Sony Bend Working on New Open-World IP; Team Asobi Developing A Franchise For All Ages With Global Appeal

Today Sony Interactive Entertainment published an interview with the head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst with some interesting information about PlayStation’s plans.

We learn that Sony Bend, known for its work on Days Gone, is now working on a new open-world IP.

“New IP is incredibly important to us. New IP is the lifeblood of gaming. But, new IP is just one aspect of our strategy. Ultimately, I want PlayStation Studios to be fiercely daring, to take risks. I want us to continue to embrace the legacy of PlayStation, pushing the boundaries of gaming, keep making games that matter. Games that, probably, wouldn’t have been made anywhere else.

Bend Studio is working on a very exciting new IP that they’re very, very passionate about. They’re building on the deep open-world systems that they developed with Days Gone. So I’m really happy for Bend Studio.”

Swinging all the way to Japan, Hulst was asked what’s up with developers from the archipelago of the rising sun. Pledging his commitment to the importance of Japanese games, he explained that Team Asobi, which worked on Astro’s Playroom and became the new focus of Sony’s local first-party development, is working on a franchise for all ages with global appeal.

“I want to be very clear that Japanese games and Japanese talent remain extremely important to PlayStation Studios and to Sony Interactive Entertainment. Japan and Asia are strongly associated with our legacy: the success of Sony, the PlayStation brand, and many of our iconic PlayStation franchises were actually born in that region.

I remember watching the PlayStation 5 Showcase event from last year. It struck me how much Japanese influence there was in the games that we showed. And what a key part of PlayStation’s DNA that is. It’s one of the things that makes PlayStation different, unique in my mind.

I know the potential from high-quality games from Japan and Asia, and some of the best development talent in the world is found there. They have that history of innovation, of craftsmanship and skill, that pride and team spirit. We very much want to continue those traditions.

Polyphony Digital is such an important part of the PlayStation family, making the best driving simulation games in the world. We’re building Team Asobi in Tokyo, a world-class studio that are developing a franchise for all ages with global appeal. Such a creative team.

And alongside Asobi, we will continue to maintain and build partnerships through our external development team. So I’m really excited about the future of PlayStation games from Japan, and Asia. And I’m grateful for the interest and passionate support for our Japanese teams.”

In the same interview, Hulst revealed that the next God of War is now coming in 2022.