Sony Has Established a New AAA PlayStation Studio

Sony's Secret Los Angeles Studio: A New AAA IP in the Works

Sony Interactive Entertainment has quietly established a new, unannounced AAA game studio in Los Angeles, California. This marks their 20th first-party studio and adds another significant player to PlayStation's already impressive development lineup. The studio's current focus is on a highly anticipated, original AAA title destined for the PS5.

The news emerged via a recent job posting for a Project Senior Producer, explicitly mentioning a newly-formed AAA studio in Los Angeles. This naturally fuels speculation amongst fans eager for updates on upcoming PlayStation titles from established giants like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games. Sony's recent acquisitions of Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite further highlight their commitment to expanding their first-party development capabilities.

Several theories attempt to identify the personnel behind this mystery studio. One possibility involves a Bungie spin-off team. Following Bungie layoffs in July 2024, 155 employees transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment, potentially forming the core of this new venture. This team's involvement in Bungie's "Gummybears" incubation project remains a compelling, though unconfirmed, theory.

Another strong contender is the team led by industry veteran Jason Blundell, formerly of Deviation Games. Blundell, a prominent figure in the Call of Duty franchise, co-founded Deviation Games, which was developing a PS5 AAA title before its closure in March 2024. Following the studio's dissolution, many former Deviation Games employees joined PlayStation, leading to speculation that Blundell's team forms the foundation of the new Los Angeles studio. Given the longer gestation period of Blundell's team compared to the potential Bungie offshoot, this seems a more likely scenario.

The nature of the project remains shrouded in secrecy, but fans speculate it could be a continuation or a reboot of Deviation Games' previously announced AAA title. While an official announcement from Sony is likely still some time away, the confirmation of a new first-party studio working on an original AAA IP is undeniably exciting news for PlayStation enthusiasts.