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. This marks their 20th first-party studio and adds to PlayStation's already impressive lineup of acclaimed developers. The studio's current project is a highly anticipated, original AAA title for the PS5.
The news emerged via a recent job posting for a Project Senior Producer, revealing the existence of this "newly-established AAA studio." The secrecy surrounding the project has naturally fueled speculation among fans eager for details on upcoming PlayStation releases. The first-party studios, including giants like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games, consistently generate significant excitement, and this new addition only intensifies the anticipation. Sony's strategic acquisitions of studios like Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite in recent years demonstrate their commitment to expanding their first-party development capabilities.
Several theories attempt to identify the team behind this mysterious studio. One possibility is a spin-off group from Bungie, formed following the July 2024 layoffs. Approximately 155 Bungie employees transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment, and some speculate this new studio houses a team working on Bungie's previously unannounced "Gummybears" project.
Another strong contender is the team led by industry veteran Jason Blundell, formerly of Call of Duty: Black Ops fame. Blundell co-founded Deviation Games, which unfortunately closed in March 2024 after facing undisclosed challenges. However, a significant number of Deviation Games employees joined PlayStation in May 2024, forming a new team under Blundell's leadership. Given the longer timeframe of Blundell's team's formation compared to the potential Bungie spin-off, this seems a more likely candidate for Sony's new Los Angeles studio. The project could potentially be a continuation or reimagining of Deviation Games' abandoned AAA title.
While an official announcement from Sony may be years away, the confirmation of yet another first-party PlayStation game in development is undoubtedly welcome news for fans.
