Sony's Secret Los Angeles Studio: A New AAA PlayStation Game in Development
A recently surfaced job posting reveals Sony's establishment of a new, unannounced AAA game studio in Los Angeles, California. This marks Sony's 20th first-party studio and adds another exciting project to the PlayStation 5 lineup. The studio is currently developing a groundbreaking, original AAA IP.
The news, discovered via a Project Senior Producer job listing, confirms the existence of this "newly-established AAA studio." The secrecy surrounding the project has naturally fueled speculation amongst fans eager for updates on upcoming PlayStation titles from established studios like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games. Sony's recent acquisitions of Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite further highlight the company's commitment to expanding its first-party development capabilities.
Two Leading Theories on the Studio's Origins:
Several theories attempt to identify the team behind this new venture. One strong contender is a spin-off team from Bungie, stemming from the July 2024 layoffs where 155 Bungie employees transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment. This team, reportedly working on Bungie's "Gummybears" incubation project, could be the core of the new Los Angeles studio.
Another compelling possibility involves Jason Blundell, a veteran Call of Duty developer and co-founder of Deviation Games. Deviation Games, unfortunately, closed its doors in March 2024 after facing undisclosed challenges. However, a significant number of Deviation Games' employees joined PlayStation in May 2024 under Blundell's leadership, suggesting a potential resurrection of their previous AAA PS5 project within this new studio. Given the longer gestation period of Blundell's team, it's a plausible scenario.
While the specifics remain shrouded in mystery, the confirmation of a new PlayStation first-party studio developing an original AAA title is undeniably positive news for fans. While an official announcement may be years away, the anticipation for this undisclosed project is already building.