Sony’s latest PlayStation Studio acquisition, Firesprite, has started recruiting for multiple projects, which include collaborations, a narrative adventure game, an action shooter, and a “blockbuster” action-adventure title. According to the latest XboxEra podcast (ironically, we know), one of these projects also includes a VR game set in the Horizon universe.
The rumor comes from Xbox Era co-founder Nick Baker, who has heard from insider sources that the developer is working on a Horizon VR game for the PSVR 2 headset. Apparently the game will not be a VR version of Horizon Forbidden West or the previously rumored Horizon Zero Dawn VR title. He “didn’t get told if it’s a full-blown game like Half-Life: Alyx, or if it’s an ‘experience’ like that Batman [Arkham] thing” either.
While this sounds great, it’s worth bearing in mind that Baker has a hit and miss track record when it comes to leaks and insider information. While he correctly leaked the existence of the Iki Island expansion for Ghost of Tsushima (although he called it a standalone game), he incorrectly predicted the reveal of an inFAMOUS title at last week’s PlayStation Showcase. Other rumors yet to be proven include the delayed announcement of Sony’s acquisition of Bluepoint Games and the development of a Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver remaster.
What is definitely true is that Firesprite is recruiting for more than 40 positions across multiple projects. These include working with Cloud Imperium Games on Star Citizen: Theaters of War and with “a respected client to expand the live ops pipeline of their already established [open world] title.” However, the developer also has multiple new IPs in development. One of these is a “blockbuster” action adventure title for which there were few details. Another is described as a AAA quality “ground-breaking next generation PvP shooter project with a Games as a Service focus.” This is in the early stages of development and will be a multi-platform project.
The third and final project for which the team was recruiting is a AAA “dark, story-driven next generation ‘Narrative Adventure’ with genre defining goals.” This game is being developed in partnership with another undisclosed company and they’re looking to take “atmosphere, storytelling, player agency and narrative firmly into ground-breaking territory.” The game will have 3D characters, a branching narrative, “a powerful storyline, strong character arcs, and compelling dialogue.”
At the time of their acquisition, Head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst stated Firesprite’s games would be “experiences that you can expect will be quite different from the teams that you are familiar with at PlayStation Studios.” Whatever the team does produce, we’ll just have to wait for any further details.
[Source: YouTube, Firesprite]
