Sony Shuts Down Demon’s Souls, Shadow of the Colossus Remake Studio
▼ Summary
– Sony is shutting down Bluepoint Games, the PlayStation studio known for acclaimed remakes like *Shadow of the Colossus*, in March following a business review.
– Approximately 70 employees will be laid off as part of the studio’s closure.
– Sony acquired Bluepoint in 2021 after its success with remasters, but later shifted its focus to projects like co-developing *God of War: Ragnarok*.
– The studio was developing a live-service *God of War* game, but Sony canceled that project in January.
– Bluepoint is the latest in a series of PlayStation studio closures and layoffs, following similar actions at Firewalk Studios, Neon Koi, and Bungie in recent years.
Sony has made the difficult decision to close Bluepoint Games, the acclaimed studio responsible for highly praised remakes such as Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls. This move, reported by Bloomberg, follows a recent internal business review and will result in approximately 70 employees losing their jobs, with the studio scheduled to cease operations in March. A company spokesperson acknowledged the team’s significant contributions, stating, “Bluepoint Games is an incredibly talented team and their technical expertise has delivered exceptional experiences for the PlayStation community. We thank them for their passion, creativity and craftsmanship.”
The acquisition of Bluepoint by Sony in 2021 came after the studio built a formidable reputation through its meticulous work on beloved PlayStation titles. Their portfolio included celebrated remasters for series like Uncharted and Gravity Rush. However, the strategic direction for the studio shifted following the purchase. Instead of focusing solely on the remakes and remasters that defined its success, Bluepoint was tasked with new co-development projects. This included work on the major 2022 release God of War: Ragnarok and, subsequently, a now-canceled live-service God of War title that was axed by Sony earlier this year.
This closure places Bluepoint among several PlayStation studios that have faced major restructuring in recent times. The gaming giant shut down Firewalk Studios in 2024 not long after the poor reception of its live-service game, Concord. That same period saw the closure of mobile developer Neon Koi. Furthermore, 2024 witnessed significant layoffs at Bungie, with 220 staff members cut and others integrated into Sony Interactive Entertainment, highlighting a broader period of consolidation and strategic reevaluation across Sony’s gaming divisions.
(Source: The Verge)
