PlayStation owner Sony has announced the closure of Bluepoint Games, the critically acclaimed studio responsible for the remakes of Demon’s Souls and Shadow of the Colossus. The decision, following a recent business review, will impact approximately 70 employees, with the studio officially ceasing operations in March, according to reports from Bloomberg and Kotaku.
Bluepoint Games gained widespread recognition for its meticulous and visually stunning remakes, breathing new life into classic PlayStation titles. The studio’s work on Demon’s Souls, a launch title for the PlayStation 5, was particularly lauded for its graphical fidelity and faithful recreation of the challenging action RPG. The closure marks a significant shift for a studio once considered a cornerstone of PlayStation’s strategy to revisit its beloved back catalog.
A History of Remasters and a Canceled Live Service Project
Founded in 2006 by former Retro Studios employees, Bluepoint Games initially focused on remastering existing PlayStation games. Their early work included the God of War Collection, the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, bringing these titles to new audiences and platforms. The studio also contributed to ports of games like PlayStation All-Stars, Flower, and Titanfall. Sony acquired Bluepoint Games in 2021, signaling a commitment to the studio’s expertise in visual enhancements and game preservation.
However, following the acquisition, Sony directed Bluepoint towards a different path. The studio spent considerable time developing a live-service God of War game, a departure from its established strengths. That project was ultimately canceled in January 2025, according to Bloomberg, leaving the studio to pitch new ideas. Despite these efforts, Bluepoint was unable to secure a new project before the decision to shutter the studio was made.
Impact on PlayStation’s First-Party Studios
The closure of Bluepoint Games is the latest in a series of changes within PlayStation’s first-party studio structure. In 2024, Sony closed Firewalk Studios shortly after the launch of its game, Concord, and also shuttered mobile studio Neon Koi, as reported by The Verge. These moves suggest a broader reassessment of Sony’s investment in internal game development, particularly in the increasingly competitive live-service market.
A PlayStation spokesperson stated, “Bluepoint Games is an incredibly talented team and their technical expertise has delivered exceptional experiences for the PlayStation community. We thank them for their passion, creativity and craftmanship.” However, the statement offers little insight into the reasoning behind the closure beyond the “recent business review.”
Fans had long speculated that Bluepoint Games would be tasked with reviving other PlayStation classics, with Bloodborne frequently mentioned as a prime candidate for a remake. The studio’s proven ability to enhance and modernize older titles made it a natural fit for such projects. Instead, the focus on a live-service game proved unsuccessful, ultimately leading to the studio’s demise.
Bluepoint Games also provided co-development support on God of War Ragnarok in 2022, demonstrating its versatility beyond remakes. However, this collaboration did not translate into a new standalone project for the studio.
The studio employed roughly 70 people, according to multiple reports, and their loss represents a significant blow to the PlayStation development ecosystem.
What’s Next for PlayStation’s Remake Strategy?
The future of PlayStation’s remake strategy remains uncertain following the closure of Bluepoint Games. Even as other internal studios may possess the technical skills to undertake similar projects, Bluepoint’s unique expertise and track record will be difficult to replicate. It remains to be seen whether Sony will continue to prioritize remakes and remasters, or shift its focus entirely towards new intellectual property and live-service games.
The closure of Bluepoint Games serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing game developers, even those with a proven track record of success. The industry is in constant flux, and even established studios are vulnerable to shifting priorities and market pressures.
What are your thoughts on the closure of Bluepoint Games? Share your comments below and let us know which PlayStation classic you’d like to spot remade next.
