It turns out you're not allowed to be part of PlayStation Studios unless you have a really cool office space. The latest member of Sony's first-party group to move into some swanky new digs is Firesprite, PlayStation's largest UK-based team. We can see the brand new studio in an update on its website, and it looks very swish.
The new space is within an old Liverpudlian building that used to be a "library, maritime business, museum, and newsroom" before it became a super modern game studio. As well as decorating and outfitting the studio to meet the team's needs and tastes, some original details have been kept, like pillars and exposed walls.
There are large open areas that have been designed to accommodate people working in the office and at home. Additionally, the studio houses spaces for recreation, quiet focus, training, and more. In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, it also has gender-neutral bathrooms, parent nursing areas, a prayer room, and neurodivergent spaces.
Firesprite also points out its aim to be "climate positive". As well as having planted 50,000 trees and partnering with Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the studio will recycle 100 per cent of its waste, features low energy lighting that only activates when someone's around, and has plant life peppered throughout to purify the air.
All in all, it looks fantastic — but where's our invitation, Firesprite? We'll come and play pool with you anytime.
[source firesprite.com, via twitter.com]
Comments 28
"As well as having planted 50,000 trees... the studio will recycle 100 per cent of its waste"
Where is this forest?
Is the video game developer using it's employee fecal matter to nourish these plants? Who gets that job? The new guy or the guy who makes the sandwiches?
Looks cool! Hope, now they'll deliver even better games!
@Cashews the trees were planted in Minecraft
Do they even deserve it? I haven't played anything from them yet. They only made Horizon VR and The Persistence.
Wow, this looks really nice!
@Sil_Am What do you mean? Clearly they're a rapidly growing business and have enormous backing from Sony.
I imagine you'll be playing a lot more of their games over the coming years.
Whelp, looks like the next GaaS mobile battle royale from Playstation will have to cost $95. Those "development costs" don't come cheap!
@Cashews "Is the video game developer using it's employee fecal matter to nourish these plants?"
That's the job of the marketing department. Obviously.
@get2sammyb Let's see what they'll bring us. Currently Insomniac, Sony Santa Monica and Sucker Punch are unbeatable. Best in the business, though Santa Monica studio need to show us they can make something other than God of War.
@Sil_Am That’s a novel idea. Imagine companies assigning office buildings to subsidiaries based on performance. “Sorry, but you’ve missed your numbers so it’s off to the abandoned Borax factory. Try not to breathe too much of the asbestos, our deductibles are high enough as it is.”
@Amnesiac Can't argue with that, but don't say I didn't warn people when they close them down in 3 years after not bringing out some best sellers. Sony is known for doing that. 😄
@Sil_Am I don’t think people know what games gorilla or insomniac were making before joining PlayStation. PlayStation knows talent though and knows how to develop them.
Now can we get a new wipeout?
@Sil_Am I agree. How about you worry about putting out some real games before you start rewarding yourselves. You've created two short three hour long VR games heres a new studio, lol.
We wonder why budgets are out of control. They make games not cure disease smh
All this investment only to develop live-service games… :sighs:
Right so I tried looking it up and I have absolutely no problem with being more inclusive but what the hell is Neurodivergent spaces? Like gender neutral bathrooms I get and and other things I get. I mean hell I’m autistic myself so I think IM Neurodivergent. But what are spaces for them?
@Nyne11Tyme
Only people who cure disease can have a nice place to work?
@TheCollector316 of course not! Lol. But that level of overkill is alarming. Especially when you hear all the moaning and groaning about budget issues and dev cycles. Maybe AAA games wouldn't take 6 years if they didn't spend half their day playing snooker, talking to a therapist, praying and getting Lattes? I'm being slightly facetious but also a little serious here
Looks cheap. Like a studio that wants to think its AAA, but isn't there yet. Really wish developers would stop buying these old trash tastic warehouses for us to work in. Throw up some dry wall and paint and be all like "look isn't this creative, fun, and high class". Honestly this Ubisoft San Francisco style is the worst. Enough to make you want to go to an EA studio, preferrably one with a new building like the one in Orlando.
@Nyne11Tyme That's a california developer problem. I can't say I've ever done those things. I keep a PS5 at my desk, but mostly to play over lunch or when I'm waiting for a build that is 45 minutes to 3 hours long and I know I'm going to be stuck working till midnight.
@NotSoCryptic "Playstations largest UK-based developer"
Some folk have never done hard graft have they 😭
@Cashews they gave a charity 50.000 to buy of the esg emision those trees most of the never get planted.
Like established titles where you could buy 5 inches of land for a few 100 bucks.
Also mostly fake
@Nyne11Tyme so tiny
Nice place. But i have yet to play anything from this studio. Was a solid pick up for Sony. It will help out their live service gaming needs. But they will need to deliver. Only so many failed live service games before it will catch up to the bottom line numbers. Meanwhile your competitors are throwing out lot’s of single player games. So could be interesting to see how this plays out.
Looks great. I'm loving these developer videos and studio tours. But they serve an important purpose. Right now there is a real tussle to attract the developers to studios and these tours and new studios help with that which eventually will equal better games for us.
@NotSoCryptic I guess they could put you in a cellar
Some people must want developers to work in squalor. Development is a stressful job so god forbid it has facilities that allows for downtime.
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