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Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert on reclaiming the IP, dropping free-to-play and pondering the future of the series

Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert on reclaiming the IP, dropping free-to-play and pondering the future of the series

PlayStation’s oldest first-party development group, Japan Studio, is reportedly being shut down by Sony. The news comes in from VideoGamesChronicle, reporting that Sony is winding down the original game development of the studio behind Ape Escape, Gravity Rush, and Knack. The studio’s annual contracts weren’t renewed ahead of the company’s new business year, which is set to kick off on April 1. According to the report, ASOBI Team, the group responsible for The Playroom, Astro Bot Rescue, and Astro’s Playroom will continue as a standalone studio within Sony Japan. VGC: Sony is windin...

Sources told VGC that the scaling back is due to Japan Studio not being profitable in more recent years. As the developer focused on the Japanese market before considering global appeal, PlayStation wanted to focus on broad appeal of its other first-party studios out of the gate. Another source indicated that the writing was on the wall for Japan Studio more than a year ago, starting with the departure of  then president Allan Becker. This follows other recent reports of Sony “sidelining” Japan and decisive brand decline in the country, as well as Nintendo forcing Sony out of the market...