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 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, consistently generate buzz and anticipation among fans eager for the next big title.

In recent years, PlayStation has bolstered its first-party lineup by acquiring established development partners such as Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite. Now, a new, yet-to-be-named studio in Los Angeles is set to join this prestigious group, focusing on a "ground-breaking" original AAA IP. This information surfaced through a recent job listing for a Project Senior Producer, which explicitly mentions a "newly-established AAA studio" in Los Angeles.

Speculation is rife about the origins of this new studio. One theory suggests it could be a spin-off team from Bungie, working on the Gummybears incubation project announced during Bungie's layoffs in July 2024. During these layoffs, 155 staff members were confirmed to transition to Sony Interactive Entertainment over the next few quarters.

Another compelling theory points to the team led by Jason Blundell, a well-known developer from the Call of Duty: Black Ops series. Blundell, who co-founded Deviation Games, was previously working on a new AAA IP for PS5 before leaving the studio in 2022. Deviation Games eventually shut down in March 2024, but by May 2024, many of its former employees had joined PlayStation under Blundell's leadership. 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, possibly continuing or rebooting Deviation Games' original project.

While it may be several years before Sony officially announces details about this new internal studio, the gaming community is thrilled to know that another PlayStation first-party game is in development.