Sony’s Bend Studio is hiring for its next triple-A game, following layoffs and the cancellation of a live service project.
Sony cancelled two live service games last year, one by Bluepoint Games and one by Bend Studio. While Bluepoint was recently shut down, the developer behind Days Gone looks like it will live on to see another project.
As posted on the PlayStation careers website, Bend Studio is hiring for an Audio Director and Producer to work on its ‘next high-profile AAA console title’, per the job description.
There aren’t many details on the game, but it does mention that the candidate would need ‘an affinity’ towards ‘realistic, real-world audio designs’. It’s not much to go off, but it suggests it will be somewhat grounded in reality.
Bend Studio is known for the Syphon Filter series, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Days Gone, which were all based within real-world locations. The developer has previously ruled out a sequel to Days Gone, and the last Syphon Filter game was for the PSP in 2007, and it doesn’t feel like there’s many diehards clamouring for a reboot.
The best bet is that it will be a new IP, which might reuse elements from the cancelled live service project. According to leaks from 2024, the live service game was a military-themed shooter of some kind.
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In June last year, Bend Studio was hit by layoffs which reportedly affected around a third of employees. At the time (via Kotaku), Sony described the move as a ‘strategic change’.
‘As the team shifts focus to its next project, we’ve made strategic changes to better position the studio for long-term success,’ a Sony spokesperson said. ‘As part of this transition, a workforce reduction has taken place at the studio.
‘This decision was not made lightly, and we are extremely grateful for the meaningful contributions of all those impacted. Bend Studio has been a valued part of PlayStation Studios for decades, and we remain confident in its future and creative direction.’
Whatever the game ends up being, the timeline suggests it will be for Sony’s PlayStation 6, or at least a cross-gen title on the PlayStation 5. It’s unclear if Sony’s next console’s launch will be affected by the memory shortage, but it’s currently expected to arrive in late 2027.
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