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

A newly established PlayStation studio in Los Angeles, California, is developing a major, original AAA title for the PS5, as confirmed by a recent job posting. This marks Sony's 20th first-party studio, adding to its already impressive lineup.

The news has generated significant excitement among gaming enthusiasts, who eagerly anticipate updates on projects from established PlayStation studios like Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac Games. Sony's recent acquisitions of Housemarque, Bluepoint Games, and Firesprite further demonstrate its commitment to expanding its first-party development capabilities. This mysterious new studio adds another intriguing element to the mix.

The job listing, seeking a Project Senior Producer, explicitly mentions a "newly-established AAA studio" in Los Angeles. Several theories exist regarding the studio's origins. One possibility is that it incorporates a team spun off from Bungie following layoffs in July 2024, where 155 employees transitioned to Sony Interactive Entertainment. This team was reportedly working on Bungie's "Gummybears" incubation project.

A Resurrected Project?

Another strong contender is the team led by Jason Blundell, a veteran Call of Duty developer. Blundell co-founded Deviation Games, which was developing a PS5 AAA title before its closure in March 2024. Following Blundell's departure from Deviation Games in 2022, many former employees joined a new PlayStation team under his leadership in May 2024. Given the longer timeframe, this team is a more likely candidate to be housed within the new Los Angeles studio.

While the specifics of Blundell's team's project remain undisclosed, speculation suggests it could be a continuation or a reboot of Deviation Games' previous AAA endeavor. Although an official announcement from Sony may be years away, the existence of this new studio assures fans of yet another exciting PlayStation first-party game on the horizon.