John-ShepardWe've heard about franchises being in need of a reboot. But a studio…?
Last week, we learned that God of War developer Sony Santa Monica had suffered a hefty round of layoffs. Ensuing reports stated that due to this unfortunate event, a new IP had been canceled.
Now, PlayStation head of internal software development Scott Rohde has commented on the situation. During a recent IGN interview , Rohde said simply- "Sometimes, a project needs a reboot. So that’s what we’re doing overall with the titles we’re working on there, and the studio itself." He didn't mention a specific game that had gotten the ax, but he did say "there's not a single business on the planet where every single project that is started is a success."
The studio still employs around 200 people, so it's not like SSM is shutting down. As for new projects, Rohde said we just have to be patient. For the time being, we know they're assisting another internal team, Ready at Dawn, with the upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive The Order: 1886 .
One question: why do y'all keep referring to R@D as an internal studio? They aren't owned by Sony (yet).
Anyway, this news doesn't really surprise me. I mean, SSM recently moved (or they're in the process of moving, I'm not entirely sure of which), so it makes sense that now would be the best time for them to take stock of what they have in the pipeline and decide what's best to move forward with. Maybe it means that they've moved personnel from one area to another to try to reinject excitement into it with fresh talent. I'd consider that a good thing. Although, use of the word "reboot" for a studio does sound weird. It seems to imply that they've either shelved all of their current projects for new ones, or started over from scratch.
I still really hope that their next project isn't a new GoW. The PS4 is going strongly enough without resorting to that kind of desperation…
Ready at Dawn will go the way of Ninja Theory after The Order is released, just watch.
I just assumed they were since they've been doing Sony stuff for so long.
LV,
They'll go on to make some of my favourite multiplatform games? Sweet! I'll be entirely happy with that outcome!
Exactly, I didn't mean it in a negative way. I just see them going expanding the platforms they create products for. That is unless Sony decides to include them in the 1st party mix.
Yeah I'd be fine with some multiplats, but I'd rather The Order be so awesome it gets sequels.
The use of the word "reboot" to me it sounds like someone @ Sony wasn't liking what SSM was doing and decided to "reboot" it.
I can't remember who posted it (I'm sorry about that) but basically what they were working on was pretty close to what Destiny is turning out to be. Don't take it as the truth but that's what has been said around these parts.
I'm thinking it's a good idea, Ascension was stagnation. Gotta move these folks forward so they don't get stale. Big corporations aren't good at much but they are good at changing direction when the conditions on the ground change.
Yeah just look at SquareEnix
They changed the direction when conditions on the ground were the same.
i think it's more like a re shuffle, or a refresh getting some new blood in the studio idk i cud be anything really
happy gaming =)
out with the old and in with the new.
i just hope barlogs still there otherwise their going to have allot of bloody pitchforks, and flaming bags of dog poo to answer to!
funny thing is just before this $ony said there relocating the studio to a bigger office because they have grown too big, so there moving to a larger office.
so you move to a larger office, THEN you lay off 1/4 of your staff?
WTF!?