PlayStation fans have been waiting for the company’s next showcase for well over a year, and thankfully, that long wait is finally set to come to an end. On Wednesday, May 24, gamers will be able to experience an hour of reveals and new footage for announced projects, with massive games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 expected to make an appearance. With other big projects like Bend Studio’s game and The Last of Us multiplayer also potentially set to appear, there is a lot to be hyped for, though it would be great to hear from one studio in particular about the event.
Back on June 10, 2021, Deviation Games announced that it was hard at work on a brand-new IP. With the studio backed by PlayStation and comprised of talent like Jason Blundell, the mind behind some of the best Call of Duty Zombies maps of all time, expectations were quite high. Unfortunately, nothing has been shown of this PlayStation exclusive, and only bad news about Deviation has come out over the last year. The 2023 PlayStation Showcase is an opportunity to right the ship, and a reveal could be just what is needed to once again get fans excited about what Deviation has been working on.
Deviation Revealing Its Game at the PlayStation Showcase Can Restore Faith
The first blow suffered by Deviation Games was the departure of Jason Blundell, who was one of the main reasons so many gamers had interest in the company. No information was given for his departure and why it occurred, though with some other big names like Tony Flame working at Deviation, fans continued to hold out hope for the title. Unfortunately, massive layoffs for Deviation Games took place earlier in May, with more well-known figures like community manager and popular content creator JCBackfire leaving the studio. With up to 90 layoffs potentially taking place according to VGC, this was far from a minor shakeup.
Understandably, these firings and the departure of a lead developer in Jason Blundell have led many to be concerned about Deviation and its future. Gamers are uncertain about whether this new, PlayStation exclusive IP is still on track and how far into development the game actually is. Additionally, if it does ever release, many are worried it will be negatively impacted by the loss of Blundell and the many skilled developers who were recently laid off.
Deviation Games desperately needs to deliver something for fans to be excited about if the game is still going to happen, whether that be a reveal trailer, an official title, or even a brief development update confirming it hasn’t been canceled. Thus far, all fans know about the game is that it will strive to have a unique art style. Given how many Call of Duty developers have worked for Deviation, and PlayStation’s need for an exclusive first-person shooter, gamers are also expecting the project to be an FPS. With nothing actually shown for the game, though, this is purely speculation.
The 2023 PlayStation Showcase is a perfect platform for Deviation to finally give fans an update on the project. After all, though it is not part of the PlayStation Studios family like Insomniac Games or Naughty Dog, Deviation is still partnered with PlayStation for an exclusive game. With Sony surely wanting this Showcase to be a reminder for why a PlayStation 5 is worth the investment, it only makes sense for the company to highlight every major exclusive that is in the works.
Hopefully, Deviation Games has something concrete to share with fans soon, as all fans have to go on right now are old promises and concerning reports. The loss of Jason Blundell and all the layoffs in May have surely been massive blows for Deviation’s debut game, and the need for good news has never been clearer. Thankfully, the PlayStation Showcase is the ideal stage for that news. Whether the studio will actually have anything to share is unclear, as Deviation’s game is not confirmed for the showcase, but PlayStation fans are likely hoping that an update is imminent. With many fearing that the game is canceled, and rumors suggesting as much, the need for an update from Sony and Deviation has never been more clear.
Source: VGC