Recently, a studio that exclusively created titles for PlayStation, called PixelOpus, shared an announcement online that it has been shut down by Sony. This is indicative of a trend where larger publishers are shutting down smaller studios. The closure of PixelOpus raises concerns about the number of first-party studios under the PlayStation banner compared to its competitors. The studio was founded in 2014, and it only released two games in its time, Entwined and Concrete Genie. PixelOpus was a small team that worked on games for several PlayStation consoles, including the PS3, PS4, and PS Vita. Although no official explanation has been given for the closure, the news broke on Twitter through the studio’s official account.
PixelOpus, a first-party PlayStation studio, has recently announced via Twitter that their journey has come to an end. The studio, which was established in 2014 as an in-house developer for Sony Interactive Entertainment, has produced two exclusive games for PlayStation: Entwined and Concrete Genie. Unfortunately, PixelOpus has now become another victim of a larger publisher, Sony, that has shut down the studio. The decision to end PixelOpus remains unexplained, leaving fans puzzled, especially since the studio was working on a new PS5 title that has now been scrapped.
PixelOpus fans reacted to the news with a mixture of confusion and disappointment, with some expressing concerns about the lack of first-party studios at Sony compared to their competitors. They also mentioned the recent restructuring of Japan Studio, another first-party PlayStation studio, which led to its “refocusing” into its spin-off studio, Team Asobi. Some fans worried that this could be a sign of other studio closures, like Media Molecule.
Dear friends, our PixelOpus adventure has come to an end. As we look to new futures, we wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the millions of passionate players who have supported us, and our mission to make beautiful, imaginative games with heart.
We are so grateful! ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/rQO2Cgvhnq— PixelOpus (@Pixelopus) May 5, 2023
The shuttering of PixelOpus has left many fans stunned and disappointed, but unfortunately, it is not an uncommon occurrence in the gaming industry. In recent years, several other studios have also been closed down for various reasons, such as underperformance or failure to meet expectations.
However, the closing of PixelOpus is particularly surprising as the studio was in the process of developing a new game in collaboration with Sony Pictures Animation. As gamers and fans await more information on the reasons behind Sony’s decision to shut down this first-party studio, there is concern among some that other studios, such as Media Molecule, may also be at risk of closure.
