Sony Interactive Leisure will shut Neon Koi and Harmony developer Firewalk Studios, the corporate introduced.
Because of the closures, Neon Koi’s cell motion recreation will stop growth, and Firewalk Studios’ Harmony, which was delisted and brought offline simply two weeks after it launched on August 23, can be completely sundown.
Sony Interactive Leisure will work with the Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios workers who had been impacted to seek out placement for some inside its international PlayStation Studios “the place attainable.”
Right here is the total message from Sony Interactive Studio Enterprise Group CEO Hermen Hulst on the closures:
Expensive Crew,
At this time, I wish to share some vital updates from Sony Interactive Leisure’s Studio Enterprise Group.
We persistently consider our video games portfolio and standing of our tasks to make sure we’re assembly close to and long-term enterprise priorities. As a part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen SIE’s Studio Enterprise, we’ve got needed to make a troublesome choice relating to 2 of our studio— Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios.
Increasing past PlayStation units and crafting partaking on-line experiences alongside our single-player video games are key focal areas for us as we evolve our income streams. We must be strategic, although, in bringing our video games to new platforms and acknowledge when our video games fall wanting assembly participant expectations.
Whereas cell stays a precedence progress space for the Studio Enterprise, we’re within the very early stage of our cell efforts. To realize success on this space we have to consider titles which are in-line with PlayStation Studios’ pedigree and have the potential to succeed in extra gamers globally.
With this re-focused method, Neon Koi will shut, and its cell motion recreation is not going to be transferring ahead. I wish to specific my gratitude to everybody at Neon Koi for his or her arduous work and infinite ardour to innovate.
Relating to Firewalk, as introduced in early September (An Vital Replace on Harmony), sure points of Harmony had been distinctive, however others didn’t land with sufficient gamers, and consequently we took the sport offline. We have now spent appreciable time these previous few months exploring all our choices.
After a lot thought, we’ve got decided one of the best path ahead is to completely sundown the sport and shut the studio. I wish to thank all of Firewalk for his or her craftsmanship, artistic spirit, and dedication.
The player-versus-player first-person shooter style is a aggressive house that’s constantly evolving, and sadly, we didn’t hit our targets with this title. We are going to take the teachings discovered from Harmony and proceed to advance our dwell service capabilities to ship future progress on this space.
I do know none of that is simple information to listen to, significantly with colleagues and pals departing SIE. Each choices got severe thought, and finally, we really feel they’re the fitting ones to strengthen the group. Neon Koi and Firewalk had been house to many proficient people, and we’ll work to seek out placement for a few of these impacted inside our international group of studios the place attainable.
I’m a giant believer in the advantages of embracing artistic experimentation and growing new IP. Nonetheless, rising via sustainable financials, particularly in a challenged financial surroundings is vital.
Whereas as we speak is a troublesome day, there may be a lot to sit up for within the months forward from the Studio Enterprise Group and our groups. I stay assured that we’re constructing a resilient and succesful group pushed by creating unforgettable leisure experiences for our gamers.
Thanks to your continued assist.
