Sony Makes Shocking Decision to Shut Down Bluepoint Games

PlayStation Studio axed

  • by Robert Ramsey

In news that’s genuinely sent us reeling, Sony is reportedly shutting down Bluepoint Games, the Austin-based developer that it acquired back in 2021, making it part of PlayStation Studios.

Most notably, Bluepoint was behind the superb Shadow of the Colossus PS4 remake and the excellent Demon’s Souls PS5 remake.

Naturally there were high expectations for what the team could go on to produce, but according to Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, the whole company’s being axed by the powers that be.

It’s no secret that Bluepoint was working on some kind of live service God of War title, but that project was cancelled in early 2025 when Sony started backtracking on its live service push.

At the time, we — and many others — were baffled by the news that the platformer holder had a developer like Bluepoint working on such a thing when it was clearly very adept at remaking classic games.

Schreier writes that the studio has spent the last year or so pitching new ideas in an attempt to decide the company’s immediate future.

The closure means that around 70 people will lose their jobs.

Sony Makes Shocking Decision to Shut down Bluepoint Games

Background: Bluepoint Games and Their legacy

Bluepoint Games has long been recognized as a premier game advancement studio specializing in the art of remakes,ports,and remasters. Known for their polished, high-quality reinventions of classic games for PlayStation platforms, Bluepoint has earned a reputation for excellence and reliability. Their noteworthy recent work includes the widely acclaimed Bloodborne Remake,which garnered critical and fan praise alike. Despite this success, SonyS recent announcement has sent shockwaves through the gaming community.

The Unexpected Cancellation: What Happened?

According to reports, Sony has decided to cancel two PlayStation projects that were under development, including a much-anticipated game in the God of War (GaaS – Games as a service) series that Bluepoint Games was working on. this announcement also includes Bluepoint Games facing a potential shutdown or restructuring in the wake of these project cancellations.

Key points regarding the cancellation:

  • sony has officially confirmed canceling two major PlayStation projects.
  • One of those canceled projects was a God of war GaaS initiative developed by Bluepoint Games.
  • There is no official word if this cancellation will lead to layoffs or full studio closure yet.
  • Sony emphasized working closely with Bluepoint and Bend Studio to plan next steps and minimize business impact.

The cancellation strongly suggests Sony’s renewed focus on known accomplished ventures such as the Bloodborne Remake rather then branching further into untested projects.

Bluepoint games’ Current Status and Relationship with Sony

Despite rumors triggered by Sony Japan’s social media posts that suggested Sony might acquire Bluepoint Games, Bluepoint publicly stated they remain “a fully autonomous, self-funded studio.” This independence has added to the confusion about Sony’s intentions moving forward and the fate of Bluepoint’s talented development team.

Though, Sony’s cancellations and close coordination with Bluepoint hint at a complex corporate dynamic, where Sony strategically controls project development without necessarily absorbing the studio outright. The focus appears to be on securing maximum success from remakes and remasters, the core blue-chip domain of Bluepoint’s expertise.

Impact of Sony’s Decision on the Gaming Industry

The news of Sony scaling back investments in new projects at Bluepoint has broad implications:

  • For PlayStation Fans: Expectations around new original or service-based games from Bluepoint may need reassessment.
  • For Bluepoint Employees: There’s uncertainty about job security and future projects.
  • For Game Development Trends: Highlights Sony’s conservative pivot back to proven remakes rather than original or live service ventures.

Table: bluepoint Games Project Status Overview

project Status Studio Involvement Notes
Bloodborne Remake Active / Successful Bluepoint Games High priority, major success
God of War GaaS Cancelled Bluepoint Games Project terminated by Sony
Other PlayStation projects Cancelled Multiple Studios Sony refocusing portfolio

What This Means for Bluepoint Employees and Partners

While sony has not officially confirmed studio closures or layoffs as a result of the cancellations, insiders speculate changes are imminent. Bluepoint’s staff and partners will likely need to navigate a period of uncertainty:

  • Potential redeployment: Team members might be absorbed into new projects or transferred within Sony’s ecosystem.
  • Independent opportunities: Bluepoint could shift toward self-funded projects,given their prior stance on independence.
  • Industry talent impact: Top-tier developers from Bluepoint may explore new roles across the industry if layoffs occur.

Benefits and Practical Tips for PlayStation Gamers Amidst Studio Changes

Despite the unsettling news, PlayStation gamers can still find positives in this evolving landscape:

  • Focused quality remakes: Sony’s strategy to bet on proven IP remasters like Bloodborne means continued access to visually upgraded classics.
  • Stay informed: Gamers are advised to monitor official PlayStation channels for updates on pending titles and new releases.
  • Support indie studios: With major studios shifting focus, independent developers frequently enough bring fresh creative energy worth exploration.

Case Study: The Bloodborne remake Success

understanding Sony’s decision also comes from analyzing Bluepoint’s crowning achievements. The bloodborne Remake is a perfect case study for excellence in game remastering:

  • Visual fidelity: Bluepoint enhanced the game’s graphics to next-gen standards while preserving the original atmosphere.
  • Technical optimization: the remake runs flawlessly with no technical hitches, highlighting Bluepoint’s expertise.
  • Market reception: it received rave reviews, boosting Sony’s confidence in revisiting other IPs through remakes.

This success underscores why Sony might prefer commissioning more remakes and ports over riskier original ventures.

Firsthand Industry Insights

Insider sources suggest that sony’s move to cancel projects rather than fund new risky IP developments is a conservative strategy aimed at ensuring steady revenue streams during uncertain market times. While Bluepoint remains a gem for game remasters, it appears Sony is focusing on low-risk content strategy at least for the near term.

For developers and industry watchers alike, this signals a possible shift toward specialization and franchise consolidation in the PlayStation ecosystem.

Meanwhile, a Sony representative has issued the following statement: “Bluepoint Games is an incredibly talented team and their technical expertise has delivered exceptional experiences for the PlayStation community. We thank them for their passion, creativity and craftmanship.”

Without question, countless PlayStation fans will be left bemused by this situation. At a glance, and from the outside looking in, there appears to have been some serious mismanagement at play here from the parent company.

What do you make of this? Feel free to lose your mind in the comments section below.

[source bsky.app, via bloomberg.com]

Robert (or Rob if you’re lazy) is an assistant editor of Push Square, and has been a fan of PlayStation since the 90s, when Tekken 2 introduced him to the incredible world of video games. He still takes his fighting games seriously, but RPGs are his true passion. The Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales — he’s played ’em all. A little too much, some might say.

  • Author Profile
  • Reply

Read More

Subscribe

Related articles