PlayStation Studios is a force to be reckoned with. Sony has assembled an industry-leading collection of first-party studios over the years and the results have been clear for all to see. It was games like Days Gone, God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us 2, and Uncharted 4 that defined the PS4 era and the PlayStation Studios group has been called on to do the same again for PS5.
PlayStation Studios is where you'll see some of the most highly anticipated PS5 exclusives emerge. Known formerly as Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, the PlayStation Studios group has grown in recent years with the acquisition of developers like Firesprite, Housemarque, Nixxes, and Insomniac – these teams linking up, and sharing expertise, with the likes of Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica, Sucker Punch, and Guerrilla Games.
To see the full list of PlayStation Studios and what they are working on read on for the full breakdown.
Firesprite
Notable Releases: The Playroom VR (PS4, 2016), The Persistence VR (PS4, 2018)
Currently Working on: TBC
Acquired in: 2021
Founded in 2012 by former developers from WipeOut developer Psygnosis, Firesprite has been working with Sony to deliver innovative and experimental releases ever since. It has collaborated with Japan Studio on The Playroom and spent much of the last few years building PSVR exclusives such as The Playroom VR and The Persistence VR. We don't know what Firesprite is working on just yet, but expect Sony to give the studio a wide berth to experiment.
Guerrilla Games
Notable releases: Killzone (PS2, 2004), Horizon: Zero Dawn (PS4, 2017)
Currently working on: Horizon: Forbidden West (Multi, 2021)
Acquired in: 2005
Guerrilla is known for two franchises, both of which couldn't be more different from one another. It also made Shellshock: Nam '67 in 2004, of course, but no one remembers that one. Founded in 2000 and based out of Amsterdam, the Horizon series remains the focus for this team as we head into the next generation.
Housemarque
Notable releases: Resogun (2013), Returnal (2021)
Currently working on: TBC
Acquired in: 2021
Housemarque has made a lot of great games over the years, but you may know the studio best for delivering Resogun – arguably the best game on the PS4 at launch. Housemarque is the oldest active developer in Finland and brings decades of experience to the PlayStation Studios group, as well as a talent for building games that look and feel incredible. Given that Housemarque just delivered Returnal, it'll likely be a while before we see what else the studio is working on.
Insomniac Games
Notable releases: Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Multi, 2020), Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5, 2021)
Currently working on: TBC
Acquired in: 2019
Insomniac has a rich and storied history with PlayStation, yet was only acquired by Sony as a first-party studio in 2019, following huge success with its Spider-Man PS4 game. The developer is now the poster child for PS5, planning two release two exclusives for the platform within its first year.
Media Molecule
Notable releases: LittleBigPlanet (PS3, 2008), Dreams (PS4, 2020)
Currently working on: TBA
Acquired in: 2010
Media Molecule is one of the few British studios within the PlayStation family, but what a studio it is. Following three LittleBigPlanet games (and the equally brilliant Tearaway), the developer is continuing to make Dreams the best game creation engine it can be, with plans for a PS5 re-release.
Naughty Dog
Notable releases: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3, 2007), The Last of Us Part 2 (PS4, 2020)
Currently working on: TBC
Acquired in: 2001
One of the most respected studios in the PlayStation family, Naughty Dog has given Sony two titanic franchises for its platform over the last two generations, with both Uncharted and The Last of Us respectively. Following the release of The Last of Us Part 2 this year, the team has already confirmed a standalone multiplayer spin-off, Factions, is now on the way too.
Nixxes Software
Notable releases: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (2016), Marvel's Avengers (2020)
Currently working on: TBC
Acquired in: 2021
There's a good chance that you haven't heard of Nixxes Software. The studio specialises in porting video games across different platforms, most famously working with Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix to help ensure everything from Avengers to Tomb Raider work smoothly on all consoles. Nixxes was likely acquired as Sony continues to invest in bringing its games to Steam and PC.
Pixelopus
Notable releases: Entwined (PS4, 2014), Concrete Genie (PS4, 2019)
Currently working on: TBA
Founded in: 2014
A small studio made up of less than two dozen developers, Pixelopus formed out of SIE San Mateo Studio, focused on smaller exclusives for the PlayStation platform. It only has two games in its history so far, but the success of Concrete Genie suggests the team has a bright future ahead of it.
Polyphony Digital
Notable releases: Gran Turismo (PS1, 1997), Gran Turismo Sport (PS4, 2017)
Currently working on: Gran Turismo 7 (PS5, TBA)
Founded in: 1994
Polyphony Digital is the Gran Turismo studio, with over ten titles in the acclaimed racing sim series to its name. With five separate teams based around the world, the studio is now working on the next generation of the GT franchise with the upcoming PS5 exclusive, Gran Turismo 7.
SIE Bend Studio
Notable releases: Syphon Filter (PS1, 1999), Days Gone (PS4, 2019)
Currently working on: TBA
Acquired in: 2000
Sony Bend spent much of the PS3 era working on handheld spinoffs for some of PlayStation's biggest franchises, including Uncharted and Resistance. With last year's Days Gone, however, the studio has elevated itself into AAA territory, though we're yet to be informed on what it's up to next.
SIE London Studio
Notable releases: Singstar (PS2, 2004), Blood & Truth (PS4, 2019)
Currently working on: TBA
Founded in: 2002
With over 60 titles to its name, SIE London is one of the oldest first-party studios in the PlayStation ecosystem, focused mainly on experiences that take advantage of Sony's external peripherals, from EyeToy to PSVR. Recently, the studio gave us one of the best PSVR games to date with 2019's Blood & Truth.
SIE San Diego
Notable releases: The Mark of Kri (PS2, 2002), MLB: The Show 2020 (Multi, 2020)
Currently working on: TBA
Founded in: 2001
Aside from a handful of exceptions in SIE San Diego's back catalogue, the PlayStation Studio is very much focused on the annualised baseball franchise, MLB: The Show, which it has worked on for almost 15 years. While not yet announced, then, it's almost a given that the developer is currently working on MLB: The Show 2021.
Sony ExDev
Notable releases: N/A
Currently working on: N/A
Outside of PlayStation Studios, Sony has a number of what it calls ExDev partners; which are best described as independent, third-party teams working with PlayStation to bring exclusive titles to its platform, and thus not to be confused with any of its first-party developers.
These partnerships are handled by an internal group at Sony called Sony ExDev, and can sometimes last for years, and quite often lead to PlayStation acquiring the studio outright. Presently, PlayStation ExDev partners include Sumo Digital (Sackboy: A Big Adventure), Bluepoint Games (Demon's Souls), Lucid Games (Destruction AllStars), and Wild Sheep (Wild).
Sony Santa Monica
Notable releases: God of War (PS2, 2005), God of War (PS4, 2018)
Currently working on: God of War: Ragnarok (PS5, TBC 2022)
Founded in: 1999
Sony Santa Monica is better known as the God of War studio, having produced five games in the critically acclaimed action franchise over its 21 year history. Following the hugely well received soft reboot of the series with 2018's God of War, the team is now working on its follow up, chronicling the further adventures of Kratos and Atreus through the landscape of Norse mythology.
Sucker Punch Productions
Notable releases: Infamous (PS3, 2009), Ghost of Tsushima (PS4, 2020)
Currently working on: TBA
Acquired in: 2011
Founded in 1997, Sucker Punch's first release was 2002's Sly Racoon, and the studio quickly made a name for itself before turning to the world of superheroes with the Infamous series during the PS3 era. Following the launch of Ghost of Tsushima and its expansion, Iki Island, a full sequel to that open world samurai game seems like the most likely bet for the studio's future.
