Surprise Reveal of Lost PlayStation Heist Shooter

Three years after its initial announcement, PlayStation and Haven Studios’ much-anticipated heist shooter, previously known as Fairgames (or Fairgame$), appears to be resurfacing under a new guise. Listings on Player.gg indicate that an upcoming playtest for an unannounced competitive action shooter on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC is currently underway, operating under the codename Project Espresso—a title that bears unmistakable similarities to Fairgames.

“Project Espresso is a third-person PvPvE competitive action game where competing teams race to infiltrate high-security locations, steal valuable cargo, and make it out before their rivals,” reads the description on Player.gg. This premise closely mirrors a 2023 PlayStation Blog feature, which introduced Fairgames as “a thrilling competitive heist game where you join an underground movement to rob the ultra-rich and rebalance the scales.”

Promotional material for Project Espresso also features several distinct design crossovers with the initial Fairgames showcase, including the architectural styling of the high-security gold vaults and specific character aesthetics—such as an operative donning a signature white ski mask in both trailers. Interested participants can request access to the playtest by registering through a Player.gg account.

Polygon has reached out to Sony Interactive Entertainment for official clarification regarding the connection between Project Espresso and Fairgames, and will update this coverage should a statement be provided.

Whether it launches as Fairgames, Project Espresso, or under an entirely different moniker, the project serves as the flagship debut for Haven Studios. Established in 2021 by veteran developer and former Google Stadia executive Jade Raymond—noted for her work on the Assassin’s Creed franchise—the Montreal-based studio was officially acquired by Sony in 2022. The title was subsequently unveiled during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, though Raymond has since departed the company.

“Fairgame$ will give you an opportunity to break the rules as a modern-day Robin Hood, a thrill seeker, or just someone who wants to collect cool loot,” creative director Mathieu Leduc stated during the game’s initial reveal. He further emphasized that the concept originated from a collective ambition to pioneer a fresh style of competitive player-versus-player environments underpinned by dynamic sandbox mechanics.

The title is currently in development exclusively for the PlayStation 5 and Windows PC platforms, and Sony has yet to announce a formal release window.

Haven’s new IP described as a ‘AAA multiplayer experience’

Source: Polygon