Sony Has Established a New AAA PlayStation Studio

PlayStation Unveils New AAA Studio in Los Angeles

Sony Interactive Entertainment has quietly established a new, unannounced AAA game studio in Los Angeles, California. This marks the 20th first-party studio under the PlayStation umbrella and is currently developing a highly anticipated, original AAA title for the PS5.

The news emerged via a recent job posting for a Project Senior Producer, confirming the existence of this "newly-established AAA studio." Given PlayStation's impressive first-party lineup – including renowned studios like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games – the announcement generates significant excitement among fans eagerly awaiting future PlayStation releases. Sony's recent acquisitions of studios such as Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite further demonstrate their commitment to expanding their first-party development capabilities.

Two Leading Theories for the Studio's Origins:

Speculation surrounding the new studio's origins centers on two potential sources:

1. A Bungie Spin-off: Following Bungie layoffs in July 2024, a team working on a project codenamed "Gummybears" transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment. This spin-off team is a strong contender for the Los Angeles studio.

2. The Jason Blundell Team: Jason Blundell, a veteran Call of Duty developer and co-founder of the now-defunct Deviation Games, left the studio in 2022. Deviation Games, which was developing a PS5 AAA title, closed its doors in March 2024. However, many former Deviation Games employees subsequently joined PlayStation, forming a new team under Blundell's leadership. Given the longer gestation period of this team, it's considered a likely candidate for the newly established studio. The new project may even be a continuation or reimagining of Deviation Games' previous work.

While Sony remains tight-lipped about the studio's identity and its project, the confirmation of a new first-party studio developing a groundbreaking AAA IP is welcome news for PlayStation fans. While an official announcement may be years away, the anticipation is palpable.