Playstation-backed Deviation Games shuts down before releasing a single title

[Jobhunter]

 

Deviation Games, a studio backed by PlayStation and formed by former Call of Duty developers, has announced its closure. The studio, which was established in 2020, unfortunately, did not release a single game before shutting down.

 

Deviation Games was the brainchild of Call of Duty’s Zombies mode creator Jason Blundell and Treyarch veteran Dave Anthony. The studio was revealed in June 2021 and was working on a new AAA IP. Despite the financial backing from PlayStation, which promised "financial security for years and years", the studio was unable to ship its first game.

 

The closure of Deviation Games was announced on LinkedIn by the studio’s Chief HR & Operations Officer, Kriste Stull. In her announcement, she expressed her deepest gratitude to the entire team for their hard work, dedication, and contributions to Deviation. She also mentioned that the studio would be hosting a networking event to help those impacted by the studio’s closure.

 

This incident adds to the growing list of layoffs and studio closures in the gaming industry in recent months, which includes from Sony Playstation itself.

 

The sudden closure of Deviation Games raises several questions about the stability and sustainability of game development studios, even those with significant financial backing. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think there are underlying issues in the gaming industry that need to be addressed? Share your views in the comments below.

 

 

Read more:

• https://www.ign.com/articles/deviation-games-is-shut-down-before-it-can-ship-a-game-in-its-partnership-with-playstation
• https://www.thegamer.com/deviation-games-shuts-down-playstation-layoffs-call-of-duty-studio/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-backed-deviation-games-closes

 

 

Top image: Playstation