PS5's Fairgames Is a Free-to-Play Extraction Shooter, and It's Not Dead Yet

Key Points:

• PlayStation Studios is developing Fairgames, a free-to-play extraction shooter by Sony studio Haven, following the lukewarm release of Marathon, another extraction shooter with a high budget.
• Fairgames features a flagship mode called "Cargo Heist," where players break into vaults, collect cash, and extract cargo while competing against other teams, but the gameplay does not appear to offer significant innovation.
• Upcoming private playtests for Fairgames are scheduled, though PlayStation has not officially acknowledged them, and past tests have criticized the game for feeling clunky, indicating ongoing development and iteration.
• The game faces skepticism due to its poor reception compared to other PlayStation titles and questions about its market positioning, especially given Sony’s existing investment in Marathon.
• Concerns remain about the necessity of adding another extraction shooter to Sony’s portfolio amid challenges in establishing a clear audience and ensuring the game’s success.