What to know
- Sony confirmed it will close Bluepoint Games in March 2026 after a recent business review.
- The closure will lead to about 70 employees being laid off from the Austin, Texas-based studio.
- Bluepoint was known for acclaimed remakes and remasters, including Demon’s Souls, Shadow of the Colossus, and Uncharted.
- The studio’s recent work included co-development support and a now-cancelled live-service God of War project.
PlayStation (Sony Interactive Entertainment) has announced it is shutting down Bluepoint Games, a studio it acquired in 2021, and will officially complete the closure in March 2026. This decision was shared publicly in February 2026 and comes after what Sony described as a “recent business review.”
Bluepoint was founded in 2006 in Austin, Texas and built a strong reputation over nearly two decades for high-quality remasters and remakes of iconic PlayStation titles. Its work included:
- Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, a remaster of Uncharted trilogy games.
- Shadow of the Colossus (2018), a remake of the beloved PlayStation 2 classic.
- Demon’s Souls (2020) for PlayStation 5, widely praised for pushing the hardware and setting a visual benchmark.
After being bought by Sony, Bluepoint also contributed additional development support on titles such as God of War Ragnarök before shifting to internal projects under PlayStation’s direction.
Why Sony Decided to Close Bluepoint
Sony says the decision to shut Bluepoint came after reviewing its overall business and strategy, not because of one specific controversy or failure. The company also acknowledged Bluepoint’s creative and technical contributions in a statement.
While Sony hasn’t publicly detailed every internal factor, reporting suggests that the studio’s last major internal project — a live-service God of War game that Bluepoint was developing — was cancelled in early 2025. This cancellation removed the primary ongoing work pipeline at the studio and may have influenced Sony’s long-term plans for it.
Current context in the broader PlayStation ecosystem shows other studios under Sony have experienced restructurings, layoffs, or closures over the past few years as the company adjusts its game development priorities.
The closure will result in around 70 people losing their jobs. Bluepoint employed roughly 80 people before the announcement, so most of the studio’s workforce will be affected. Sony’s announcement did not specify relocation or internal transfer plans for those staffers, which is often a possibility when parent companies close studios.
Layoffs and studio closures, while painful for employees, are not unheard of in the contemporary games industry; many major publishers have restructured teams to align with strategic shifts such as live-service games, changing market conditions, or platform transitions.
Broader Industry Reaction and what is next
The news has drawn strong reactions from fans and industry observers. Many players and commentators praised Bluepoint’s work and expressed surprise or frustration at the decision, especially given the studio’s track record of delivering high-quality remastered experiences that resonated with long-time PlayStation fans. Some backlash has focused on leadership decisions at Sony and concerns about how future titles — especially remakes — will be handled without the studio.
However, Sony’s official communication has so far remained limited to the closure announcement and thanks to the team, without deeper insight into future strategic planning for the PlayStation portfolio.
As of now, Bluepoint Games will continue winding down operations into March 2026. After that, Sony will adjust its internal studio roster to reflect the closure. Whether PlayStation will reassign Bluepoint’s remaining projects or staff to other groups within PlayStation Studios has not been confirmed by Sony.
At this stage, fans of PlayStation’s classic remakes and remasters will be watching closely to see how Sony fills the gap left by Bluepoint’s departure and how its broader development strategy evolves over the rest of the PlayStation 5 generation and beyond.
