Sony's Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao has openly acknowledged that the company's live-service gaming initiative hasn't progressed as smoothly as anticipated. However, during recent financial discussions, Tao emphasized that there remain promising aspects to Sony's evolving strategy in this competitive sector.

The entertainment giant has made no secret of its ambition to establish games-as-a-service as a cornerstone of its business model. Following the unexpected success of Helldivers 2 earlier this year, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst confirmed plans to expand Sony's live-service portfolio. While subsequent releases haven't matched this success, company executives maintain optimism about the long-term potential.

During Sony's quarterly earnings review, CFO Tao addressed recent challenges head-on, referencing both the disappointing launch of Concord and indefinite delay of Bungie's Marathon. "We recognize the setbacks," Tao stated, "but our live-service revenue has grown from virtually nothing five years ago to now representing significant earnings."

Financial reports revealed that established titles like Helldivers 2, Destiny 2, and MLB The Show collectively contributed over 40% of Sony's first-party software revenue last quarter. This performance, according to Tao, demonstrates the viability of live-service games when properly executed.

The company acknowledges recent missteps, particularly the underwhelming performance of Destiny 2's latest expansion and Concord's commercial failure. However, Sony leadership insists these are learning opportunities rather than reasons to abandon the live-service approach altogether.

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