Live service games generate up to 40% of the revenue from PlayStation's internal studios, despite challenges
During a conversation with investors, Sony acknowledged that the transformation of the PlayStation business towards game services is not going "completely smoothly."
Helldivers 2
According to CFO Lin Tao, the negative perception of Sony's strategy largely arose due to the failure of Concord and the delay of Marathon. However, the company is striving to view the situation from a different perspective.
Tao noted that over the past five years, PlayStation has developed its own successful game services. The company includes Helldivers 2, the MLB The Show series, Gran Turismo 7, and Destiny 2 in this category. According to Tao, they consistently generate revenue every quarter.
In the first quarter, game services accounted for about 40% of PlayStation's total game revenue. Over the course of a full year, their share ranges from 20–30%.
"Of course, we acknowledge that we still have many challenges. Therefore, we must learn from our mistakes and ensure a smoother launch of new game services with minimal costs," Tao concluded.
Separately, Sony emphasized that they still plan to release Marathon in the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2026). The exact release date will be announced in the fall after making additional changes to the game.
"If the launch is suddenly canceled, we will have to reassess the value of the Bungie asset. However, at present, this scenario is not anticipated," Tao stressed, adding that Bungie is increasingly integrating into the PlayStation Studios structure.