PlayStation Unveils New AAA Studio in Los Angeles
Sony Interactive Entertainment has quietly established a new AAA game development studio in Los Angeles, California. This marks the company's 20th first-party studio and adds to its already impressive roster of industry-leading developers. The studio's current project is a highly anticipated, original AAA title destined for the PlayStation 5.
The announcement, though indirect, comes via a recent job posting for a Project Senior Producer. The listing explicitly confirms the existence of a newly formed AAA studio in Los Angeles, sparking considerable excitement among PlayStation fans.
Given PlayStation's reputation for high-quality titles from studios like Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, and Santa Monica Studio, the news has generated significant buzz. The company's recent acquisitions of Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite further demonstrate its commitment to expanding its first-party development capabilities. This new, unannounced studio represents the latest addition to this impressive lineup.
Possible Origins of the New Studio:
Speculation regarding the studio's origins centers on two key possibilities:
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A Bungie Spin-off: Following layoffs at Bungie in July 2024, a significant number of employees transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment. It's plausible that this new studio houses a team working on a previously announced Bungie incubation project, codenamed "Gummybears."
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Jason Blundell's Team: Veteran Call of Duty developer Jason Blundell, formerly co-founder of the now-defunct Deviation Games, is another strong contender. Deviation Games was developing a AAA PS5 title before its closure in March 2024. However, many former Deviation Games employees subsequently joined PlayStation, leading to speculation that Blundell's team forms the core of this new studio. This theory gains credence considering the longer gestation period of Blundell's team compared to the potential Bungie spin-off.
While the exact nature of the studio's project remains shrouded in secrecy, the possibility of a revived or reimagined Deviation Games project is a compelling fan theory. Although an official announcement from Sony may be some time away, the confirmation of yet another first-party PlayStation game in development is undoubtedly welcome news for gaming enthusiasts.