Sony Unveils New AAA PlayStation Studio

Sony has recently expanded its gaming empire by opening a new PlayStation studio in Los Angeles, California, as revealed by a job listing. This marks the 20th studio under the PlayStation first-party umbrella and is currently working on an exciting, high-profile AAA IP for the PS5. PlayStation's first-party studios, including giants like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games, are renowned in the gaming world, and their projects generate immense anticipation among fans. Sony has further bolstered its portfolio by acquiring studios such as Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite. Now, there's another secret studio to watch: the new, unnamed PlayStation first-party studio in Los Angeles.

This newly-established studio is crafting what's been described as a "ground-breaking" original AAA IP. The revelation came from a job listing for a Project Senior Producer, which confirms the existence of this new AAA studio. Speculation is rife about the team behind this studio, with one theory pointing towards a spin-off PlayStation team from Bungie's Gummybears incubation project. Announced during Bungie's layoffs in July 2024, this project saw 155 staff members transitioning to Sony Interactive Entertainment over the coming quarters.

PlayStation's Newest Internal Studio Might Have Been Salvaged From a Failed Partnership

Another potential candidate for this new studio is a team led by Jason Blundell, a well-known developer from the Call of Duty: Black Ops series. Blundell had previously co-founded Deviation Games, which was developing a new AAA IP for PS5. However, internal challenges led to Blundell's departure in 2022, and Deviation Games shut down in March 2024. Interestingly, by May 2024, many former Deviation Games employees were found to have joined PlayStation under Blundell's leadership.

Given that Blundell's team has been developing longer than the Bungie spin-off team, it seems plausible that this new internal studio might be the home for his project. While it's too early to know what this new team is working on, speculation abounds that it could be a continuation or reboot of Deviation Games' project. Fans might have to wait several years for official announcements, but the prospect of another PlayStation first-party game is certainly exciting.