PlayStation Studios has taken a big step toward expanding its already impressive library of first-party content by acquiring another development studio, Firewalk Studios. The studio hasn’t released its first game yet, but PlayStation seems interested in the progress it’s making.
Firewalk Studios was founded more than five years ago by veteran game director Ryan Ellis and former Activision CFO Tony Hsu. Aside from being billed as “AAA multiplayer for the PlayStation,” there aren’t any concrete details on its debut title yet. Hsu and Ellis said they have been backed by Sony since 2021, but this latest acquisition by PlayStation Studios indicates an increased level of investment that could mean good things for any games the studio is currently working on.
The announcement was made today by PlayStation Studios head Herman Hulst. Sadly, the official statement still doesn’t give interested parties any clues as to what Firewalk is currently developing, but it does say the studio is “creating inspiring worlds grounded in great gameplay” . The Firewalk founder’s history working in the Destiny series is certainly an encouraging indicator that it’s possible to make large worlds with great multiplayer gameplay.
Ryan Ellis, co-founder of Firewalk Studios, previously worked at Bungie as Technical Art Director for Destiny and Creative Director for Destiny 2. He has also worked on Halo Reach, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and several Oddworld titles. Tony Hsu, another Firewalk founder along with Ellis, spent over seven years in Activision’s finance department.
Everything at the moment about Firewalk Studios and its new partnership with PlayStation is pure speculation from outside viewers. Sony is sure to invest in expanding its future multiplayer content, as evidenced last year by announcing at least 10 live-service games by 2026. Its single-player catalog is one of the most frightening in the business right now for franchises like God of War, Horizon, and Spider-Man. Not to mention the ever-expanding popularity of The Last of Us franchise. Multiplayer hasn’t been the main focus of its first-party titles in the past, though, and Firewalk’s upcoming title appears to be one of PlayStation’s attempts to rectify that.