PlayStation has acquired Bungie, Haven Studios, and Firewalk Studios as live-service game development studios. Read on to learn more about PlayStation's acquisition strategy, intentions for these studios, and their planned live service games.
PlayStation Acquires Studios For Live Service Games Development
10 Live-Service Games In Development
In January 2022, PlayStation acquired Bungie, followed by Haven Studios in March and Firewalk Studios last week, all dedicated to creating live service games. Despite this, PlayStation will continue to make single-player, narrative, and adventure games, but they also want to explore live-service games.
The company is developing 10 different live service games that cater to various audiences and target multiple genres. Hiroki Totoko, the CFO, said they hope to release these games by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, through collaborations with these studios.
PlayStation's Acquisition Style To Create High-Standard Games
PlayStation's acquisition of Firewalk Studios and Haven Studios after years of partnership highlights the company's strategy to grow its gaming portfolio by collaborating with and acquiring studios with promising potential. By partnering with these studios, PlayStation can assess their creative strengths and determine if it would make sense to obtain them.
The decision to acquire a studio is based on several factors, such as its vision, ability to create unique and innovative games and cultural fit with PlayStation. PlayStation Studios aims to create an environment that fosters collaboration across different areas of game development, including game design, audio, and animation. This collaborative approach helps ensure that the games developed by the acquired studios meet the high standards set by PlayStation.
In terms of live-service games, PlayStation is looking to create a diverse range of games that appeal to different audiences. By making these games available on various platforms, PlayStation can ensure that they are accessible to as many people as possible. This strategy also helps to attract a broader range of players to the PlayStation ecosystem, which is vital for the company's growth and success.
Studios See Opportunity In Acquisition
PlayStation's expertise in building a global network of studios and central technology and service teams allows the acquired studios to benefit from shared resources and expertise. This collaboration creates a highly dynamic and supportive environment that encourages innovation and creativity in game development. Firewalk's Hsu mentioned that since PlayStation also acquired Bungie, they were excited to be part of the same family of studios.
PlayStation's acquisition strategy identifies potential studios, fosters a collaborative environment, and creates diverse and accessible games. This approach allows PlayStation to expand its gaming portfolio and strengthen its position in the gaming industry.
