Sony's JAPAN Studio functionally shuts down

Sony doesn’t just publish games — from time to time, they’ll develop their own using some of the studios in their back pocket. One such studio, Japan Studio, is one of the most illustrious: sure, they were the folks behind Knack, but you know what else they did? Ape Escape. Gravity Rush. Patapon. Shadow of the Colossus. Friggen ICO. These guys don’t always hit, but when they do, they make some of the most iconic and well-loved games in the whole medium.

But no more, it seems. Because Sony just announced that Japan Studio is being downsized to the point where it won’t be able to make any games anymore — just a handful of staff that can manage Astro’s Playroom, and little else.

From a press release:

In an effort to further strengthen business operations, SIE can confirm PlayStation Studios JAPAN Studio will be re-organized into a new organization on April 1. JAPAN Studio will be re-centered to Team ASOBI, the creative team behind Astro’s PLAYROOM, allowing the team to focus on a single vision and build on the popularity of Astro’s PLAYROOM.

In addition, the roles of external production, software localization, and IP management of JAPAN Studio titles will be concentrated within the global functions of PlayStation Studios.

That’s a really anticlimactic way to functionally end a studio with such a pronounced and distinguished history. Japan Studios deserved better, dammit.

2021 keeps on keeping on.