Rumours have been flying around about new acquisitions for PlayStation for a while now, including the potential purchase of Kojima Productions. Hideo Kojima's independent studio developed Death Stranding, a PlayStation console exclusive on PS4 and, with the Director's Cut, PS5 as well. Fast-forward to now, and an updated image on PlayStation's website is causing even more of a stink.
The PlayStation Studios banner, which features many notable first-party games, has been updated in a few places. This includes the appearance of Death Stranding — the only title in the image not developed by a subsidiary studio of Sony Interactive Entertainment. It replaces Concrete Genie on the far left of the image. Understandably, some fans are coming to the conclusion that this means the acquisition of Kojima Productions will be announced imminently, bringing the developer under Sony's exclusive umbrella.
The truth is probably much less interesting. Death Stranding was published on PS5 and PS4 by Sony via its PlayStation Studios branding. This label was also used for Sackboy: A Big Adventure, developed by Sumo Digital, and Returnal, developed by Housemarque. The former team is not owned by Sony, and while Housemarque is now part of the first-party family, it wasn't when Returnal launched. In other words, the platform holder is using PlayStation Studios with more than just the games created by its wholly-owned developers. Death Stranding has probably ended up on the banner because it's a high profile, recognisable game associated with the brand.
We're not going to rule out the possibility that something bigger is cooking, but on the face of it, this doesn't seem like it's hinting at anything. We'd be far more convinced if the updated banner was quickly removed after having been spotted.
Anyway, what do you think? Do you agree this is nothing to get excited about, or does the game's inclusion on the banner mean it's acquisition time? Discuss in the comments section below.
[source playstation.com, via resetera.com]
Comments 38
Sackboy was also on the banner at one point.. so don't think this means much.
Metal Gear Next 🙏🏻
There's also speculation that they are closing a studio, initially it was touted as Media Molecule but now people are going with Pixel Opus because their game Concrete Genie used to occupy the space on the banner that Death Stranding now does.
To be clear this is all rumour and speculation and the sort of 2+2=5 logic I expect on the internet. It's all confirmation bias and people reading into it whatever they want to hear.
They don't own sumo but do own the IP. So it's either the IP or studio....
@themightyant hope they don't, enjoyed concrete genie and entwined.
Concrete Genie > Death Stranding
I don't like this change
@PCPS4XB @lolwhatno Me too. We need more games like Concrete Genie and Dreams
@themightyant Pixel Opus are collaborating with Sony Pictures Animation on a new game. Most likely Sly Cooper. Its definitely not being shuttered
Naaaah mate, the deal is sealed!
Sony buying Kojima production really make sense. I mean how is Kojima just gonna move his small independent studio with only one game under its belt into a new building out of the blue someone has to be funding that.
Sony at least make a kids table banner for all your red headed step-ip’s because Concrete Genie deserves more hugs & kisses!
It can be argued that Sony owns Nioh, Journey and Detroit as well. It's a known fact that Sony dollars funded each of these games, but they've never made the leap to Xbox or Switch, just like Death Stranding. I'm not privy to the wording of the contract between Sony and these developers, but I imagine there's going to be something in there that favours Sony.
@SlySnake0407 you could say the same about Bungie but they were happy to join sony. I think it all depends on whether Sony will be 100% committed to supporting Kojima's creative vision.
RIP Concrete Genie
Kojima Productions + Konami acquisition = Silent Hills resurrection.
Just putting it out there 👀.
Can someone share the link to a site with the new banner because I can't seem to find one? Some countries' PS Studios pages have been updated with a new design and smaller banner, while others still have the old design and old banner. Can't find this new one.
@DominusPlatypus https://www.playstation.com/en-us/corporate/playstation-studios/ but the image may be cropped if you’re viewing on a PC
@themightyant We need Media Molecule to get their fingers out of their Dreams and give us The Little Big Planet Collection (1&2) remaster.
Honestly, as a lot of these legacy devs come closer to retirement age, it makes more sense that they sell off their studo to a big player for stock options in the parent company.
If they just passed their studio on to someone else, they could run that studio in to the ground and your investment and hard work is just gone. Sell it to a platform holder and even if your studio closes, you still have a thriving investment.
I'd imagine this is why we've seen so many big independent companies embrace first party life.
@SlySnake0407 If Sony bought his studio i expect it will be under the condition he gets the freedom he got with Death Stranding.
@themightyant I don't think they will just shut down a studio unless they are losing money.
Sony should have bought Ember Lab by now, surely?
@SlySnake0407 I think the Bungie Acquisition signals a new option for acquiring studios/developers and Sony could keep Sega or Square Enix multiplatform after an acquisition.
@themightyant Well I heard Kojima moved to a studio next to Sony Japan HQ (doubt DS made enough for him to do that independently), Jeff and Greg mentioned a big acquisition (Kojima is pretty big and famous) and now this. Jim said expected more too.
I don't think it's that bias tho.
@nookie_egg Pixel Opus could close and nobody would lose an eye. Media Molecule at least has potential. They released a 96 something game, right? Well they're almost around the 90s.
Shame Sony hasn't used that creativity in a mass appeal way.
Concrete Genie is a ps plus fodder.
Have a nice day guys!
@Apfelschteiner I don't yet see why they have to
Good God I hope they don't sign on Kojima. Jesus the last thing we need is a gaming diva. Fire Sony mgmt first. Work on getting some game industry centric leadership.
Is this when we find out the true form of Abandoned?
@uptownsoul Do Sony own the Death Stranding IP? Cause that would be strange if they owned the rights, but 505 Games handles PC publishing when Sony has a publishing label for PC.
@uptownsoul I can't speak remember anything from 2015. As the only thing I remember from then is that it was originally announced for PC at the original announcement. So I always figured that Sony just owned right to the console version, and not the entire IP.
@RevGaming Good for everyone else I guess?
I personally liked what they'd released.
I never even compared them to MM, MM are fine too.
@uptownsoul That strange when Sony had no issues publishing Everybody's Gone to the Rapture and HellDrivers. They even published Predator: Hunting Grounds for PC. Them pushing off the publishing to someone else kinda back up that rumor of them not being to happy with the overall sale of the game, so they was quick to wipe their hands of it.
I would have preferred they left the Concrete Genie banner in. That was a game I finished and thoroughly enjoyed, whereas Death Stranding I abandoned and have little desire to go back to. I understand in general it has sold more and has left a mark in more people's minds, but it's very much not to my liking.
It makes for a good story, but i still dont think it will happen. I think Kojima is enjoying his independence.
As for whether it makes sense? I mean, it kind of does, truth be told. Kojima has a long history with Playstation, but more importantly, he is on record as having a wider interest than gaming.
Sony's presence in the film industry would give him a platform to produce the movies he has talked about making for years now.
Will be fascinating to see how it plays out.
As for the talk about buying Konami, i still dont see that as likely. Konami make too much from licensing out their properties for non gaming ventures - and the company is broader than gaming. I can still see an agreement where they licence out IP to Sony however.
Concrete Genie is much better than Death Stranding imo, maybe my opinion will change after I beat DS.
Strange how they have days gone in the banner like it's important to them but have already killed the series off?
@InvaderJim pitch for Days gone 2 wasnt good enough.
Who says we cant get a sequel later if Bend have a better idea what Days gone 2 will be.
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