Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden called attempts to create a successful game-as-a-service a "mirage" in an interview. Although Helldivers 2 showed Sony's success in this direction, there are almost no other examples.
Layden spoke about the time when the company was betting on single-player games, and about Sony's decisions after his departure. During his period, God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and Horizon Zero Dawn were released.
"It's like a mirage in the desert. You chase after it. But you can't catch up. And even if you do, no one wants to play what you brought to the party anyway."
He also spoke about Sony's attempts to focus on multiplayer after the success of Fortnite, calling the popular battle royale "a classic example of catching lightning in a bottle" — an event that cannot be planned in advance.
"At that time, I thought: 'We are incredibly strong in single-player games. We have the best story in the industry.' The thought was: 'I'll release The Last of Us — that's where we swim. I'll release Spider-Man'... Fortnite is a classic example of a game where lightning strikes a bottle, it's impossible to plan for. It's impossible to prepare for. It's impossible to foresee."
"The roads are littered with people who want to create Fortnite, and people who are trying to make Overwatch with different skins. If you're trying to get into this area, feeding the illusion of big money that will come to you every day for the rest of your life, it won't work for most."
