Key Takeaways
1. Fans are upset with Sony and Hermen Hulst for closing Bluepoint Games, a studio known for its successful remake of Demon’s Souls.
2. Instead of allowing Bluepoint to remake Bloodborne, Sony assigned them to work on a canceled live-service version of God of War, contributing to the studio’s closure.
3. Hermen Hulst has cited economic challenges and rising production costs as reasons for the shutdown, despite Sony’s recent financial success.
4. Many fans are calling for Hermen Hulst’s resignation, criticizing his leadership and the decline in quality of first-party titles.
5. Future projects, like Haven’s Fairgames, face uncertainty, with concerns about whether they will be completed or canceled.
Fans are upset with Sony and Hermen Hulst for closing down Bluepoint Games. This studio, recognized for its remarkable remake of Demon’s Souls for the PS5, was purchased by Sony back in 2021. Bluepoint Games mainly focused on creating remakes of Sony’s intellectual properties and provided support for other projects. However, instead of allowing them to remake Bloodborne, which fans have been eagerly wanting, Sony allegedly assigned them to work on a live-service version of God of War, a project that was later scrapped. This decision seems to have played a role in the studio’s unfortunate closure.
Frustration Among Fans
An ironic remark from a Reddit user on r/PS5 after the closure news emerged stated, “Hermen Hulst might have more studios closed than games released at this point.” This sentiment resonates with many fans, who are pointing fingers at Hermen Hulst, the leader of PlayStation Studios, for the troubling circumstances surrounding Bluepoint Games.
Blame Game
Despite the backlash, Hermen Hulst has supposedly cited tough economic factors, shifting player preferences, and escalating game production costs as reasons for Bluepoint Games’ shutdown. It’s true that developing AAA titles is becoming increasingly expensive, with the cost of Spider-Man 2 reported to exceed $300 million. Nevertheless, Sony isn’t facing any financial woes, having recently disclosed a 22% increase in operating profit year-over-year, and they are expected to surpass profit projections.
Calls for Change
Many fans are demanding Hermen Hulst’s resignation. One fan referred to his time in charge as “PlayStation’s worst generation of first-party titles.” Another lamented that “Jim Ryan and Hermen Hulst have caused generational damage to the PlayStation brand,” reminiscing about the era of Shuhei Yoshida and Shawn Layden, who prioritized single-player experiences.
While the PS5 does have some impressive single-player titles, it will be remembered as a generation where Sony struggled to effectively embrace the live-service model. They invested $400 million into developing Concord, which was shut down just two weeks after its launch. Additionally, Sony has reportedly canceled a live-service game from Bend Studio, a live-service version of The Last of Us from Naughty Dog, a live-service Spider-Man game from Insomniac, and others.
Future Uncertainty
The future doesn’t look bright for Fairgames, a multiplayer project currently in the works by Haven. It is still uncertain if this game will make it to launch or if it too will be canceled during development.
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