Release of New PS5 Live-Service Game Potentially Delayed Until 2026

There’s chatter coming from a trustworthy insider that PlayStation’s eagerly awaited live-service game, Fairgames, might now be seeing daylight only in 2026. Fans who were eagerly expecting this heist-themed PvP shooter for their PS5s and PCs will need to hang tight for a bit longer. Despite being announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the folks over at Haven Studios never actually locked in a release date, so this news isn’t entirely out of the blue.

Led by the experienced Assassin’s Creed producer, Jade Raymond, Fairgames marks Haven Studios’ debut in the gaming arena. It’s set to be a dynamic PvP heist game where players align in teams to rob the wealthy. The adrenaline-fueled CGI teasers have piqued the interest of many, drawing comparisons to beloved titles like The Finals, Payday, and Watch Dogs. However, with memories still fresh of Concord’s flop last year, there’s understandable concern among fans worried that Fairgames might meet the same unfortunate end.

Internally, some whispers hint that Sony is feeling positive vibes about Fairgames, despite how unreliable that might be as a predictor of the game’s fate in the competitive live-service market. The likely stumble of Concord seems to have stirred the pot for Haven Studios, possibly impacting their approach to Fairgames. Jeff Grubb, a well-respected voice in the industry, shared during a Game Mess podcast episode that this title’s launch has shifted to 2026, suggesting an initial 2025 release was on the cards.

Haven Studios might be going back to the drawing board with Fairgames due to the harsh lessons learned from Concord’s failures. Although specific details about Fairgames, such as its gameplay mechanisms, progression systems, and monetization strategies haven’t yet seen the light, these potential changes could be huge. Given that Haven Studios has been pretty tight-lipped about Fairgames for nearly two years, it’s hard to pin down exactly what’s happening behind the scenes. If the delay to 2026 is real, perhaps a reintroduction is on the horizon, maybe unveiling new gameplay footage later this year.

With buzzes of a PlayStation Showcase event in the summer of 2025, it might just be the perfect stage to introduce Fairgames. There’s a keen anticipation to see its in-game dynamics and aesthetics, especially given its edge of not diving into the overly crowded live-service genre landscape. Competitive heist shooters are a rare find these days. If Haven Studios takes its time to iron out the kinks and learns from past blunders, Fairgames could have a promising future.