- PlayStation recently shut down Bluepoint Games, bringing the total number of studios shuttered during this generation to six.
- Previously, studios such as Japan Studio, PixelOpus, and more were shut down by Sony.
- Of the studios PlayStation acquired over the last six years, a total of three are no longer operational.
PlayStation recently confirmed the closure of Bluepoint Games, the team behind one of the PS5’s most popular exclusive titles. To nobody’s surprise, reactions to this news have not been encouraging, and many have criticized Sony’s management.
In fact, a look back at Sony’s past decisions shows a slew of poor management decisions. The gaming giant purchased as many as 10 studios to strengthen its first-party offerings this generation, but barely any of these studios have produced substantial results.
Making matters worse, a total of 6 first-party teams were shut down during this generation.
Why it matters: PlayStation spent billions of dollars on acquisitions only to reap no real reward. It also let go of many legacy studios over the last five to six years.
PlayStation shut down the following studios in the last five to six years:
- Bluepoint Games – Closed in 2026
- Firewalk Studios – Closed in 2024
- Neon Koi – Closed in 2024
- Japan Studio – Closed in 2021
- PixelOpus – Closed in 2023
- London Studio – Closed in 2024
Many of these closures were disheartening for fans, particularly because they were linked to PlayStation’s legacy. For instance, Japan Studio worked on titles as old as the original Demon’s Souls.
Similarly, London Studio helped bring a classic like The Getaway: Black Monday to life. Interestingly, PlayStation purchased a total of 10 studios for this generation, and none proved worth it. The following is the list of acquired studios:
- Insomniac Games
- Bluepoint Games
- Nixxess Software
- Housemarque
- Firesprite
- Firewalk
- Bungie
- Haven Studios
- Neon Koi
- Valkyrie Entertainment
Of the 10 acquired studios, Firewalk Studios, Neon Koi, and Bluepoint Games are now shut down. However, even among the surviving teams, hardly any results have come up.
Haven Studios is currently working on Fairgame$ and has yet to actually release a project for PlayStation. The same goes for Valkyrie Entertainment, which Sony claimed would bring experience from various genres to the PlayStation family.
Even Firesprite’s portfolio is quite unimpressive, with the team having released just Horizon: Call of the Wild since Sony’s purchase. Firesprite is currently said to be working on a horror game, but nothing has come of this project yet. Past rumors also suggested that the team was working on a Twisted Metal title that was later cancelled.
Elsewhere, Bungie has been through a troubled period over the last few years due to Destiny 2’s dwindling popularity. Ahead of Marathon, hopes are high for the studio’s return to form, but PlayStation has not been too happy with the studio so far.
As such, this leaves Insomniac Games, Housemarque, and Nixxess Software as the only real stars of Sony’s buyouts.
In fact, one could argue that Insomniac Games is PlayStation’s biggest asset as far as first-party teams go. Nixxess Software has also done a solid job with PC ports, and Housemarque is gearing up to launch Saros later this year.
Aside from studio closures, many teams at PlayStation have recently faced layoffs. However, when the situation is looked at, things are not in the best state for the gaming giant’s internal teams. In fact, the latest round of studio closures has raised questions about the future of studios like Bend, which have also yet to release a new game in over 5 years.
What do you think about all these studio closures and layoffs? Share in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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