There is no denying that games can make or break a video game system. For a long time, Xbox struggled to compete with PlayStation in terms of console-exclusive titles. Fans often regard PlayStation consoles as having a better lineup of first-party exclusives thanks to favorites like Ratchet and Clank and God of War. But while Xbox may have had the biggest acquisition of 2021 with its purchase of ZeniMax Media (parent company of Bethesda Softworks), Sony made plenty of news of its own in this regard.
In 2021, Sony acquired five new studios, Bluepoint Games, Nixxes Software, Housemarque, Firesprite and Valkyrie Entertainment. On top of that, Team Asobi was reorganized into its own studio. All of these have further cemented PlayStation Studios as the one-stop shop for the best first-party exclusives in the industry. Here is what to expect from all these developers moving forward into 2022 and beyond.
Note: Update on December 17, 2021 to discuss an additional studio Sony acquired since the article was originally published: Valkyrie Entertainment.
Bluepoint Games
Bluepoint Games is responsible for the revitalization of Demon's Souls on PlayStation 5. Demon's Souls was released to critical acclaim as a launch day exclusive. Bluepoint is also responsible for it work on The Shadow of the Colossus and Uncharted: Nathan Drake Collection on PlayStation 4. While the studio is best known for remaking popular games, it was mentioned at the time of the acquisition that Bluepoint's next project will be an original title.
It's unknown if that means a new IP or not, but whether it's creating something entirely new of breathing new life into a classic franchise, what is clear is that there are talented people are working at Bluepoint, and PlayStation is putting a lot of trust in this studio after years of working alongside each other in a different capacity.
Nixxes Software
Nixxes Software is a Netherlands-based studio known for porting franchises to PC, such as Tomb Raider. It has also worked on other games such as Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Marvel's Avengers. Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan, has confirmed that Nixxes Studios was acquired to help port more PlayStation exclusive to PC. While this means Nixxes probably won't be working on any new creations, it is good news for PC gamers who will finally have access to more great PlayStation games.
Housemarque
Housemarque's most recent game is the critically-acclaimed Returnal, which launched this past April. Housemarque has specialized in developing games for PlayStation systems since 2013, so it makes sense that the studio would now officially be under Sony's umbrella. The studio specializes in arcade-style action games with sci-fi settings such as Nex Machina and Matterfall. Returnal has been a smash-hit for the studio, so it would make sense to continue supporting that game. In fact, some have interpreted a recent tweet from the studio as a tease that DLC is in the works.
Firesprite
Firesprite is a United Kingdom-based studio whose most recent game release is The Persistence, a game in which the protagonist needs to fight their way through a space station infested with failed genetically-mutated clones. The game was originally developed in VR in 2018 and later ported to all current-generation consoles, including Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, in 2020.
The studio is currently working on Star Citizen: Theaters of War, an online multiplayer shooter set in the Star Citizen universe, which has Firesprite working closely with Cloud Imperium to develop the game for PC, though release date has been announced. Beyond that, the studio was probably acquired to develop more VR-based games in the future, likely to help support the PlayStation VR 2 when that eventually launches.
Team Asobi
Team Asobi has developed games as part of Japan Studio since 2012, but it was recently reorganized into its own independent studio within PlayStation Studios in June 2021. It is best known for developing Astro's Playroom, a PS5 pack-in game designed to showcase the power of the new console and its DualSense controller. The studio is also responsible for ASTRO BOT: RESCUE MISSION, a 2018 PlayStation VR title.
Team Asobi has confirmed it is working on a new title that it says will be its "most ambitious game yet," though nothing else is known about the project at the time. Considering what the studio has accomplished already, players should expect that Team Asobi's next game will take advantage of everything the PS5 can do in a way few other games have so far -- whether or not that includes an appearance from the studio's little robots.
Valkyrie Entertainment
Valkyrie Entertainment is a Seattle-based studio founded in 2002. Its website is quite lean at the moment, offering nothing more than career opportunities, but the studio's history can speak for itself. Rather than developing its own games, it is best known for co-developing some of this generation's biggest titles like God of War, Halo Infinite and Valorant.
Right now, Valkyrie is working on God of War: Ragnarok alongside Sony's Santa Monica Studio. While it's unlikely this acquisition will change this, it suggests Sony is pleased with the job the studio is doing and wants to keep it working alongside other larger PlayStation Studios. Regardless, this bodes well for Kratos' next adventure.