Days Gone Developer Breaks Silence After Game Cancellation

In a surprising announcement, Sony has officially canceled a live-service game that was being developed by Bend Studio, the creators of the acclaimed action-adventure title Days Gone. This news has sparked a reaction from community manager Kevin McAllister, who expressed his gratitude towards fans for their unwavering support amidst the cancellation.

In a brief statement, McAllister assured fans, “Thanks for the love and support everyone, especially to those that have reached out. P.S. We still plan on creating cool sh**.” This message leaves the door open for the possibility of future projects, potentially hinting at thrilling new content from the studio.

The live-service game, which had yet to be officially announced, was part of Sony's ambitious plan for expanding its gaming portfolio. Alongside this cancellation, it was revealed that another anticipated project—a live-service God of War game by Bluepoint—has also been scrapped. According to a recent Bloomberg statement by Sony, both projects were halted following a comprehensive review of its upcoming games.

Sony had previously declared its intention to streamline the number of live-service titles, reducing the projected output from twelve to just six to focus more on quality over quantity. This shift indicates a significant change in strategy, perhaps revealing a move away from live-service models in favor of more traditional single-player experiences, especially considering the mixed success of live-service games in the recent past.

Additionally, the cancellation continues a trend of dramatic decisions from Sony, including the unexpected shutdown of Concord, another multiplayer title, and the subsequent closure of developer Firewalk immediately after launch, prompting refunds for all players.

Bend Studio is best known for its last major release, Days Gone, which came out in 2019 but has not seen a follow-up since. In June 2024, Bend hinted that it was embarking on a new intellectual property, which many speculate could have been the focus of the now-canceled live-service game. Moreover, for fans craving more from the Days Gone universe, there is exciting news: a Days Gone biker movie is currently in development.

As fans eagerly await more updates from Bend Studio, it remains clear that the team is not disheartened by the cancellation. Instead, they seem poised to leverage the lessons learned from past projects to deliver even more innovative and engaging experiences in the future. Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements as they come!