Sony XDEV, originally, was the Liverpool-based first-party business unit responsible for overseeing first-party projects developed by external European studios. Examples in the past have included games like Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human and Sumo Digital’s Sackboy: A Big Adventure. However, we noticed last year that the team was hiring for positions in Japan, and that it was now described as a “global” operation.
And we may be seeing evidence of its new remit with the announcement of Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin, which is being published by Sony and is being overseen by XDEV. “Privileged to work on an exciting title as Rise of the Ronin with Yasuda-san of Team Ninja Studio, [producer] Masaaki Yamagiwa, and our Sony XDEV JP team,” wrote veteran Jason Stewart on Twitter.
Up until its closure last year, Japan Studio handled all of Sony’s domestic external projects, and was arguably best known for its collaborations with developers like Clap Hanz on series such as Everybody’s Golf. The good news is that, rather than give up on the sector entirely, it’s now clear that XDEV has pivoted to fill that space. What this ultimately means is that we should still expect great PlayStation partnerships to emerge out of Japan, like we arguably always have.
[source twitter.com, via resetera.com]
Comments 27
Right, I was already excited for this game but that's just gone up a notch to Spinal Tap level 11!
This game has come out of nowhere and it's all I've been thinking about since they revealed it. Loved the Wo Long demo over the weekend too.
Everyone focuses on the negative these days, but PlayStation have played a blinder behind the scenes with the restructuring they've been doing over the last year or two.
Evolve or die as they say.
Forget them, what is London Studio cooking? Could be their new IP getting unveiled in a few weeks
This game is gonna be insane Ninja Gaiden 3 and DOA 6 are the only misfires I can think of when it comes to Team Ninja they're one of my favourite developers ever I'm so stoked for this.
(Also the Wo Long demo was AWESOME!!)
@theMEGAniggle They're working on a multiplayer game is all we know.
This definitely makes me more hopeful that the final game will be high quality.
This sounds promising as Team Ninja's latest output wasn't exactly super impressive on the tech side of things and XDEV pretty much guarantees quality in that regard.
The less globalisation that takes place with Sony the better, especially an originally European business team assisting Japanese developers. We have seen over the last 6 years the devastating impact this type of thing has had on the amount and type of Japanese output. Leave Japanese devs alone as you did pre 2016 please!
@get2sammyb
hand rubbing intensifies
@Shepherd_Tallon over the weekend I saw your pic in Left Behind lol
Is Team Ninja independent? I wonder for how long.
@Beerheadgamer82 Poor old Winston getting recognised finally 😂
I recall seeing this article: https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2021/05/sony_xdev_recruiting_producers_for_aaa_ps5_ps4_games_in_japan_and_asia which implies that when Xdev expanded, they took a number of Japan Studio staff. They probably let the creators go, but the programmers, the artists and so on probably still stuck around.
We're talking only a couple years ago that Japan Studio was closed, which isn't enough time to create a great big AAA game, so this just happens to be what Xdev is cooking in their absence.
Also, if Sony are directly involved in the making of this game, it's likely to be a Sony IP and therefore a console exclusive. See also: Nioh, Journey, Detroit.
As much as it was disappointing that japan studio was closed, but the reality was that most of their games wasn't that successful, apart from the collaboration with games like bloodbourn and Damon souls etc. And it sounds like a lot of the staff will still be there but just as part of the Japanese division of xdev. There was probably too many chefs in the kitchen at the previous japan studio anyway 🤔
People will still probably say Sony just threw money at them to make the game exclusive lmao
I’m glad Sony still care about Japanese/Asian games this one of the reasons I prefer PlayStation over Xbox.
@TurboTom There is an argument that Bluepoint did basically everything with Demon's Souls and the Shadow Of The Colossus remake. But you're completely right. Japan Studio released LocoRoco, Medievil, Patapon and more during the lifetime of the PS4. People simply just weren't interested. The games they've released on Plus as classics, such as Echochrome and Kurushi are Japan Studio games. The reaction is worse than negative. So for all the posturing that people have about Sony not supporting Japanese games and studios, the simple fact is that it's really just that. People never gave a damn about their games.
Nice to know XDEV is filling in Japan Studios' shoes.
N.i.c.e. this game will be a masterpiece.word up son
Sony should buy team ninja.they are a really good developer.i l💖ve theyre games.especially nioh 2 with all the dlcs and season pass.word up son
@playstation1995 Honestly them getting Tecmo would be awesome I mean Ninja Gaiden, DOA, Ni-Oh, Wo Long, this and my joint favourite game series Fatal Frame but they've gotta convince them and Koei to get a divorce 😅
@Keyblade-Dan. I agree 😄.are you still playing nioh 2 like i am.cant wait to try the dlcs.word up son
Gotta start it yet I've just been enjoying the Wo Long demo 😅
@BeerIsAwesome
Yeah that is the point I was trying to get across that people didn't buy the games but now complaining that the studio is no more lol. I never played many games from Japan studio myself to be honest, I was hoping they would remake ape escape as it was rumoured years ago if I remember right.
@TurboTom I rarely played any myself. Although weirdly people have played a surprising amount, as their name is (according to Wiki) attached to games like Bloodborne, Tokyo Jungle, White Knight Chronicles and the true greatest game of all time - Knack. Although now I don't know if that proves your point even further!
I have yet to beat any of their games, but have always been mesmerized by their quality and in-depth story and gameplay.
Here's hoping Rise of the Ronin is easier on me.
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