There might be further upheaval on the waves of development for Sony it would seem, as there might be a fresh round of cancellations about to sweep away more budding "games-as-a-service." But this is where matters become foggy: did anyone tell the studios either?
According to renowned insider Jeff Grubb, the developers at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games reportedly found out about their projects being axed in a rather undignified way-through the media. Imagine finding out your hard work is shelved via a news leak! He suggests this has put those studios in a precarious situation, trying to figure out their next steps with Sony and possibly facing the dreaded prospect of staff reductions.
"Developers at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games reportedly learned about the cancellation of their projects simultaneously with everyone else, from leaked media information." - Based on reports by Jeff Grubb
Schreier Counters: Not a Surprise
Of course, it turns out that not everybody bought into that version of the story. In fact, Jason Schreier is that journalist who revealed news regarding both cancellations, expressed disbelief over Grubb's story, while assuring studios that this announcement had forewarnings in terms of their game fate. Shock, or was it expected? Pretty confusing story between the two.
Adding another layer of intrigue, it's noted that Bend Studio apparently froze hiring immediately after the cancellation news went public. This action could be interpreted in multiple ways, but it certainly hints at internal upheaval. However, Sony themselves are remaining tight-lipped, leaving us to speculate.
Why the Change of Heart?
Taking a step back, the backdrop to all this is Sony's apparent re-evaluation of the "games-as-a-service" model. Following a spate of poor performances and one very public closure with Concord, it would appear Sony is re-evaluating. So, course correction, symptom of deeper issues, or just industry volatility? Impossible to say for certain at this time.
