The creator of Assassin’s Creed, Jade Raymond, leaves his study with an unfinished project and many unknowns

Jade Raymond, a legendary name in the history of video games, abandoned the study that founded only four years ago, Haven Studioswithout being able to launch the planned multiplayer title. What seemed to be the beginning of a new promising phase under PlayStation’s umbrella ended with more shadows than lights. What exactly happened with FairgamesYour style game Pay day? And what does this output mean for the future of games like Sony Service?

Jade Raymond Deja Haven Studios

Raymond’s march occurred in silenceWithout official or large statements of Sony. According to Bloomberg, he left “weeks after an external test of the first Haven game”, among the internal concerns on how it was received. The title in question, Fairgamesaimed to be part of the strategy already questioned with Live service From PlayStation, an approach that has lost strength after several recent stumbles, including the failure of Concord.

The fun thing is that, in September 2024, internal relationships were optimistic. There was talk of a “very positive” environment around the project. But it seems that external and internal expectations have not been aligned, and now Raymond’s departure leaves many unanswered questions and A project that may never see the light.

Haven Studios was born in 2021 as a personal bet of Raymondwith the direct support of PlayStation. His experience as a manufacturer in Ubisoft and original creator of Assassin’s Creed He generated many expectations for the study. But with his departure, the continuity and feasibility of the study are questioned.

A path full of stumbling

It is not the first time that Jade Raymond has started a promising adventure that ends limbo. Before Haven, it was a key figure in the Google Stadia Falized project, the cloud games platform that closed in 2023. Although its inheritance in the sector is undeniable, the last decade has not been exactly generous with its projects.

In Ubisoft, Raymond had a huge impact by modeling one of the most iconic modern game franchises. But after leaving the French company, his efforts in the EA reason, Stadia and now they have not been able to consolidate. Is it simply bad luck or the reflection of a sector that has changed radically?

The model of games as a service was a great Sony betBut the results are not accompanied. Hot or directly negative reception to securities such as Concord or yours Fairgames He shows that players are not as excited about this approach as managers were. The expectations were enormous, but the market seems to be saturated and interest, in decline.

The beginning of the end for games as a playstation service?

Sony has invested a lot in strengthening her presence in the multiplayer field and continuous online games, moving away from its tradition of great narrative titles for a single player. The problem is to compete in that field He faces Titans such as Fortnite, Warzone or Apex LegendsThis already dominates the market.

With Raymond’s march, Sony seems to rethink her strategy. Will they focus on their traditional strengths such as AAA narrative? The truth is that PlayStation’s ecosystem has historically shone with proposals such as God of war, The last of us or Ghost of TsushimaAnd it doesn’t seem that the future multiplayer is generating the same enthusiasm.

On the other hand, it is right to wonder what will happen to Fairgames. Will it be deleted like so many other projects? Or will Sony bet to move forward without Raymond? Until now, neither its launch nor its cancellation have been officially announced, but silence is almost as much revealing as a clear response.

Stagnant or pioneering legend without luck?

In a sector that has changed radically since the time of the first Assassin’s CreedRaymond is still a respected nameAlthough his recent career is marked with frustrated projects. His exit from Haven does not necessarily mean the end of his career, but opens a new uncertain chapter.

Many fans wonder if he will return to his creative roots, Perhaps with a new IP away from the pressure of triple A and the service model. Or perhaps his next step takes it back to independent developmentWhere you can resume creative control that your style defines so much.

For now, it only remains to wait to see which course takes both Raymond and Haven Studios, while PlayStation is still looking for his site in a sector in which The loyalty of the players is won with new memorable ideas and experiences, not only with permanent monetization models.