Although 8 of the 12 previously planned online service-based games have been cancelled, Sony has not given up its attempts in this field. The company plans to launch a new game called "Fairgames" in 2026, describing it as an online service game that combines "escape shooting" and "battle royale" elements.
Although officially disclosed information is limited, recruitment information released by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) shows that "Fairgames" will be developed using Unreal Engine 5. This choice surprised the industry because Sony has multiple self-developed game engines that could have been used for this project first.
Unreal Engine 5 has mixed reviews in the game development field due to its high hardware performance requirements due to some of its features. Using it to develop online service-based games that require long-term stable operations and continuous optimization is considered a high-risk option by some analysts.
The position being recruited this time is for "online programmer" at Haven Entertainment Studios, the developer of "Fairgames." The job requirements list "Proficient in C++ programming, and those with experience in Unreal Engine will be preferred." Although the engine version is not explicitly specified, Haven Studios was founded in 2021, coinciding with the time when Unreal Engine 5 opened early access, so the project is almost certain to use UE5.
It is reported that the development of "Fairgames" was not smooth sailing. After the departure of the game director, the progress of the project was temporarily hindered, and even triggered rumors that it was cancelled, but this news has not been confirmed.
Sony's exploration in the field of online service games has been repeatedly frustrated. Its previous similar work "Star Attack" was also developed based on Unreal Engine 5, but was forced to cease operations due to poor market performance. This time we will continue to use the same technical path in the new work. How effective it will be remains to be tested by the market.