Sony Has Established a New AAA PlayStation Studio

Sony's Unveiling of a New PlayStation Studio in Los Angeles

A recently posted job listing confirms Sony's establishment of a new AAA game studio in Los Angeles, California. This marks Sony's 20th first-party studio and adds to its impressive lineup of renowned game developers. The studio is currently unannounced and is reportedly developing a high-profile, original AAA IP for the PS5.

The secrecy surrounding this new studio has naturally generated significant excitement among PlayStation fans. The company's first-party studios, including Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games, consistently deliver critically acclaimed titles, fueling anticipation for future releases. Sony's recent acquisitions of studios like Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite have further expanded its first-party development capabilities.

Speculation regarding the new studio's identity centers on two possibilities. One theory suggests it houses a spin-off team from Bungie, stemming from the July 2024 layoffs where 155 Bungie employees transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment. This team may be working on Bungie's "Gummybears" incubation project.

Another strong contender is the team led by Jason Blundell, a veteran Call of Duty developer and co-founder of Deviation Games. Deviation Games, which was developing a AAA PS5 title, unfortunately closed in March 2024. However, many former Deviation Games employees subsequently joined PlayStation, forming a new team under Blundell's leadership. Considering the longer gestation period of Blundell's team, it's plausible that this is the team behind Sony's new Los Angeles studio. The project they are developing remains undisclosed, but speculation points towards a continuation or a reboot of Deviation Games' previous AAA endeavor.

While a formal announcement from Sony is likely still some time away, the news of this new studio is undoubtedly welcome, promising yet another exciting first-party PlayStation game in the pipeline.