Sony has acquired Resogun and Returnal developer Housemarque
While we might be more familiar with Microsoft making game studio acquisitions as of late, that doesn't mean Sony hasn't been doing some developer shopping of its own. A new addition to the PlayStation family has been made, as Housemarque has been purchased by Sony. They've worked with Sony Computer Entertainment multiple times in the past, creating games like Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Matterfall, and most recently, Returnal--each of which has been exclusive to PlayStation platforms.
Today is a big day for Housemarque and it has been over 26 years in the making. Our strong partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment started with Super Stardust HD on PS3 and since then we have made arcade inspired games for all of the PlayStation platforms. With Returnal for PS5, our most recent release, our biggest foray into third-person action gaming solidified our voice and brand in the industry as delivering unique and quality player experiences.
We are so excited to finally join the PlayStation Studios family! This gives our studio a clear future and a stable opportunity to continue delivering on gameplay centric approaches, while still experimenting with new methods of narrative delivery and pushing the boundaries of this modern artform. Locally here in Helsinki, this also means that we will officially expand the PlayStation family to a growing industry hub and secure the legacy of the oldest game studio in Finland.
Finally, what this means for our fans? We at Housemarque are gamers, and we have grown from the need to perfect and tinker with facets of games that we have found most fascinating. We are also not known for shying away from running our own course and trying out new combinations. With the backing of SIE and its family of studios supporting us, we can truly grow into our place in the industry and show what Housemarque can create with no limitations. We can’t wait to show everyone what will be in store in the upcoming years, and we hope to usher in more lasting memories and exhilarating titles for the next quarter century and beyond.
In regards to the buyout, Housemarque's co-founder expressed excitement at being a part of PlayStation Studios, and that the developers will, with the funding and backing of Sony, be free from limitations that have held them back in the past.
Curiously, Bluepoint Games, a developer who has also worked together with Sony for remasters of popular series like Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, Demon's Souls, Gravity Rush Remastered, and the Shadow of the Colossus remaster was dragged into the situation. When announcing the Housemarque acquisition, Sony Japan posted a Tweet that instead welcomed Bluepoint Games to the Sony family. The mistake hasn't yet been clarified by Sony, and was deleted shortly after being made.
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