Sony Unveils New AAA PlayStation Studio

Summary

• Sony has opened a new PlayStation studio in Los Angeles, California, as confirmed by a recent job listing.
• The newly-established internal PlayStation studio is working on a high-profile original AAA IP for PS5.
• Speculation suggests that the new PlayStation studio could be for a Bungie spin-off team or former Deviation Games co-founder Jason Blundell's team.

Sony has recently expanded its gaming empire by opening a new AAA game studio in the heart of Los Angeles, California. This exciting development marks the 20th studio under the PlayStation first-party umbrella and is currently working on a new, high-profile AAA IP for the PS5. PlayStation's first-party studios, including renowned names like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games, are celebrated for their groundbreaking work, which naturally fuels anticipation for their upcoming projects. In recent years, PlayStation has further bolstered its lineup by acquiring established development partners such as Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite. Now, fans have another studio to keep an eye on.

Located in Los Angeles, this yet-to-be-named PlayStation first-party studio is focused on creating a "ground-breaking" original AAA IP. The existence of this studio was revealed through a recent job listing for a Project Senior Producer, which explicitly mentions a "newly-established AAA studio" in Los Angeles. There are several theories about who might be behind this new venture. One possibility is that it could be a spin-off team from Bungie, working on the Gummybears incubation project announced during the Bungie layoffs in July 2024. During those layoffs, 155 staff members were set to transition to Sony Interactive Entertainment over the next few quarters.

PlayStation's Newest Internal Studio Might Have Been Salvaged From a Failed Partnership

Another strong contender for the new studio's leadership is Jason Blundell, a well-known developer from the Call of Duty: Black Ops series. Blundell previously co-founded Deviation Games, which was developing a new AAA IP for PS5. However, after Blundell's departure in 2022 and the studio's closure in March 2024, many former Deviation Games employees were found to have joined PlayStation in May 2024, forming a new team under Blundell's direction. Given the longer gestation period of Blundell's team compared to the Bungie spin-off, it's plausible that this new internal studio is home to Blundell's team. While the exact nature of their project remains a mystery, fans speculate it might involve continuing or rebooting Deviation Games' original AAA project. Although it may be years before Sony officially announces details about this new studio, the gaming community is thrilled to know that another PlayStation first-party game is in development.