Brian Fleming, co-founder of Sucker Punch Productions, has handed over creative leadership to Jason Connell and Adrian Bentley, who will guide the studio's future projects, continuing its legacy of innovative PlayStation games.
Sony is reducing Bungie's independence following its acquisition, integrating it more into PlayStation Studios due to leadership departures and performance issues, with uncertain impacts on franchises like Destiny and Marathon.
The article provides an update on the current projects and future releases of Sony's PlayStation Studios in 2025, highlighting that while some studios like Naughty Dog and Santa Monica are working on new titles, most upcoming releases are still in development, with many expected to launch in 2026 or later, and a relatively quiet year for new PS5 exclusives in 2025.
Hermen Hulst of PlayStation Studios is confident that Bungie's upcoming shooter Marathon will learn from past failures like Concord, implementing stricter validation processes and testing to ensure its success, despite internal challenges and mixed player feedback.
Sony will hold a State of Play broadcast this Thursday, featuring updates on 14 PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2 games, with a focus on PlayStation Studios titles releasing later this year.
Helldivers 2 has set a new concurrent player record for PlayStation Studios on Steam, surpassing titles like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn. Despite a rocky start with server issues and crashes, the game's player satisfaction has improved, with around 68% of reviews now positive. The military sci-fi co-op game was released on Thursday after a delay from its initial 2023 schedule.
Despite the huge success of Insomniac Games and their track record of delivering hit games, internal documents reveal that Sony is pressuring the studio to cut costs and reduce headcount. Insomniac's upcoming slate includes at least six titles planned for the next decade, but Sony wants future major games to be made for $350 million or less. The studio is being asked to make cuts from the larger teams working on Wolverine and Spider-Man, potentially impacting the development of a future Ratchet & Clank game and a new IP. Insomniac also mentions that there may be a studio closure within the PlayStation umbrella. The reasons behind these cost-cutting measures are unclear, especially considering Insomniac's success and efficiency.
Sony is reportedly planning layoffs for various PlayStation studios, with documents from the recent ransomware leak suggesting the possibility of one studio closure. The leaked documents indicate that Insomniac Games may be affected, with a reduction of at least 50 to 75 people. The documents also mention the need to cut back on new IP development and slim down projects like "Ratchet and Clank" to achieve their goals. The gaming industry has seen a series of layoffs recently, and fans are awaiting an official announcement from Sony regarding their approach to layoffs at PlayStation.
Insomniac Games has suffered a devastating data breach, resulting in the leak of terabytes of confidential company information, including licensing contracts and development pipelines. Several high-profile studios, including Remedy and Naughty Dog, have expressed solidarity with Insomniac Games, condemning the breach and expressing support for the affected team members. The hackers also leaked personal information of employees, which has been deemed disgraceful and shameful. PlayStation is currently investigating the breach.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide within the first 24 hours of release, making it the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game in PlayStation history. It surpassed God of War Ragnarok, which previously held the title with over 5.1 million copies sold in its first week.
"Marvel's Spider-Man 2" has set a new record as the fastest-selling game in the first 24 hours for PlayStation Studios, with over 2.5 million copies sold. The game, exclusive to PlayStation 5, allows players to control both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they swing through New York City and battle villains. Sony Interactive Entertainment expressed gratitude to fans for their support and enjoyment of the game.
Sony announces that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has become the fastest selling game in PlayStation Studios history, with 2.5 million copies sold through in its first 24 hours. This figure represents the number of copies sold by retailers or bought digitally, providing a more accurate reflection of actual sales. The game has received widespread critical acclaim and is considered one of Insomniac's best games to date.
The PlayStation Studios Director of Sound Design, Jeremie Villot, has stated that the world may not be ready for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, calling it stunning and Insomniac's best work yet. With its darker tone, new gameplay features, and dual gameplay protagonists system, the highly anticipated game is set to release on October 20th and is expected to surpass its predecessor.
Green Man Gaming's Sizzling Sale is offering lower prices than the Steam Summer Sale on a range of high-profile PC games, including ports of PlayStation Studios' biggest titles. The sale features games such as Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, and God of War, which come with graphical upgrades tailored for PC. Other notable deals include Hi-Fi Rush, Doom Eternal, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. It is recommended to compare prices across Steam, Green Man Gaming, and Fanatical before purchasing.
Sony plans to release at least two major PS5 exclusives every year, covering every major genre, with a mix of established franchises and new IP. The company also plans to expand onto other platforms to grow audiences and leverage Sony synergy to unlock new audience growth. PlayStation Studios lead Hermen Hulst confirmed that 60% of the PS5 business model in fiscal year 2025 will be made up of live-service titles, with the remaining 40% being traditional single player experiences.