Sony Shuts Down First-Party Studio Dark Outlaw Games
Sony has confirmed the closure of Dark Outlaw Games, a first-party PlayStation studio. The studio, established last March by Treyarch veteran Jason Blundell, was reportedly working on an undisclosed project.
In an official statement, Sony cited "several strategic adjustments to support long-term sustainability" as the reason for the decision. The company also acknowledged "limited workforce reductions across select teams," expressing appreciation for the contributions of those impacted.
Reports indicate that PlayStation is implementing further cuts, specifically in mobile development, potentially affecting approximately 50 individuals. These layoffs are said to have impacted employees in both the US and UK.
Prior to founding Dark Outlaw Games, Jason Blundell co-founded Deviation Games with Dave Anthony in 2020, securing a deal with PlayStation to develop an original AAA IP. Blundell departed Deviation Games in 2022. Subsequently, Deviation Studios reportedly laid off up to 90 staff in 2023 before ultimately shutting down by March 2024.
This news follows another recent closure by Sony last month, when the company confirmed the shutdown of remaster specialist Bluepoint Games, a co-developer of God of War Ragnarök. That decision affected 70 jobs. Bluepoint Games was well-known for its work on reissues of titles such as Demon's Souls, Shadow of the Colossus, and Uncharted.
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