Two live service games based on Sony’s popular IPs were reportedly under development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. After the PlayStation maker got their fingers burnt on Concord, it is not surprising that they are more critical about their live service options going forward.
Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier made the revelation in his January 16 publication. It is believed that one of the live service games canceled by Sony was based on God of War and was being developed by Bluepoint. The cancellation was confirmed by a Sony spokesperson.
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“Bend and Bluepoint are highly accomplished teams who are valued members of the PlayStation Studios family, and we are working closely with each studio to determine what are the next projects,” the spokesperson told Bloomberg.
Unlike Firewalk, the cancellation will not lead to the closure of Bend or Bluepoint the spokesperson stressed. Perhaps, Sony wants to scale back its ambition on live service games and focus on single-player experience.
BREAKING: PlayStation has canceled two more live-service games, from subsidiaries Bend and Bluepoint, Bloomberg has learned.Fans have long wondered what Bluepoint has been working on for the last couple of years. I can report it was a live-service God of War game. www.bloomberg.com/news/article…
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social) 2025-01-16T23:09:48.705Z
The last game from Bend Studio was Days Gone released in 2019. The game launched to a mixed reception. In March 2024, the studio posted a job opening for a lead project manager with “hands-on game development experience in leadership roles shipping AAA live service games”. This was the clue that gamers needed on the studio’s next project.
Bluepoint, on the other hand, was acquired by PlayStation in September 2021. The acquisition came nearly a year after its game, Demon’s Souls remake launched on PS5. Since then, the studio has remained quiet. However, they provided support during God of War Ragnarök’s development.
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In June 2024, Bluepoint president, Marco Thrush, revealed that the studio was aiming for an original IP, a major breakaway from its identity as a remake and remaster studio.
Do you think Sony should continue to explore the live service genre or you rather prefer they stick to a single-player experience? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
