Okay, so PlayStation isn't messing around anymore after the Concord debacle. Apparently, the big bosses are tightening the reins to avoid another expensive flop like that live-service shooter. I mean, who wants to see another studio shut down just weeks after launch?

According to PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst, they're all about smart risks now. He told Financial Times that he doesn't want teams to "play it safe" all the time, but if they're gonna fail, they need to "fail early and cheaply." Makes sense, right? It's like that saying, "Fail fast, learn faster." They've put more oversight in place to make sure projects are thoroughly tested at every stage. Hulst thinks the Concord fiasco taught everyone how crucial this kind of supervision really is.

Think about it: Concord reportedly cost Sony around $250 million, only to be axed shortly after release. Ouch. On the flip side, Astro Bot sold like hotcakes – 1.5 million copies in the first month! That's the kind of success they're aiming for. Because of this, Hulst hinted that PlayStation is pumping the breaks on its live-service games. It seems Sony's live-service plans "are not entirely going smoothly," as Sony's chief financial officer Lin Tao said earlier this month.

Instead of chasing the live-service dragon, Hulst wants to build up Sony's existing IPs into major franchises. He wants to turn every new concept into an iconic PlayStation franchise that goes beyond just gaming. That means they're focusing on creating games with staying power, like Astro Bot. I gotta say, I'm all for it. Give me more games that I'll still be playing years from now!