Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) announced the purchase of Firewalk Studioswhose members boast extensive experience in the First Person Shooter. It is worth mentioning that both parties had already been working together for some years. And it is that those led by Jim Ryan commissioned the development of a shooting title as part of their efforts to venture into the world of games as a service.
“We are delighted to extend our collaboration with Firewalk Studios and formally welcome the team to PlayStation Studios,” mentioned Hermen Hulsthead of internal PlayStation studios.
PlayStation’s purchase of Firewalk Studios has been slightly different than previous acquisitions. And it is that the team did not operate independently, but as part of ProbablyMonsters. Therefore, it is this last company that will receive the payment, the exact figure of which has not been disclosed in the statements.
It is clear that at PlayStation they are very satisfied with the work of Firewalk Studios. Although we still do not know more details about your project, from Sony they anticipate that the gaming community will be very “pleased” when they can take a look at it.
“We’ve had the privilege of working with ProbablyMonsters and Firewalk for several years, and our teams share the same ambition to create meaningful experiences for players. Firewalk’s innovative approach to storytelling and commitment to high-quality gaming continues to exceed our expectations. I think the fans will be very pleased when they see what Firewalk has in store for them.”
Hermen Hülst.
It was at the beginning of 2021 when PlayStation closed an agreement with ProbablyMonsters for Firewalk to develop a multiplayer experience. One that, by the way, is quite important for the future. Sony has been trying for some time to have a game as a benchmark service, one that can be measured against giants like Fortnite, Warzone and Apex Legends. Thus, they did not hesitate to place their trust in a team with a long history in the FPS.
Firewalk Studios was founded during 2018 by Harold Ryan, who was the president of Bungie. He actively participated in the development of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2. Years later he also became involved in the creation of destiny.
But beyond the figure of Ryan, it is important to mention that Firewalk Studios has employees -150 in total- who helped create call of duty, Bioshock Infinite, mass effect and Apex Legends; In addition to those already mentioned Halo and destiny.
“We’ve assembled an incredible team at Firewalk Studios, built specifically to deliver memorable multiplayer experiences to gamers around the world. Sony has supported our team’s vision from the very beginning with the incredible creative power of the PlayStation Studios ecosystem. This exciting step ( purchase) will help us turn that vision into a reality,” said Tony Hsu, director of Firewalk.
Following this major acquisition, PlayStation now has 20 internal studios, and it won’t be the last. Jim Ryan had already mentioned that they were open to continue buying equipment, as long as their ideas fit with the strategy and ambition of the brand.