TeamLFG, a new internal studio created through an incubation project at Bungie, has been formally unveiled by Sony Interactive Entertainment. A major milestone in PlayStation’s planned foray into live-service multiplayer gaming is this program.

In 2023, a Bungie incubator experiment gave rise to TeamLFG. After Bungie’s 2024 reorganization, which involved 155 people being transferred to Sony Interactive Entertainment and layoffs, the project was separated into a separate company within PlayStation Studios. In his announcement of the studio’s establishment, CEO Hermen Hulst emphasized the company’s goal of making multiplayer games that emphasize friendship, community, and shared gameplay experiences.

In a statement posted on Sony’s PlayStation post on X, teamLFG stated that their goal is to develop games that allow players to experience a sense of community, friendship, and belonging. When our gamers log on and see that their teammates are already online, we want them to be thrilled. We want our players to be able to identify well-known names and turn them into memes and myths. We want our gamers to enjoy reminiscing about the one occasion when they executed that play that completely altered the course of the game.

PlayStation’s Strategic Shift

High-caliber single-player games (such as God of War, The Last of Us, and the Horizon series) have long formed the foundation of Sony’s solid reputation. This action demonstrates a conscious shift toward live-service multiplayer, which is dominated by games like League of Legends, Apex Legends, and Fortnite. This is a significant recalibration of the plan.

Distinct Creative Guidance

Alongside MOBAs, life simulators, and fighting games, the reference to a “frog-type” influence adds a peculiar and surprising twist. This suggests that Sony is attempting to produce something distinctly whimsical and strange, which is uncommon in AAA multiplayer design, rather than merely following trends.

The reference to “live service” and expanding the community for “years to come” is what has already caused PlayStation enthusiasts to take notice. Sony’s other live service titles were either canceled or had terrible launches. Still, Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 was a huge smash and sold 12 million copies in only 12 weeks, making it the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever.

Sony’s Concord, which only lasted a few weeks before being taken offline due to shockingly low player counts, is undoubtedly one of the worst video game failures in PlayStation history. Later, Sony decided to shut down the game’s development and discontinue it completely.

Overall, Sony had already discontinued Naughty Dog’s multiplayer game, The Last of Us, before the Concord disaster. Additionally, two undisclosed live service games were canceled by Sony earlier this year. One was a God of War game that was being developed at Bluepoint, and the other was being developed at Days Gone developer Bend.