Sony continues to expand its reach in the video game industry as it acquires another studio. Sony Interactive Entertainment has been doing this for quite a while now. Just last year, it welcomed four more video game developer teams into the fold.
Firewalk Studios Joins the Long List
Sony has already seen what the studio can do since its partnership with them back in 2021 along with ProbablyMonsters. Firewalk Studios is already working on its first original AAA multiplayer game for Sony.
Firewalk, like many game studios out there, started off with an ambition to create a studio five years ago. Fast forward to the present, it has gotten the attention of Sony for its remarkable work within the video game industry.
While creating a studio is not easy, Firewalk has had the support of companies such as Probably Monsters and Sony from the start. Firewalk's Studio Head and Game Director, Tony Hsu and Ryan Ellis, stated that they cannot wait for the next chapter in the adventure.
The two have also mentioned that they have been working with Hermen Hulst, the Head of PlayStation Studios, for years. The partnership's purpose was to develop Firewalk's upcoming original game, which will now be launched under Sony.
Even as a new video game studio, its members are not new to the creation of games. Firewalk's Ryan Ellis served as the Creative Director for Destiny, while Elena Siegman, Firewalk's Executive Producer, produced games like Guitar Hero II, as well as many Destiny releases.
Firewalk has also contributed to known multiplayer video game titles like Apex Legends, as well as the Mass Effect franchise. Sony's acquisition will be instrumental to establish a foothold in the multiplayer scene in the video game industry.
Other Sony Acquisitions
In 2022 alone, Sony Interactive Entertainment studios such as Savage Game Studios, Bungie, Haven Studios, and Lasengle. Bungie alone is already behind games that have been loved by gamers throughout the years like Destiny, Destiny 2, Halo: Reach, and more.
Sony acquired Bungie in a $3.6 billion deal. Despite that, the latter will still be in charge of the creative department, which is why Sony was happy to welcome them to the team in the first place. Bungie Studios will be an independent subsidiary of Sony, according to Engadget.
Although, Sony might slow down with video game studio acquisitions in the coming years. Since they have been doing this for a while, it's expected that its coffers are drying up, and that budget is supposed to last until 2024.
The last report of its budget was at $5 billion, and that was before the purchase of Firewalk Studio. This reveal might answer the rumors of Sony's plan to buy developer giants like CD Projekt Red, Epic Games, Capcom, Konami, and more, as mentioned in Game Rant.
One of the reported planned acquisitions, Take-Two Interactive, will cost the media giant around $20 billion. That price may make it impossible for Sony to add it to its long list of purchased studios, but there's still enough for smaller studios.
