Sony Has Established a New AAA PlayStation Studio

Sony's Secret Los Angeles Studio: A New AAA IP in the Works

Sony Interactive Entertainment has quietly established a new AAA game studio in Los Angeles, California, as revealed through a recent job posting. This marks Sony's 20th first-party studio and adds to their already impressive lineup of acclaimed developers. The studio is currently shrouded in secrecy, but is confirmed to be developing a groundbreaking, original AAA title for the PlayStation 5.

The news has generated considerable excitement among PlayStation fans, who eagerly anticipate updates on upcoming titles from established studios like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games. Sony's strategic acquisitions of studios like Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite in recent years have further fueled this anticipation.

Speculation regarding the identity of this new studio is rife. One theory suggests it may house a spin-off team from Bungie, stemming from the July 2024 layoffs where 155 Bungie employees transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment. This team was reportedly working on Bungie's "Gummybears" incubation project.

Another compelling possibility centers around Jason Blundell, a veteran Call of Duty developer and co-founder of the now-defunct Deviation Games. Blundell's 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 Los Angeles studio. Considering the longer gestation period of Blundell's team compared to the Bungie spin-off, this theory seems particularly plausible. The new studio might even be reviving or reimagining Deviation Games' abandoned project.

While Sony remains tight-lipped about the studio's identity and its project, the confirmation of a new first-party AAA title is welcome news for PlayStation enthusiasts. It's likely to be several years before any official announcements are made, but the anticipation is already building.