressed excitement about the progress of Marathon, a game that has already stirred up some debate.

Helldivers 2, a standout success in Sony's live service catalog, was praised by Hulst for its critical acclaim and commercial triumph. The game's ability to maintain a dedicated player base and earn industry accolades was highlighted.

While Marathon was described as "innovative and bold" by Hulst, the game has faced significant challenges. Early engagement figures from the closed alpha testing showed a steep drop in player numbers. Issues such as limited player capacity, lack of a solo mode, repetitive gameplay, and art plagiarism allegations have plagued the game.

On the other hand, Fairgames, a cooperative heist game, faced delays after studio founder Jade Raymond's departure. Reports suggest that the game's development hit roadblocks during external testing. Additionally, the decision to remove the dollar sign from the title raised concerns.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding Sony's upcoming live service titles, the company is determined to maintain its presence in the live service gaming sphere. Sony has a mixed history with live service games, including failed projects like Concord and The Last of Us Online. The company originally aimed to release 12 live service games by 2026 but has since revised that number to six.

While Sony's single-player games, such as Astro Bot, God of War: Ragnarok, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, have been well-received, live service games remain a priority for the company's future endeavors.