
What first-party studios does Sony own? And what exclusive games are PlayStation’s developers working on? In this Worldwide Studios guide, we’re going to list all of the Japanese giant’s subsidiary game makers, along with their current projects. We’ll be updating this article regularly, as new titles are announced.
Japan
ForwardWorks
Mobile studio established to expand PlayStation’s footprint in the rapidly growing smartphone sector. Focused solely on the Japanese market for now.
Established: 2016
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Current Projects: No Heroes Allowed! Dash, Wild Arms: Million Memories, Arc the Lad R
SIE Japan Studio
One of the oldest and largest PlayStation first-party developers, SIE Japan Studio has a gigantic workforce divided into various teams. The division also functions as a support studio for third-party developers working on exclusive PlayStation games.
Established: 1993
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Current Projects: Demon's Souls (with Bluepoint Games)
Polyphony Digital
Originally an internal development unit named Polys Entertainment, Polyphony Digital is best known for creating Sony’s flagship racing franchise, Gran Turismo.
Established: 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Current Projects: Gran Turismo 7
Europe
Guerrilla Games
Creators of the Killzone franchise and acquired by Sony following the release of Shellshock: ‘Nam 67 in 2005. Built the Decima Engine and in the process of moving to a larger office as it expands its team to 400 full-time employees.
Established: 2000
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Current Projects: Horizon Forbidden West, Online multiplayer shooter (Rumoured)
SIE London Studio
SIE London Studio’s gone through multiple iterations over the years, but is perhaps best known for its work on Sony’s most family-friendly brands like SingStar. Currently focused on PSVR.
Established: 1993
Location: London, England
Current Projects: Unknown
Media Molecule
The makers of the LittleBigPlanet franchise, and one of Sony’s most imaginative studios. Media Molecule was acquired by Sony in 2010 following the success of Sackboy’s inaugural adventure.
Established: 2006
Location: Guildford, England
Current Projects: Dreams (Ongoing)
SIE XDev Europe
Located in the same office as the now defunct SIE Liverpool Studio, SIE XDev Europe works with independent developers on first-party PlayStation projects. Past high-profile examples include Until Dawn (Supermassive Games) and Detroit: Become Human (Quantic Dream).
Established: 2000
Location: Liverpool, England
Current Projects: Destruction AllStars (Lucid Games), Returnal (Housemarque), Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital)
North America
SIE Bend Studio
Infamously created Bubsy 3D for the PSone before moving on to the Syphon Filter series under the Eidetic name. Acquired by Sony in 2000. Historically focused on portable games, but back working on consoles with Days Gone.
Established: 1993
Location: Bend, Oregon, USA
Current Projects: Unknown
Insomniac Games
Famed for PlayStation exclusive series such as Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank, and Resistance, the developer has felt like part of the first party family all along. With Marvel's Spider-Man being such a huge hit, it's no wonder Sony scooped the studio up in 2019.
Established: 1994
Location: Burbank, California, USA
Current Projects: Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Marvel's Spider-Man: Remastered, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (Rumoured)
Naughty Dog
Perhaps the most famous of Sony’s studios, Naughty Dog has a long history creating series such as Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, and Uncharted. Acquired in 2001.
Established: 1984
Location: Santa Monica, California, USA
Current Projects: The Last of Us: Factions (Multiplayer)
Pixelopus
A fairly new first-party studio formed of university graduates, Pixelopus focuses on creative projects that diversify PlayStation’s software portfolio. Its first game was Entwined.
Established: 2014
Location: San Mateo, California, USA
Current Projects: Unknown
SIE San Diego Studio
Most famous for the critically acclaimed MLB The Show series, SIE San Diego Studio has previously operated as a support studio for external developers, and has also worked on titles like The Mark of Kri and Pain.
Established: 2001
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Current Projects: MLB The Show 21 (Unannounced), New Uncharted game (Rumoured)
SIE Santa Monica Studio
Creators of the God of War franchise. Previously incubated developers like thatgamecompany, while also serving as a support studio for external developers working on exclusive games.
Established: 1999
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Current Projects: God of War Ragnarok
Sucker Punch
One-time Nintendo 64 developer, Sucker Punch is best known for the Sly Cooper and inFAMOUS series. Acquired by Sony in 2011.
Established: 1997
Location: Bellevue, Washington, USA
Current Projects: Ghost of Tsushima (Legends multiplayer mode)
Comments (83)
We'll keep this updated. Let me know if it's missing any information you think should be added.
@get2sammyb Nice list. I don't think about the Sony devs too much b/c it seems like they are always working on something, probably b/c each game seems to take 3-10 years these days, but I often wonder what's going on with who's making what over at Nintendo, so feel free to share this idea with your mates over at NL.
Any chance of expanding the list to big 2nd and 3rd parties that are particularly focused on Sony, and others like Kojima and the folks making Shenmue 3?
And what's up with Concrete Genie, PO trying too hard to emulate mM?
@rjejr Yeah I might add some of the partners in.
Not sure what you mean about PixelOpus; Concrete Genie was announced around this time last year.
what about SIE Foster City Studio?
Japan must be working on something big (or multiple smaller things) we don't know about. They have so many employees, so I doubt they're all working on aiding in these VR experiences.
I want a new ape escape game from sie japan studio
@get2sammyb Announced this time last year for 2018, which will be over in less than 3 months, and I can't find a release date for it anywhere besides 2018. And the most recent Google listing is your article from mid-August when Sony released a video, about 2 months ago, so it doesn't seem very 2018 to me.
@The_Great_WmR As far as I know they're just tech support, right? If there's any concrete info out there about what they do then I'll be happy to add them in, but not sure they even have a logo.
@rjejr Why in such a hurry for games to come out?
i wish PlayStation buys quantic dreams.imsomniac games.snk. and vanillaware.wow.i ❤ve me some metal slugs.word up son
@Kidfried I hate the term VR "Experiences" especially when last week they released one of the best VR games and one of the best games this year, with 90 metacritic score, ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission.
But for sure, they definitely have bigger unannounced non-VR projects but it's probably already for next-gen.
@adf86 Why say something that isn't true?
It's not about being in a hurry, it's about being left out in the cold wondering if a game is coming out or not when they said it was, and if it is, why don't they give a date, and if it isn't, why not say so?
If you didn't own a Wii U you wouldn't understand. Wii U had 2 types of games, those that got canceled, and those that got delayed. I'm still in recovery mode.
I thought Insomniac was a Sony studio or Sony affiliated studio though
@Ypmud They're friends with benefits.
@rjejr I don't think Media Molecule left us in the cold. They kept confirming a beta will still come this year. Only if they don't deliver on that, then you could argue as much.
@rjeji The PS4 isn't the Wii U though, Sony won't put out release dates till they know they can hit that date due to the amount of criticism they got for delaying them. As for lack of information it's probably just down to Sony not having much to show or tell right now while the developers get their heads down hence no PSX.
Oh they are FWB lol ok
Ghost of Tsushima is about it for me. Hopefully it's open and exploratory. Visually, it's very much on point.
@get2sammyb Love a list like this! I do think the logos are a bit big though, they seem to take up a lot of space, so you have to scroll quite a lot.
@Octane Cool okay, might change the pictures later then.
I'm interested to find out what Japan Studio is working on, because it's usually something new and different. Maybe they're also helping out with Ueda and his new game, just like with TLG...
@Kidfried I think @rjejr is talking about Concrete Genie, which was revealed last year with a ''2018'' release window, but I don't think it was at E3 this year.
@Octane It was announced less than a year ago and at E3 (playable even) with devs reinforcing the 2018 release. It's clearly an indie title, so the date can be announced pretty close to release. Sure, I have my doubts if it's going to make it, but I think "leaving in the cold" is way too harsh (that's more what Nintendo did with Metroid Switch or Ueda with The Last Guardian).
Great article and I hope Insomniac will join the Dream Team someday. ^^
@Kidfried Those weren't my words
I think it's fine, a delay can happen. I wonder if they'll tell us though. I don't expect it this year, the holiday period is usually way too busy for a game like Concrete Genie. But then we've seen a busy Q1 this year, and a packed September, so it seems like it's never a good time to release a game
Less than I was expecting. I guess they provide support to and fund many of our exclusive games rather than developing them developing them in house.
Now this is a list of exclusives I want to hear about: type 1 exclusivity.
@Kidfried What @Octane said, I was referring to Concrete Genie being very quiet since August and it's due out this year, which has less than 3 months left. mM hasn't shut about up Dreams, they've been promising up a beta for the past 3 years now.
@get2sammyb Article is definitely incomplete. None of the above are listed as working on Knack 3.
@RogerRoger Haha! Well, let's hope they're all secretly working on Knack sequels.
@get2sammyb Hope... or fear.
Yeah, I'm going with fear.
Oh Knack 3 YES PLEASE
Unlike the naysayers above I like Knack its lots of fun.
Wondering if/when Quantic Dream will become 1st party. Of all the 2nd Party studios they would make the most sense. Too bad Ready at Dawn fumbled The Order 1886 otherwise I think Sony would have bought them.
@get2sammyb Can you add SIE China Hero Project (China Ex Dev)? They are a Sony external development arm that helps develop chinese PS4 exclusives. Currently helping develop Monkey King, Lost Soul Aside and a few others.
@Sang-II I completely forgot about Monkey King! Thanks!
We can add China Hero Project potentially. I’m still not sure whether to add partners like Kojima Productions or not. Hmmm. 🤔
@get2sammyb You could always make two articles linking to each other
so sie san diego developer of mlb the show franchise is the same as the newly formed studio in san diego that is rumored working on a new uncharted?
@3Above I too would love Sony to acquire Quantic Dream. Really like their unique cinematic games.
@get2sammyb Maybe a section for ''other Sony games'' made by external companies? Like Death Stranding, Spider-Man, Detroit, etc.
I think they could buy 2-3 studios. Especially they have very good conditions - PS4 sells great. Their games sells great, too.
Insomniac, Quantic Dream, From Software (dream ), Remedy, Ready At Dawn or some small like Supergiant Games, Housemarque and expand them.
Few weeks ago,I saw video on yt with same name,but from other creator.funny
Supermassive needs to be a first party studio. 😉
Updated with Insomniac!
I think Sony are buying Remedy. There's far too many complimentary tweets sent by Sony's other studios to point where you'd think they were already were a 1st party studio already. Though I think Sony will hold off till MS's XO event so they can steal there thunder.
Ah, that yellow diamond logo! Startup memories of the PSOne right there, brings a year to an old man's eye!
The countless hours lost on the PSOne playing games like Spyro the Dragon, Metal Gear Solid, MediEvil, Tomb Raider and the like is why I hope PlayStation will continue to be a thing for as long as I live.
@whywai88
I love Quantic Dream and their games but given what happened between Sony and David Cage is an acquisition possible at this point?
Of course I'd like to hope but I don't know if there's any bad blood between them now. I don't know the full details on what happened so don't know if that close relationship is repairable.
@AdamNovice. I agree with you.and control is doing really good.people loves the game.word ☝ up son
@PS_Nation "Great article and I hope Insomniac will join the Dream Team someday"
Fancy wishing that I win the lottery too?
@Quintumply San Diego Studio's Logo has changed...
@parvaz1 You're quite right! I've updated the image.
Still working on MLB The Show 19 instead of MLB The Show 20? That is dedication
SIE Bend Studio should be working on a new entry of Spyhon Filter instead of wasting there tailents on Days Gone.
Excited for Spider-man 2.
Sony needs MOAR studios! ;-/
Whilst ND is working on The Last of Us, the Uncharted team is surely working on something as well, right?
Sony studios need to branch out...
Santa Monica, Polyphony Digital, San Diego and London Studio need to step out of their comfort zones...
And Japan Studio should be expanded and given unlimited freedom...
The quirkiness of their titles is second to none...
Anyone remember Folklore? Loved that game! Never even sniffed a sequel though. Also, Dark Cloud 3 and yes I say that every thread. Been saying it for the past 15 years.
North America could almost be changed to California when you look at all those studio locations.
This article made me love pushsquare and never left the site after that. Time for a little update, right? ^^
@magnvon It has finally happened!
I still lament the closure of Psygnosis/Sony Studio Liverpool..
@get2sammyb don't know if anyone else has raised this, but the studio rumoured to be working on an Uncharted game is actually a separate studio to Studio San Diego. They're both in San Diego, but I believe have completely different management structures and even different premises. Also I thought SIE Manchester had been closed.
@SirAngry I totally forgot that Manchester studio closed! I've removed it from the article.
Sony need to expand their portfolio.Especially with a developer who can create RPGs on the same creativity level of Bethesda & Obsidian.
@get2sammyb santa monica has also been rumored to be working on playstation all stars 2. And london studio often makes games for new tech so its pretty safe to assume its gonna be a psvr2 title
Didn’t know there was a new Arc the Lad and Wild Arms!
I’m presuming, as the dev is one by Sony, these are actual games rather than mobile phone rubbish(?)
@get2sammyb excited to see what Sony's studios brings us this coming gen 🙂
😶-I keep beating this Drum, but Sony needs to buy CDPR to counter MS buying up ZeniMax Media with Bethesda and other studios that make Western Style RPG's!
😄-As much as I love Sony's current Software Developing Studios, thay desperately need to fill the void left by Microsoft's purchase of ZeniMax Media and CD Project Red developers are extremely talented and would easily be a good fit and smart counter to Microsoft's purchase of ZeniMax Media.
@RicksReflection you have any idea how higly valued CDPR is valued at? It has a market cap of 10.77 billion! Even if they were open to a non-hostile takeover, Sony can't afford them.
Lucky for all, they don't seem in any interest of selling off, because the only ones with the money to buy them are Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Tencent.
I sometimes forget how impressive it has been that Sony developed many of these studios.
I wonder if this list will grow as a result of MS’s purchase of Bethesda...?
Good thing about Sony is they seem to know how to manage studios well. MS have yet to prove that imo...
Does Sony have any AAA epic massive openworld RPGs(not rpg-lite's like HZD) in the works? I was expecting several at launch and we got none. I can't find any on this list so this is making me rather sad.
Such a strong stable of developers and IPs. I couldnt care less about the competition (Xbox) who 'promise' great games that never arrive, or try to blindside with 'Gamepass' filler mediocrity for the most part.
Would really love them to make a few small and large acquisitions to add to this team and diversify their line up. I think Hello Game, Techland & Asobo would all be great pick ups for them and could be a great answer to Microsoft picking up Obsidian and now Bethesda. I think Bluepoint and Housemarque should be considered no brainers. Kojima, Capcom, or Konami are probably all pipe dreams but would be huge to have any of those IP’s under Sony’s control. Honorable mentions I also think would be good fits are Sumo Digital, Endnight, Mediatonic, Unknown Worlds, Drinkbox, Frogwares, & Frictional
@SirAngry Actually, they aren't a separate studio. San Diego Studio has another team within, that is apparently working another Uncharted game. While they are a separate team, they are housed within the same studio. Even Guerilla Games, Naughty Dog or Japan Studio for example, have more than one team.
@BamBamBaklava89 Well they don't have to buy up studios just for IPs. In terms of Konami, they could potentially just purchase exclusive licenses for their properties such as Silent Hill, MGS , Castlevania, etc. I think the best studios that fit their World Wide Studio family are Housemarque, BluePoint and perhaps Hello Games. Techland doesn't seem to fit into that mold personally speaking. Sumo Digital is probably unlikely, but they do have a handful of subsidiaries under their umbrella, so I guess that would depend on price and value in general. I see Sony acquiring a few more studios in the not so distant future, but their more likely to expand their current studios, which is already happening.
@InsertUsername oh I know Sony studios have multiple teams, but I'd heard for m a friend at San Diego they weren't actually attached to San Diego studio... and I thought he'd know being as though he works there.
Y'all talking about studios, I'm still pining for a new Getaway game 😔
@SirAngry I'm going by what is known about this new team being gathered for a rumored Uncharted game. I guess everything will be cleared up eventually when this new game is revealed.
Yeah, if it is an Uncharted game. I assume it is given the people that are being moved over to the team. So y have been growing their studios ever so quietly over the past 3 years. They've been gearing up for PS5, so I guess that's all about to start bearing fruit soon if it all come to plan.
Sony REALLY needs to invest on japanese studios ASAP, way too much is centered around USA.
The new development team is based in the SAN Diego Visual Arts Studio, who are a support team for most first party games. They specialise in things like motion capture.
I do not believe the SAN Diego team that develops the MLB games are based in that same studio or in any way connected.
@Makina I feel like Sony coasted on the fact that Japanese devs only really had one console maker to go to for HD quality games for most of this gen, and that's just not going to be true for next gen with sales of the Switch exploding worldwide and Microsoft making a concerted effort to attract Japanese developers again.
Looking forwards to some interesting new IPs this coming generation.
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