According to a new corporate report, Sony may soon acquire additional game studios to produce first-party PlayStation titles. New potential purchases could create a more exciting library of PlayStation 5 exclusive titles throughout the upcoming console's lifespan.
As it stands, Sony owns 14 game studios, which it collectively calls WWS, or Worldwide Studios. Some of the most recognizable WWS studios are Naughty Dog (known for the Uncharted and The Last of Us games) and Guerilla Games (known for the Killzone games and, more recently, Horizon Zero Dawn). The newest WWS addition is Insomniac Studios, which is currently developing Spider Man: Miles Morales, a PS5 launch title.
Sony's new report comes at the same time as Sony rebrands its first-party lineup to more strongly showcase PlayStation imagery. Beginning with first-party PS5 launch titles, Sony will use new PlayStation Studios branding. The PlayStation Studios branding will make it easier for Sony to indicate new first-party acquisitions to gamers who don't follow industry news. If a new PS5 game shows the PlayStation Studios logo, it is a major first-party release.
Even without more additions, Sony has a robust schedule of first-party releases. In addition to Spider Man: Miles Morales, a number of exciting exclusives are already slated for release on PS5. These include Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Horizon: Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, and more.
A wide range of recognizable brands will help Sony beyond just producing new installments of classic series. As Nintendo has done frequently with Mario games, Sony can introduce pre-existing characters into new styles of gameplay, letting developers experiment. The PS5 launch lineup already shows signs of this, with the inclusion of Sackboy: A Big Adventure. The game places the mascot of the LittleBigPlanet series in a new platforming adventure outside of his home series.
Of course, fans of the PlayStation will likely view possible acquisitions as excellent news. Sony has released warmly-received exclusive games throughout the PS4 lifecycle. The most recent example is Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima, which shattered sales records for Sony first-party titles. Adding more top-notch studios to the WWS roster will ensure that Sony maintains its momentum as it moves into the launch of the PS5.
Still, the news may frustrate anyone planning to purchase an Xbox Series X (or the rumored upgraded Nintendo Switch). After all, Sony's commitment to exclusive titles will result in more games that Xbox Series X owners can't play. On the flip side, the Xbox Series X will have a number of exciting exclusives, such as Obsidian's Avowed and Rare's Everwild. Between exclusive titles and console-exclusive content, some fear the end of true multi-platform games.
Source: Video Games Chronicle