Haven Studio’s Fairgames Considers Shift to an Extraction Shooter Format

How We Evaluate Rumors

0-20%: Unlikely – Lacks credible sources 21-40%: Questionable – Some concerns remain 41-60%: Plausible – Reasonable evidence 61-80%: Probable – Strong evidence 81-100%: Highly Likely – Multiple reliable sources

RUMOR ASSESSMENT 80%

Status: Probable

Source: 5/5 Corroboration: 3/5 Technical: 4/5 Timeline: 4/5

In 2021, renowned producer Jade Raymond, in collaboration with PlayStation Studios, established Haven Studios. Their initial ambition was to create a multiplayer game for PlayStation, which was later unveiled as a heist shooter titled Fairgames in 2023. However, as players anticipated its release, the game faced challenges, including Raymond’s departure and rumors of its cancellation. Recent reports suggest a significant shift in direction: Fairgames is switching to the increasingly popular genre of extraction shooters.

According to Insider-Gaming, the game is moving away from traditional heist mechanics to adopt elements typical of extraction shooters. A playtest is scheduled for next week, and internal documents allegedly indicate that a primary gameplay mode, Cargo Heist, mirrors an extraction format.

In this mode, players will attempt to infiltrate a secure location, collect cash and equipment, drill into a vault, and escape with their loot while contending with rival teams and likely some NPC adversaries. This design appears to align with the extraction shooter genre’s core mechanics.

However, key features of traditional extraction shooters seem to be absent from the current description. Notably, it remains uncertain whether players will lose all collected loot if they fail to escape—an element that is often critical to the extraction experience. Without this risk, Fairgames could unintentionally revert to being a conventional heist game focused on treasure retrieval without the looming threat of loss.

This development brings to mind Creative Assembly’s Hyenas, which faced similar challenges prior to its anticipated launch. The recent surge in popularity of extraction shooters, fueled by titles like ARC Raiders, Marathon, and the highly acclaimed Escape From Tarkov, likely motivated PlayStation to capitalize on this trend.

It’s particularly noteworthy that online multiplayer games have not historically been PlayStation’s strength. Jim Ryan’s drive towards a live service model aimed at replicating the success of Fortnite indicates a strategic push to discover lucrative opportunities. With this context, it’s plausible that Herman Hulst aims to refine this approach, learning from past setbacks such as Concord’s challenges to avoid falling into the same pitfalls.

The latest reports suggest Fairgames may adopt a free-to-play model, with playtesters expressing concerns about the enjoyment factor of the game. Such feedback raises questions about the game’s potential impact and longevity in a competitive landscape.

Despite these uncertainties, PlayStation’s leadership has continued to support Fairgames, leaving room for optimism. If it does reach completion, it may very well become a case study in the life cycle of a game—potentially mirroring the trajectory of ‘Concord 2.0.’

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