In a recent edition of the Pachter Factor podcast, Wedbush Securities’ Michael Pachter suggested Havеn Studio’s Fairgame$ may have been scrapped amid Sony’s troubled live-service pivot. During his analysis, Pachter critiqued the company’s acquisition strategy, questioning the $3.6 billion Bungie deal while highlighting missed opportunities in mobile-focused studios like Scopely or Niantic.

Pachter stated: “Sony tried mimicking live-service trends by repurposing console developers instead of acquiring proven free-to-play experts. This led to studios shutting down—Concord’s closure, Havеn’s restructuring, and likely Fairgame$’s cancellation after Jade Raymond’s exit.” Raymond, who founded Havеn in 2021, left the studio in May, with Sony later delaying the PS5/PC project to 2026. Described as a competitive multiplayer heist title, its potential cancellation would mark another setback following The Last of Us Online’s termination.

The analyst lambasted Sony’s leadership, claiming: “They’re mismanaging their strengths. Buying Bungie—a console-focused team—was redundant. They needed mobile-first partners, not studios aligned with their existing expertise. Now they’re floundering.”

Sony has publicly acknowledged challenges in its live-service push, vowing to adapt after recent failures. However, Pachter remains skeptical, asserting the company’s current trajectory reflects strategic confusion rather than calculated evolution.