London Studio has, in recent years, been Sony’s premiere virtual reality team – but it looks like it’s temporarily stepping away from the technology, if job listings are to be believed. There’s no mention of PSVR at all in its open positions, but instead there are multiple references to a “brand new, next-gen IP” in development for PlayStation 5.
Roles include the likes of artists, graphics programmers, and animators – but there are also a couple of references to multiplayer. “We are really excited to open this hire for an experienced Online Gameplay Designer because it’s a role of crucial importance to the new PS5 project we are working on at London Studio,” one listing reads.
The post also explains that “as a first-party studio, we set out to produce games which show the exciting potential of the latest PlayStation hardware, so it’s important you are up for experimenting and working in uncharted design territory”. That sounds like exciting stuff to us – we wonder what the team’s got cooking.
There’s been a lot of talk this week about Sony focusing solely on blockbusters, but here’s a hint that one of its flagship teams has something original in the works. Having worked on lower profile titles like EyePet and SingStar in the past, we doubt anyone would argue against the UK team tackling a larger-scale project.
[source playstationlondonstudio.com, via playstationlondonstudio.com]
Comments (38)
The Getaway!
I'd prefer a brand new IP, but a reboot of The Getaway, complete with multiplayer would be an absolutely huge hit in today's GTA dominated world. But I think it'll be a new IP because Sony have already stated that they don't want to steal any market share from any existing dominators with their whole "First, best, must" philosophy.
Very exciting nonetheless.
While this is news that sounds good, I’m completely aghast after reading the full Bloomberg article. It seems to fly in the face of the “organically grow” mantra Sony has been feeding us these past few years. Instead, it paints a picture of a risk averse corporation unwilling to support creative designs. Frankly, I find it quite scary for PlayStation’s future.
The getaway .come on make it happen sony.that will be a huge boost to selling even more ps5.word up son
@JaysonWayne3121 i would love this
Aren't they working on The Last of the Uncharted?
No interest in online multiplayer games, as it’s all too often an excuse for small repetitive sandboxes which quickly bore me. I think they require friends to game with and to act as a place to simply hang out, which as you get older becomes increasingly difficult.
Still, if it’s where the money is Sony needs to release their fair share of them I guess.
I can’t be excited by it though.
@lacerz I understand your concerns. The industry has grown the costs have grown with it. 9 out 10 pitches are always rejected. Check out Cory Barlogs talk about getting GOW 2018 made @GDC. This notion that Sony was previously handing out funding left, right and centre to anyone that requested and now they only fund sure things is hyperbolic. Triple A budgets are in the tens and sometimes hundreds of millions. We are 5 months in to this gen and people are calling disaster already. Sound business decisions are made at Sony, Xbox and Nintendo alike that's the industry not for the GAMERS for the Profit. The Bloomberg piece was interesting but also written in a manner to communicate "negativity" against the big corps, Jason has an agenda to look out for the little guys.
@Alan_cartridge_
I certainly agree with you on the increased costs, but I think you hit on a key point to the issue...we are five months in to this gen, and the roadmap for PlayStation's future is still unclear. I think the lack of communication is playing a major issue here. Sony is letting others control the narrative. That is always bad form.
@lacerz Yet PlayStation has continued to cultivate creativity and industry leading new IP irl.
U can get all excited about rumors and insider reports, but in reality, PlayStation is the one delivering innovation and great new IP. Have they not proven that this last generation? Every company makes tough decisions and games we want get cancelled or never receive sequels. In fact, I blame the idiots in the media and the moron trolls as much, if not more, than I do Sony for Days Gone 2 not being greenlit. Days Gone is not deserving of a 70 Meta, it was not a buggy mess, and it wasn't garbage as most XB fans insist. The game deserved high 70s at least. Probably around 78-80, which would've absolutely altered the perception and boosted sales/word of mouth, making a sequel more feasible. Blame the culture of the industry.
And I love these Sony remakes and remasters. Demon's Souls, Shadow/Colossus, Medievil, Wipeout, Uncharted Collection, etc. They're great, they aren't resource heavy to develop, and open these IP to new audiences. I'll enjoy Last of Us Remake, it's been eight years since the original and it'll pair well with the HBO series.
And touching on Sony and new IP/creativity. Last gen we saw Horizon, Ghost of Tsushima, Spiderman, Bloodborne, Dreams, Concrete Genie, VR, Death Stranding, Detroit, Days Gone, RESOGUN, Helldivers, and more. So far this gen we have Sackboy, Destruction All-Stars, and Returnal as far as new IP, already. How is Xbox doing in that category? What were their best new IP last gen?
Ppl need to stop with the PR and rumors and look around. PlayStation is bombarding us with great new games and new IP. They are the only console provider legitimately supporting VR as well. Dreams, Tsushima, and Concrete Genie all launched at the tail end of the generation. These are interesting and quality new IP. PSVR2 was already announced. Don't be blinded by the propaganda, look around at real life. Look at results.
@lacerz We're almost six months into the generation and the anticipated games lineup couldn't be more impressive over the first couple years. The launch lineup was excellent and games like Returnal, Ratchet, Horizon, Kena, Deathloop, and Ghostwire are still scheduled for this year. Next year has killers like God of War, Gran Turismo, Project Athia, and FFXVI expected.
PSVR2 was announced. Sony has reaffirmed their commitment to VR and given us a soft window of when to expect next gen's iteration while continuing to support the platform with releases such as Hitman 3, Doom 3, After the Fall, and more.
Sony continues to support PS+ with phenomenal content as their primary service. At the same time they are growing PSNow and providing value with that service. Services are certainly part of PlayStation's ecosystem, but they aren't the entirety of it. Sony has made it very clear that they will continue to grow their services but unlike Xbox it will not takeover as their primary business model overnight. They are continuing to support industry leading exclusives with clean releases while providing secondary services. VR is very much in their future as well, obviously. They laid out most of the games to expect from 2020-2022 before PS5 even launched. How much more transparent can they be?
Just because some rumored dirty laundry gets aired doesn't take away from the results which they have delivered. And oh by the way, the PS5 was said to be underpowered and a shell of the performance potential as Series X. If anything, PS5 might be outperforming SX, and certainly outperforming expectations. DUALSENSE has also proven the doubters wrong and been an enormous success. PS5 is dominating in sales and demand while providing new games and innovation. I'm not sure why ppl care so much about the nonsense PR when the actual product irl is exceptional. Yes, the JP Studios situation was unfortunate and I did want a Days Gone sequel, but that's the nature of the business. It doesn't dismantle everything good. And the good far outweighs the bad.
@lacerz I agree 100% on the comms issue mate.
@playstation1995 I agree, Word up son.
@iamtylerdurden1
Absolutely spot on. It's nice to see there are others who see through the nonsensical propaganda.
@Alan_cartridge_
Completely agree. Kiss my face!
News about new games coming from Sony. 17 comments in. Sorry, not sorry if this reads like I’m trolling.
New IP coming to PS5. Thought I'd see what people thought of that in the comments as this type of news is always exciting and I'm genuinely interested in what people think.
Every article seems to breeding the same comments over and over. Doom and gloom, Sony are worrying us and just negative stuff in general. Some people seriously need to take their head for a wobble.
This is meant to be a good thing but naysayers will have their way. I finished God of War for the first time and I loved it. If I get more IP's like this then I have nothing to worry about. Everyone churns the same stuff out each year anyway. How many people are complaining about another Halo or another Mario game? Nobody...
Cue the stonethrowers
@lacerz if that report had any substance, MM would be long gone after how Dreams has performed, how few games they have released and how badly they've done (e.g. Tearaway)
@iamtylerdurden1 very well said. Finally someone who doesn't blindly believe everything they read. Actions speak louder than rumours and reports from "inside sources".
Nah it isn't negative news enough. Like others commented let's just bury this and move on to the next fake outrage stirring because that's what we want from PlayStation, right?
🤖
The Getaway please
@Alan_cartridge_ Yup, loved his first book and his articles on Kotaku but I really got tired of his crap lately.
@Matej I was on the bandwagon for a long time mate, he's a great journalist in terms of the scoops he lands. As a person most other games reporters comment he's incredibly toxic. He's obviously pursuing this "save the little guy" agenda. His articles are full of interesting views from developers etc but he always speaks of corporations in a cold factual way. He never provides any characterisation to the other people that make up that "corp". It's always the little guy vs the monster corp. Which we all know is somewhat true but not the whole story.
Can't wait for them to be unceramoniously shut down like all other PS UK studios.
@Alan_cartridge_ I followed him on twitter for gaming news but his personal tweets are really not my cup of tea (he thinks how funny he is). Pair that with what you already wrote and some not so stellar reports, unfollowed him few days ago. Also Bloomberg's subscription is ridiculously expensive.
@lacerz I think Sony's roadmap has been pretty clear. Cancel first party studios in Japan, close down old online servers. They are cost-cutting, right now. New stuff will happen after they are done with whatever they are doing at this phase.
"Can't innovate anymore, my ass"
@BloodNinja
Cost cutting may be the focus, but cancelling first party studios and closing servers only present negative images, and Sony isn't offering anything positive to offset the negative connotations. These may very well be legitimate measures that will improve our PlayStation experience...but if that's the case, Sony isn't telling us that. They aren't telling us anything. And before we get into the "Sony doesn't owe us..." diatribe, Sony is a publicly traded company with shareholders that invest real money into them. They have a legal (Securities and Exchange Commission - SEC) obligation to keep the shareholders informed.
@lacerz Actions speak louder than words. While Sony isn't talking much, they are saying a lot with their recent actions. I'm not saying what they are doing is positive. I'm answering your question. You said they aren't telling us anything. I'm saying they are telling us everything, with their actions instead of words. And if you are concerned about shareholder information, I found that in 3 seconds:
https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/
@naruball
Time will tell...if Sony lets MM or Pixelopus go, then we'll have a better understanding of PlayStation's trajectory. Bigbig, 989, Incognito, Zipper Interactive, Team Soho, and Evolution all were shuttered. SOCOM, Syphon Filter, Twisted Metal, Motorstorm and DriveClub were some of the casualties.
Nice... That is it Sony, make more Digital Arts jobs in the UK.
You should want to land at a team working on a "Blockbuster" that will make your career.
The difference in comments in this article and the one published a few hours later are funny.
"Sony getting into mobile? NO! Make more console games!"
Here they are.
Oh man i really hope It's the Getaway 3!
@naruball Thanks brother. I think for myself and often I am a one man band without support, but I will never come off my beliefs regardless how strong the propaganda is. My PSN is the same name iamtylerdurden1. Add me, I need like minded ppl on my team.
@BloodNinja they absolutely are telling us a lot what their actions. All they do is continue to deliver quality products over and over again for a decade straight.
@Nem Media Molecule alive and well.
@JaysonWayne3121 Thank you. Add me on PSN iamtylerdurden1. I need all the like minded ppl I can get.
@iamtylerdurden1
Sent (HouseQuake)
@iamtylerdurden1 Quality? You haven’t heard of the CMOS issues, have you? Might want to look into that; lest you like have consoles that brick.
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