PlayStation veteran joins Google to develop Stadia-exclusive games

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A new studio will focus on making Stadia-exclusive games

(Image credit: Google)

Google is opening a new studio in Playa Vista, California to develop Stadia-exclusive games, and it's being led by PlayStation veteran Shannon Studstill.

The first dedicated Stadia game studio was announced in October, and then Google bought Typhoon Studios in December to develop games for the platform. But now, with Studstill's decades of success in the field, Google is perhaps better positioned than ever to develop unique, attractive games exclusive to the Stadia.

"The new Playa Vista studio will focus on delivering exclusive games, using new gameplay mechanics, creative ways to play together and unique interaction models that we’re just starting to explore," said Stadia Games VP Jade Raymond in a new blog post.

"I’ve been a fan of Shannon’s for a long time, and have admired her award-winning work leading Sony’s Santa Monica Studio and the industry defining franchises like God of War that have won fans all over the world," Raymond said of Studstill.

There's no denying Stadia's new studio head has an impressive body of work. Despite the Stadia's less-than-stellar launch, Studstill joining the Stadia team is a strong, encouraging signal to the platform's future.

It's early yet, but here are the best games of 2020 (so far).

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.