PlayStation Acquires Firewalk Studios, Team Developing ‘AAA Multiplayer’ Game
PlayStation acquired Firewalk Studios.
On a PlayStation blog, the company noted it has been in a publisher partnership with Firewalk Studios & ProbablyMonsters (since 2021) and it is happy to now expand this relationship by bringing that studio under PlayStation’s umbrella. This studio was working on the “first AAA multi-player game that is original to PlayStation” and development will likely continue.
In a blog post, Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation writes: “Since announcing the publishing partnership in 2021 with ProbablyMonsters & Firewalk we have been impressed by their ambitions to create a multiplayer modern game that will connect players in innovative and new ways.” “The studio has the same drive as we do to create worlds based in outstanding gameplay. We are committed to investing more in this mission.” “We’re thrilled to have their creative and technical expertise join PlayStation Studios in order to grow our Live Service operations and provide something special to gamers.”
Companies did not specify a purchase price.
Firewalk Studios CEO Tony Hsu as well as game director Ryan Ellis discuss the acquisition.
We jumped on the opportunity to create a completely new studio five years ago. Recalling our own favorite times with games, we founded Firewalk Studios around the idea of delivering memorable moments – those amazing, had-to-be-there times shared with other people. It is our goal to bring these moments of shared joy to all players.
The task of building a studio on a massive scale was both exhilarating, and a challenge. Fortunately, we’ve been supported by great partners throughout – ProbablyMonsters helped turbocharge us in setting up the studio, and Sony has been supporting our project and our creative vision from the beginning.
We’ve assembled some of the most inspired talent in the industry to deliver awe-inspiring new worlds and experiences filled with great core gameplay. The excitement of building something new for players has thoroughly energized the team and our partners, and we’ve been playtesting every day.
Today we’re taking the next natural step and joining PlayStation Studios. We’ve worked closely with Hermen and the very talented team at PlayStation for years, helping to make our new game even better. Joining PlayStation Studios means becoming part of an elite family of game developers who have produced some of the greatest games in history.
We want to thank everyone who’s supported us along the way and those looking forward to our future. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and we can’t wait for the next chapter in this adventure.
PlayStation’s acquisition of Firewalk Studios is the latest in a line of multiple that have happened across the industry in the past year. It started with Take-Two Interactive in 2022, the parent company behind the Grand Theft Auto series, announcing in January that it was acquiring mobile giant Zynga for nearly $13 billion. Then, a week later, Microsoft announced that it was acquiring Activision Blizzard, the company behind Overwatch and Call of Duty, for a colossal $68.7 billion. Two weeks later, Sony revealed it was buying Bungie for $3.6 billion. Following that, Sony acquired Jade Raymond’s new studio, Haven Studios.
The acquisition by PlayStation of Firewalk Studios is a significant moment in the history of the company, as the firm continues to fight Microsoft and publicly oppose its efforts to get Activision Blizzard’s purchase approved around the globe.
Do you anticipate a AAA multi-player game coming from the PlayStation’s first-party studio? Tell us in the comments!
#PlayStation #Acquires #Firewalk #Studios #Team #Developing #AAA #Multiplayer #Game
