You’re Not Crazy, PlayStation’s Studios Are Confusing – Here’s Who’s Making What in 2026

Why You Need a PlayStation Studios Cheat Sheet

You cannot keep PlayStation’s first-party teams straight anymore, and that is not your fault. Gran Turismo patches over here, live-service experiments over there, sci-fi new IPs teased in job listings – Sony’s roadmap reads like static.

The fix is to map every PlayStation Studios team by region and sort each project into clear buckets: confirmed, strongly indicated, or speculative. Do that, and the first-party pipeline stops feeling mysterious.

This is that cheat sheet. It covers the studios you actually watch for big releases, the support teams behind the scenes, and the closures – including Bluepoint Games. Give it ten minutes and you will have a clear picture of who is building what for PS5, PC, VR, and mobile through 2027.

The Short Version

• Already shipped in 2026: Bungie’s Marathon (March 5), Housemarque’s Saros (April 30), Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei Legends co-op mode (March 10), and MLB The Show Mobile (May 26).
• Still coming: Marvel’s Wolverine (Insomniac, September 15, 2026), Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (Arc System Works + XDEV, August 6, 2026), and Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet (targeting mid-2027).
• Shutting down: Bluepoint Games closed in March 2026 (~70 staff), after Sony cancelled its live-service God of War project.
• Read the labels: “Confirmed” means officially announced. “Strongly indicated” means reliably reported. “Speculative” means an educated guess – do not bank on it.

How to Read This Guide (Confirmed vs Rumor)

First, a quick sanity check. Sony keeps most of its slate hidden, so a large part of the real roadmap lives in unannounced games and early prototypes. The four labels below are how you separate signal from noise.

• Confirmed: Officially announced by Sony or the studio, usually with a name or release window. Example: Housemarque’s Saros and Bungie’s Marathon.
• Strongly indicated: Backed by interviews, job listings, or multiple reliable reports. Very likely real, but details can shift.
• Speculative: Educated guesses from past patterns, trademarks, or vague hints. Treat these as “likely directions,” not promises.
• Dormant/Closing: No active announced project or, in Bluepoint’s case, being shut down.

With that out of the way, here is the region-by-region breakdown.

Japan – Polyphony & PlayStation’s Mascot Factory

Polyphony Digital (Tokyo) – The Gran Turismo Machine

Polyphony treats Gran Turismo 7 as a live platform. New cars, events, and physics tweaks keep landing, year after launch year.

• Established: 1998
• Known for: Gran Turismo series
• Confirmed work: Ongoing Gran Turismo 7 support on PS5/PS4 – free content updates and balance changes.
• Strongly indicated: Early work on the next mainline Gran Turismo. Polyphony rarely leaves racing, and the cadence points to a new numbered or subtitled entry behind the scenes.

Practical takeaway: If you want serious sim racing on PlayStation, Polyphony’s future is more GT – with GT7 maintained until its successor is ready.

Team Asobi (Tokyo) – Astro Bot and PlayStation’s Mascot

Team Asobi is Sony’s best “joy per minute” studio, and the full-fledged Astro Bot platformer proved it at scale.

• Established: 2021 (spun out of Japan Studio)
• Known for: Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Astro’s Playroom, Astro Bot
• Confirmed work: Post-launch support for Astro Bot has effectively wrapped.
• Strongly indicated: The full team is on its next project. Given Astro’s success and tight link to PS5’s identity, a follow-up – direct sequel or another 3D platformer starring Astro – is the safest bet.

Practical takeaway: Expect Asobi to keep owning the “show off the hardware with pure fun” niche, likely with another Astro-scale project later this generation.

Europe – Horizon, Rogue-Lites, Ports, and Support Teams

Firesprite (Liverpool, UK) – The Wild Card

Firesprite is the hardest studio to pin down. It has bounced between VR, co-development, and original projects, and it is now one of Sony’s biggest UK teams.

• Established: 2013 (ex-Studio Liverpool staff)
• Known for: The Persistence, Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Rumored work: A horror project codenamed Project Heartbreak, theorised to connect to Until Dawn in some way. No official title or platforms confirmed.

Practical takeaway: Keep Firesprite on your radar for horror and VR-adjacent experiments. Its size suggests more than one project in development.

Guerrilla Games (Amsterdam, NL) – The Horizon Factory

Guerrilla has turned Horizon into Sony’s biggest multi-format universe, and the studio is juggling several strands at once.

• Established: 2000
• Known for: Killzone, Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West
• Strongly indicated work: A co-op Horizon spin on PC/PS5, plus Horizon Steel Frontiers – a mobile/PC MMORPG developed by NCSoft with close support and oversight from Guerrilla.
• Speculative: A mainline Horizon 3 sequel feels inevitable but remains unannounced as of early 2026.

Practical takeaway: If you are invested in Horizon’s world, expect it to expand in multiple directions – open-world RPG, co-op action, and the NCSoft-built MMO – over the next few years.

Housemarque (Helsinki, Finland) – From Arcade Roots to AAA Rogue-Lite

Housemarque’s mix of arcade chaos and third-person shooting made Returnal unique, and its next game is a direct evolution of that style.

• Established: 1995
• Known for: Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal
• Confirmed work: Saros, a rogue-lite third-person action game building on Returnal‘s structure and intensity. It launched April 30, 2026, exclusively on PS5 and PS5 Pro, built with Nixxes assisting.

Practical takeaway: If you loved Returnal or want a demanding, replayable single-player action game, Saros is already out – start with our Saros beginner progression guide to open strong.

Media Molecule (Guildford, UK) – Post-Dreams Reinvention

Media Molecule’s Dreams era was remarkable but a tough commercial fit. With live support wrapped, the team has pivoted.

• Established: 2006
• Known for: LittleBigPlanet, Dreams
• Confirmed work: A new IP, explicitly described as more of a “traditional game” and less of a creation suite.

Practical takeaway: Expect something whimsical and creative, but this time designed to be played first and created in second.

Nixxes Software (Utrecht, NL) – PC Ports and Technical Glue

When a PlayStation exclusive hits PC and runs better than you feared, Nixxes is usually the quiet hero behind it.

• Established: 1999
• Known for: High-quality PC ports, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• Confirmed work: Co-development and PC-focused support on Saros.
• Strongly indicated: Additional unannounced PC ports from across the PlayStation Studios catalogue.

Practical takeaway: If you play mainly on PC, watch Nixxes – their involvement usually means a port will be handled properly.

XDEV (Liverpool, UK & global) – The External Support Powerhouse

XDEV is the connective tissue between Sony and outside studios. Many “second party” PlayStation exclusives credit them.

• Established: 2000
• Known for: Co-producing titles like Returnal, Death Stranding, Stellar Blade, Rise of the Ronin
• Confirmed work: Production support on Saros and on Arc System Works’ fighter Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (XDEV’s Reed Baird credited as senior producer), which releases on PS5 and PC August 6, 2026.
• Speculative: Multiple unannounced collaborations, especially in Asia and Europe.

Practical takeaway: When a non-Sony studio ships a PS5 console exclusive, there is a strong chance XDEV is involved behind the scenes.

North America – Blockbusters, Live-Service Bets, and a Major Closure

Bend Studio (Bend, Oregon) – Building the Next Big Open World

Days Gone found a second life with players, but Bend is charting new territory rather than a sequel.

• Established: 1993
• Known for: Syphon Filter, Days Gone
• Strongly indicated work: A new open-world IP, not Days Gone 2, reportedly with systemic sandbox elements.

Practical takeaway: Expect something structurally similar to Days Gone (large map, narrative focus) but with a different setting and cast.

Bungie (Bellevue, Washington) – Marathon and Live-Service Expertise

Bungie’s feel for first-person combat is still unmatched, and Sony bought them largely for that live-service knowledge.

• Established: 1991
• Known for: Halo, Destiny
• Confirmed work: Marathon, a PvP extraction shooter inspired by Bungie’s ’90s sci-fi series. It released March 5, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.
• Platforms: Multiplatform – not a PS5 exclusive.
• Ongoing: Support and evolution of Destiny 2, though long-term plans are in flux as Bungie navigates player-retention challenges.

Practical takeaway: Marathon is Sony’s biggest live-service swing in the near term. See our breakdown of Marathon’s rocky launch for how that bet is playing out.

Dark Outlaw Games (Los Angeles, California) – Shooter Veterans, New Label

Founded by long-time Call of Duty talent, Dark Outlaw is clearly aimed at the competitive/action space.

• Established: March 2025, under PlayStation Studios
• Known for: New studio, no shipped games
• Status: Sony closed Dark Outlaw Games in March 2026 before its debut project shipped, part of the same first-party restructuring that hit Bluepoint.

Practical takeaway: Dark Outlaw is no longer an active bet – cross it off any “studios to watch” list built before 2026.

Haven Studios (Montréal, Canada) – Fairgames and an Uncertain Future

Fairgames was revealed as a stylish “competitive heist experience,” but the signals since have been mixed.

• Established: 2021
• Known for: New studio under the PlayStation Studios banner
• Announced work: Fairgames, an online multiplayer heist shooter.
• Status watch: Founder Jade Raymond departed in May 2025, with co-directors Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski taking over the project. With leadership turnover and few updates since reveal, Fairgames carries higher cancellation or reboot risk than most Sony projects.

Practical takeaway: Treat Fairgames as “wait and see” – do not bank on it until Sony shows fresh gameplay.

Insomniac Games (Burbank, California) – Wolverine and the Spider-Verse

Insomniac is Sony’s most reliable hit factory right now, between Marvel’s Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank, and Spider-Man 2.

• Established: 1994
• Known for: Ratchet & Clank, Marvel’s Spider-Man
• Confirmed work: Marvel’s Wolverine, a mature single-player action game confirmed for September 15, 2026 on PS5.
• Strongly indicated: Ongoing work on Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 or an equivalent follow-up, given the success and dangling narrative threads.

Practical takeaway: If you buy a PlayStation for big-budget cinematic action, Insomniac is the studio to watch. Here are 12 things we want from Marvel’s Wolverine before launch.

Naughty Dog (Santa Monica, California) – A New Sci-Fi Era

After years anchored to The Last of Us, Naughty Dog is stepping into a completely new universe.

• Established: 1984
• Known for: Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, Uncharted, The Last of Us
• Confirmed work: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi action-adventure IP. Naughty Dog is reportedly targeting a mid-2027 release window.

Practical takeaway: This is Sony’s biggest swing at a new prestige single-player franchise in years; expect long development and heavy polish.

San Diego Studio (San Diego, California) – Sports Backbone

If a baseball game carries the MLB The Show name, San Diego Studio is behind it, even on non-PlayStation platforms.

• Established: 2001
• Known for: MLB The Show series
• Confirmed work: MLB The Show 26 (annual console entry, mid-March 2026) and MLB The Show Mobile, which launched free-to-play on iOS and Android worldwide on May 26, 2026.

Practical takeaway: Expect steady annual releases rather than surprise experiments; this is Sony’s reliable sports pillar.

Santa Monica Studio (Los Angeles, California) – Post-Ragnarok Experiments

With the Norse arc landed after God of War Ragnarök, the open question is what Cory Barlog and the wider studio do next.

• Established: 1999
• Known for: God of War
• Strongly indicated work: A new action-focused project led by Cory Barlog, referenced in multiple job listings.
• Rumored: A Greek-era God of War spin-off has surfaced in leaks, but nothing is confirmed publicly.

Practical takeaway: Expect at least one big action title, but do not assume it is a straightforward next Kratos chapter until Sony says so.

Sucker Punch Productions (Bellevue, Washington) – Ghost’s Next Life

Ghost of Tsushima became one of Sony’s most-loved new IPs, and Sucker Punch has leaned into that momentum.

• Established: 1997
• Known for: Sly Cooper, inFAMOUS, Ghost of Tsushima
• Recent work: Ghost of Yotei, an indirect follow-up set in the same universe.
• Confirmed: Ghost of Yotei Legends, the free four-player co-op mode, launched March 10, 2026 as part of patch 1.5.

Practical takeaway: Sucker Punch is becoming a mini-franchise studio around Ghost’s world. For how the co-op mode is faring, see our look at Ghost of Yotei Legends’ support.

teamLFG (Bellevue, Washington) – The Experimental Action Lab

Spun out of a Bungie incubation team, teamLFG is Sony’s most overtly experimental multiplayer outfit.

• Established: 2025
• Known for: New studio
• Confirmed work: A first game carrying the codename Gummybears (Project Gummy Bears), described as a “team-based action game” blending fighters, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and even “frog-type games” with a lighthearted sci-fi tone.

Practical takeaway: Watch this one if you are bored of traditional shooters and want something mechanically weird in the multiplayer space.

Valkyrie Entertainment (Seattle, Washington) – Support Across the Portfolio

Valkyrie is the “you see their logo everywhere but never know what they do” studio. In practice, it jumps between many first-party projects as a support partner.

• Established: 2002
• Known for: GUNS UP!, extensive co-development support
• Recent support: God of War Ragnarök, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
• Current work: Unannounced support roles across multiple PlayStation Studios titles.

Practical takeaway: Whenever a big Sony game credits “extra help,” Valkyrie is one of the usual suspects.

Bluepoint Games (Austin, Texas) – Legendary Remake Studio, Now Closed

Bluepoint was the studio you slotted in for “dream remake” pitches – from Demon’s Souls to Shadow of the Colossus. Sony has now shut it down.

• Established: 2006, acquired by Sony in 2021
• Known for: Demon’s Souls (PS5), Shadow of the Colossus (PS4), Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
• Status: Sony confirmed Bluepoint would close in March 2026, with roughly 70 employees affected, following the cancellation of its live-service God of War project.

Practical takeaway: If you still see Bluepoint listed as “working on an unannounced remake” in older guides, that is outdated. The legacy remakes remain essential, but the studio is gone.

At-a-Glance Roadmap: 2026–2027

• March 5, 2026: Marathon (Bungie) – PvP extraction shooter, multiplatform. Released.
• March 10, 2026: Ghost of Yotei Legends (Sucker Punch) – Free four-player co-op mode (patch 1.5). Released.
• April 30, 2026: Saros (Housemarque) – Rogue-lite third-person action, PS5/PS5 Pro, with Nixxes support. Released.
• May 26, 2026: MLB The Show Mobile (San Diego Studio) – Free-to-play, iOS/Android. Released.
• August 6, 2026: Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (Arc System Works + XDEV) – PS5/PC fighter.
• September 15, 2026: Marvel’s Wolverine (Insomniac) – Single-player action adventure on PS5.
• Mid-2027 (target): Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet (Naughty Dog) – New sci-fi action-adventure IP.

On top of that, multiple Horizon projects (including the NCSoft-built Horizon Steel Frontiers MMORPG), Haven’s Fairgames, teamLFG’s Gummybears, Bend’s new IP, and Santa Monica’s next action title are all in development without firm public release windows.

Common Mistakes When Tracking Sony’s Studios

• Treating closed studios as active. Bluepoint Games and Dark Outlaw Games both shut down in March 2026 – drop any older note that lists them as “working on something.”
• Assuming Marathon is a PS5 exclusive. It shipped multiplatform on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
• Confusing the Guerrilla MMO’s developer. Horizon Steel Frontiers is built by NCSoft with Guerrilla oversight, not made in-house at Guerrilla.
• Reading “speculative” as “confirmed.” Horizon 3 and a Santa Monica God of War spin-off are unannounced – exciting, but not on any roadmap yet.

Practical Takeaway

Map PlayStation Studios by region, then by confirmed versus speculative work, and the “Sony has no games lined up” anxiety disappears. The confirmed spine is real: Marathon, Saros, and Ghost of Yotei Legends have already shipped in 2026, with Marvel Tokon and Marvel’s Wolverine still to come this year and Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic anchoring 2027.

Update this map after every State of Play or Showcase – note which studio just surfaced and which has stayed quiet longest. Bookmark this breakdown, keep the “confirmed vs speculative” line clear, and you will always have the sharpest picture of who is actually building what.