Just announced this morning, PlayStation has acquired Firewalk Studios, founded in 2018. Firewalk began as a part of "ProbablyMonsters", which was founded by Ex-Bungie CEO Harold Ryan.
Firewalk is still working on its first major IP that is said to be a AAA multiplayer title that has been in development for some time.
Great news: @FirewalkStudios is joining the PlayStation Studios family!
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) April 20, 2023
Learn more about this talented team and their plan to connect players in new and innovative ways in their ambitious upcoming multiplayer game: https://t.co/30jQNY3qen pic.twitter.com/8wB3pEsbrH
“Building a new studio at scale has been an incredibly exhilarating and relentlessly daunting task. Fortunately, we’ve been supported by great partners throughout,” explained studio head Tony Hsu and game director Ryan Ellis. “ProbablyMonsters helped turbocharge us in setting up the studio, and Sony has been supporting our project and our creative vision from the beginning.”
“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. To join PlayStation Studios is to formally become part of a family that has produced many of the most storied games of our age, and we are honored.”
The acquisition of Firewalk Studios follows several recent studios acquired by PlayStation, which seems to be a continuing trend in the highly competitive game industry as competitor Microsoft has made some big acquisitions in recent years, and Nintendo continues to grow in the indie and third party market.
PlayStation recently acquired another studio who's- you may have guessed it- also working on their own multiplayer IP, known as Haven Studios. PlayStation is busier than ever these days with their sharp focus on multiplayer and developing multiplayer IPs. And lets not forget Bungie, who's -yep you guessed it again- not only working on the ever popular Destiny 2, but is developing a new multiplayer game as well that they've claimed to be "character focused".
The acquisition of Firewalk Studios also comes after a 2021 announcement that the studio would be partnering up with PlayStation in order to develop the aforementioned multiplayer title.
Guess its just easier sometimes to just acquire your partner and keep calm and carry on.
See the full announcement posted at PlayStation Blog.
