Sony’s ‘Fairgames’ Is Running On Unreal Engine 5, And The ‘Concord’ Comparisons Are Already Starting

If you thought Sony was done with risky live-service bets after the historic collapse of Concord, you were wrong. They are doubling down.

We haven't heard much about Fairgames (stylized as Fairgame$ because apparently, it is 2005) since its CGI reveal trailer was universally met with a shrug. But thanks to a new job listing, we now know what is under the hood.

According to a posting for an Online Programmer at Haven Studios, the upcoming heist shooter is being powered by Unreal Engine 5.

For most games, using the industry-standard engine is good news. But for Sony, right now? It feels like reading the script for a horror movie we have already seen.

The Job Listing

The listing is looking for a programmer to join the Montreal-based team. Under the "Experience and skills required" section, it explicitly states:

"Be proficient in C++ programming, experience with Unreal Engine is a plus."

Considering Haven Studios was formed in 2021 (right when UE5 Early Access dropped), this confirms the tech stack. The listing also mentions Rust and cloud platforms, which suggests they are building a robust backend for the live-service elements.

The Engine Dilemma

The immediate reaction from the community has been skepticism.

Sony owns the Decima Engine. This is the tech that powers Horizon Forbidden West and Death Stranding 2. It is arguably the best open-world engine on the planet, optimized perfectly for PlayStation hardware.

So why use Unreal Engine 5?

UE5 is incredible, but it is also heavy. We have seen plenty of titles struggle with performance optimization on consoles when pushing Nanite and Lumen. Concord also ran on Unreal Engine 5. While that game looked technically competent, it suffered from a generic "Unreal look" that many players found uninspired.

By skipping their proprietary tech, Sony is effectively making Fairgames look like every other third-party shooter on the market.

The "Heist" Nobody Asked For

The engine isn't the only problem here. Fairgames is entering a genre that is already overcrowded. It is described as a "competitive heist game," essentially a shooter like any other.

It has to compete with The Finals, Payday 3 (which is struggling), Arc Raiders and the upcoming Marathon from Bungie.

The optics are terrible. Sony already incinerated hundreds of millions of dollars on Concord a year ago, a UE5 hero shooter that nobody wanted. Now, they are gearing up to release Fairgames, a UE5 heist shooter that nobody seems to be asking for.

Maybe Jade Raymond and Haven Studios have cooked up something magical. Maybe the gameplay loop is addictive enough to make us forget the cringe-worthy trailer. But right now, Fairgames looks like it is walking the exact same path as its fallen brother.

We will likely see more in 2026. Until then, keep your expectations in the vault.

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