By Responses from the pre-alpha test were exceedingly inadequate
- by Sammy Barker
Fairgames – previously referred to as Fairgame$, naturally – was unveiled alongside Sony’s unfortunate first-person shooter Concord, as part of the company’s broader live service strategy.
However, we recently discovered that the founder of developer Haven Studios, Jade Raymond – a veteran from Ubisoft who significantly contributed to the early achievements of Assassin’s Creed – had left the firm following a wave of negative responses.
Now, thanks to the latest episode of the PlayStation podcast Sacred Symbols (paywalled), additional insights regarding the project are starting to emerge.
Reportedly, a pre-alpha version was released through PSN under the title Project Hearts, allowing a limited number of participants to engage with the game.
As per one of these individuals, it’s a “Battle Royale merged with an extraction shooter”, incorporating elements from both Fortnite and The Division.
If you recall the initial trailer, it had a modern Robin Hood essence, as groups of stylish outlaws stole from the affluent.
It appears the game drops you into an expansive urban setting in teams of three to four, tasking you with pilfering from vaults while other squads of players strive to do likewise.
In other terms, it resembles yet another extraction shooter, akin to the immensely popular Escape from Tarkov or Bungie’s Marathon.
However, it seems the game does not offer a pleasant gameplay experience and is regarded as “super clunky” in its current state, echoing what Bloomberg detailed in its coverage of Raymond’s exit. The reactions to the release have not been favorable.
While Sony has affirmed its commitment to Haven Studios under new governance, it’s noteworthy that four years have elapsed since the team’s formation and more than two years since its full acquisition.
Once again, this paints a highly uncertain scenario for the platform’s live service initiatives. With the cancellation of Concord under unprecedented conditions, and numerous online endeavors halted behind closed doors, the company will understandably be feeling anxious about whatever it launches next.
The future of Fairgames, we speculate, is tenuous at best.
[source patreon.com]
As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy possesses over 15 years of experience analyzing the PlayStation landscape, spanning from PS3 to PS5 and everything in between. He is well-versed in PS Studios and industry-related issues, in addition to sports games and simulators. He also relishes RPGs when he can find the time for them and is a notable gacha enthusiast.