PlayStation’s response to the pandemic has worked to some success. While the parent company Sony still finds challenges in getting more supply of their next-gen system or by installing irreplaceable experiences. For a long time, Sony has been moving its studios around to better suit their continuous focus on modern triple-A single-player experiences. Bend Studio experimented with this concept, and the project later became Days Gone that released in 2019 to middling success. The title was well-received, but player reception was poor despite featuring fun driving mechanics and an interesting campaign that showcased zombie hordes well. Despite this, it seems that some executives at Sony also lacked confidence in the project’s future endeavors. According to a new Bloomberg report discussing Sony’s first-party future, it was revealed that Bend Studio tried to make a Days Gone Sequel, but Sony ultimately rejected their idea.
NEW: In 2018, a small team of PlayStation developers tried to build their own studio to remake The Last of Us. Today, the game still exists but the studio doesn’t. As we enter the PS5 era, Sony is avoiding risk and prioritizing its biggest teams. My story: https://t.co/c5gw8WuMVy
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) April 9, 2021
While journalist Jason Schreier discusses some of Sony’s biggest publishers’ inner workings, despite this, Sony’s studios have been taking a turn towards more exclusive blockbusters by small teams. Looking to move around their assets in the current gaming space, Schreier reports that a Last of Us Remake is being made. Some developers at Bend Studio were repurposed to work on this remake and the rumored upcoming Uncharted title.
As this reasonably upset some of the long-term staff and coworkers of the moved developer, many staff did end up leaving Bend Studio. While Days Gone might be an unfortunate causality from all this, it does allow for more freedom in the company. Now the developer shifts gears, the team is noticeably smaller, focusing on a different project. While it’s unknown what the project is that Bend Studio is working on, the remaining team brings newer first part experiences to the PS5.
