Interesting: Sony has cancelled twice as many games as Microsoft this generation

Sony has cancelled 10 projects compared to the 5 discarded by Microsoft, affecting key PlayStation studios.

More stories in the category News

• Delta Force is now available on Xbox: worldwide release times of the Free To Play war game
• Attention, it’s time to shine for Hollow Knight: Silksong at Gamescom 2025
• Xbox Next Gen: Steam integration, dedicated chip and AI according to Jason Ronald

The current generation of consoles is not only marked by releases, commercial successes, and major franchises, but also by tough decisions in both industry giants. Both PlayStation and Xbox have had to reduce their portfolio of projects, canceling developments that were already underway in many cases. However, the numbers show a striking difference: Sony would have canceled twice as many games as Microsoft during this period.

The cuts at PlayStation have not only impacted new attempts at service games, but also single-player projects. According to information compiled by Tech4Gamers, the 10 games discarded by Sony include proposals from renowned internal studios such as Naughty Dog, Bend Studio, or Bluepoint Games, in addition to associated teams like Deviation Games, which even disappeared after the cancellation of its project.

Canceled Games on PlayStation and Xbox Series

In the case of Sony, these are the canceled projects:

• The Last of Us 2 Online

• Operation Payback by Bungie

• Twisted Metal by Firesprite

• New IP from Deviation Games

• New IP from London Studio

• Spider-Man: The Great Web

• God of War Live Service

• Bend Studio project (Live Service)

• Days Gone 2

• Joint project from Bend and Naughty Dog, linked to Uncharted

On the Microsoft side, the canceled titles so far on Xbox Series X|S have been fewer, with a total of five:

• Perfect Dark (The Initiative)

• Contraband (Avalanche Studios)

• Everwild (Rare)

• MMORPG from ZeniMax Online Studios (not announced)

• Odyssey (Blizzard)

In addition to these cancellations, both companies have also closed studios in recent years. In the case of Xbox, this included the closure of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks (the latter later acquired by Krafton). Sony, on the other hand, decided to shut down Japan Studio, PixelOpus, and Firewalk Studios.

Others Always Get the Bad Headlines, When Reality is Different

On social media and forums, it’s often perceived that only Microsoft cancels projects or closes studios, due to the media echo that their decisions usually have. However, the data reflects the opposite: Sony is the one that accumulates more cancellations in this generation, although its setbacks go more unnoticed and don’t generate the same noise. The failed strategy in service games and projects that never saw the light of day have left a trail of failures that, in comparison, make Xbox’s numbers more contained.

The comparison makes it clear that the impact of cancellations has been greater on PlayStation, with special emphasis on its failed attempt to establish itself in the service game market. In contrast, Microsoft has reduced its portfolio, but with a smaller number of confirmed cancellations.