In recent years, Sony has been known more for shutting down studios than opening new ones. However, that trend is finally changing. It has now been confirmed that former Call of Duty Zombies lead, Jason Blundell, is collaborating with PlayStation Studios. Enter Dark Outlaw Games, the newest first-party studio to join the PlayStation family.
While Sony has yet to make an official announcement, Blundell revealed the news in a recent interview. Speaking on Jeff Gerstmann’s Bonus Podcast on YouTube, he stated, “The studio is called Dark Outlaw Games.” As he continued discussing the project, he hinted at…
“We’ve been working away in the shadows for a while, when we’ve got something to talk about we’ll step out into the light. The story for me is about the game, not about the studio. So the reason we’re not doing a fanfare or shouting about it from the rooftops is like, let’s get something.”
PlayStation’s First-Party Studio Developing an Original IP
Blundell’s Dark Outlaw Games marks his second collaboration with PlayStation. His previous studio, Deviation Games, was developing a PlayStation-exclusive title before shutting down in 2024, two years after his departure. The announcement of Dark Outlaw Games and its upcoming new IP officially confirms reports of a Blundell-led PlayStation studio. At the very least, we can hope that this new first-party project won’t meet the same fate as Concord.
Blundell expressed his gratitude to Sony, stating, “It’s such a privilege to be able to do it with Sony as a new first-party studio. Sony doesn’t start up first-party studios all the time, so to have that privilege is humbling.”
While details remain scarce, there is speculation that Dark Outlaw Games could be involved in developing PlayStation’s unannounced live-service multiplayer title.
While it’s still unclear what type of games Dark Outlaw Games will focus on, Sony may be looking to compete directly with its Call of Duty rivals. Despite strengthening its first-party lineup with acquisitions like Bungie, Insomniac Games, and Bluepoint Games, Sony has also faced a wave of studio closures and restructures since 2021, shutting down Firewalk, Japan Studio, London Studio, Neon Koi, and Pixelopus. With this new first-party studio in the mix, Sony could be gearing up for some major projects in the future.
What are your thoughts on PlayStation establishing Dark Outlaw Games? Can a former Call of Duty veteran help take PlayStation to new heights? Let us know in the comments below!
