It’s fair to say that over the last few years, the gaming industry has started to change. Thanks to a growing list of mergers and acquisitions, several publishers and studios have recently found themselves under the ownership of a larger partner. Microsoft has been one of the more prominent forces behind this phenomenon. While Sony has mainly boosted PlayStation by purchasing and investing in individual studios, its rival has bought and bid for giant publishers like Activision.

Although the agreement between Microsoft and Activision hasn’t been finalized yet, all signs point to the acquisition being wrapped up over the next 12 months. Provided that happens, some of the gaming industry's biggest IPs will fall under the control of the former. For multiple reasons, it’s easy to imagine this being a big boon for the Xbox platform’s commercial standing. Even though the deal hasn’t generated the same kind of headlines, Sony might have a response ready that could prove fruitful for the PlayStation ecosystem: Deviation Games.

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Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition

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When Microsoft finished acquiring Bethesda back in 2021, most onlookers probably thought its expansion plans would slow down for a while. However, that hasn’t turned out to be the case. If anything, by most metrics, the platform holder has actually upped the ante even further. This was underlined at the start of this year when Microsoft declared its plans to purchase Activision for roughly $68.7 billion.

With Microsoft having already spent $7.5 billion on Bethesda, both deals underline its commitment to competing at the very forefront of gaming. Although there’s a long list of reasons why the publisher has identified this type of deal as a way for it to maintain that vision, the IP part of the equation can’t be understated. Having franchises like Activision’s Call of Duty under its first-party ownership will no doubt push the Xbox brand to all-new heights, boosting console, software, and subscription sales in the process.

Considering Microsoft already owns Halo and Doom, it looks like the platform holder is about to control a significant chunk of the first-person shooter genre as an added consequence of its plans. Thanks to how popular each of these games is, there’s a sense online that Sony needs to come up with its own alternatives quickly. Recent comments from Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan, in regard to Call of Duty’s long-term future on PlayStation, could be interpreted as evidence that the publisher is acutely aware of the fact that it could be frozen out of the genre soon.

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Deviation’s Pedigree

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While there’s no denying Microsoft has been making significant waves when it comes to acquisitions, Sony hasn’t been standing still either. Beyond purchasing the likes of Bungie, Insomniac Games, and Housemarque, the publisher has also spent a sizable amount of time investing in new startup studios. One that stands out from the crowd is Deviation Games. Based on the composition of the studio in particular, there’s reason to believe that it could become the secret weapon the publisher needs to fight back against Microsoft’s Activision acquisition.

Established in 2019, it’s worth keeping in mind that Deviation Games was built from the ground up by people that had a hand in Call of Duty’s success. For example, the studio’s founders Dave Anthony and Jason Blundell were once a key part of Treyarch and its Black Ops titles. Having contributed to Activision’s success, while delivering incredible content for some of the franchise's staples such as its Zombies Mode, it isn’t too hard to imagine the studio having the pedigree to create something similar for Sony. With the publisher supporting it, several potential pitfalls along that path have likely been mitigated too.

Even though it should be pointed out that Blundell has recently left Deviation Games, other developers have been added into the mix that should help the studio prosper. Louis Castle’s arrival as the studio’s Vice President of Development is just one example that adds even more experience to the table. Having helped launch several Command & Conquer games for EA, his expertise could be invaluable. From a logistical and marketing perspective then, Deviation Games is well versed in launching successful franchises of the caliber Sony is going to need.

It’s worth keeping in mind that Blundell's influence will have already positively impacted Deviation Games’ hiring process. With over 100 employees said to now be on board, it stands to reason that these developers have been chosen specifically because they complement the studio’s higher-ups and their visions. Despite the length of time this process has taken, there’s a sense that all the right parts are being put into place for Deviation Games to emerge as one of Sony’s secret weapons.

Deviation’s First Game

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Thanks to the fact that Deviation Games has taken its time building itself up, the studio hasn’t revealed many official details about its first project. That's partly because the game in question only went into full production at the start of 2022. As a result of this, it could be some time before anything substantial is shared with the public. Based on how Call of Duty’s future on PlayStation has seemingly been promised for the next few years, it stands to reason Sony will give the studio all the time it needs to build an effective response.

When Sony’s partnership with Deviation Games was first announced, a few promising snippets of information were provided to fans about the direction of the project that back this up. Hermen Hulst, the head of PlayStation Studios, specifically referred to Deviation Games' debut title as a AAA experience that was going to lean on its past. Considering how much focus has been placed on the studio’s founders and their previous work on Call of Duty, some fans have taken this as a sign that a comparable first-person shooter is in the mix.

Reports from alleged insiders have supported this idea even further. Hints of an ambitious project being in the works that features multiplayer modes and a deep single-player story have popped up repeatedly since the start of the year. Until there’s official confirmation from Sony and Deviation Games, though, a hefty dose of salt should be taken in regard to all of these alleged leaks. After all, projects can change at the drop of a hat. That’s likely even more true for Deviation Games considering one of its founders has recently left the project.

With all that being said, it isn’t hard to imagine Deviation Games' PlayStation project going down this kind of route. Now that Microsoft is about to acquire Activision, there are even more reasons for the studio to pursue the type of game that’s been teased by the alleged insiders. On paper at least, most of the Call of Duty franchise’s hallmarks were already said to be present for added measure too. Based on the studio’s pedigree, Sony would likely struggle to find an alternative setup that could build it the counter-offensive it now needs.

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