PlayStation is Betting for More Multiplayer Experiences by Acquiring Firewalk Studios

The terms of the deal were not disclosed; Firewalk Studios is now the 20th in-house studio for Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE).

Paving the way for live service games

Sony Interactive Entertainment, and PlayStation are heavily betting on multiplayer experiences, to be more specific, free-to-play live service games. It seems that the company is preparing for a potential worst-case scenario if Microsoft ends up acquiring Activision, and Call of Duty becomes an Xbox exclusive.

On February 2022, PlayStation also acquired Bungie, the studio that made Destiny and Destiny 2; the latter is one of the biggest live services out there, with content being released at a regular pace even if it was released on 2017. Certainly, their expertise will be valuable for producing SIE's next multiplayer experiences.

Another studio that focuses on live service games is Haven Studios. Sony acquired the studio led by Jade Raymond around the same time they got Bungie. It is expected that both of these studios will 'take point' in developing live service experiences in the next few years.

Firewalk Studios

Firewalk Studios was part of ProbablyMonsters, an independent game company that offers consulting services; they serve as a guide through the developing process of videogames for the studios they work with.

Firewalk Studios' mission is to '...spark incredible multiplayer experiences that inspire memorable moments.' At the moment, they are working on a new IP for Sony, but there is no additional information.

The company will develop AAA games for the PS5, and probably PC. Their staff is comprised of developers who have worked on titles like Call of Duty, and Destiny so it is safe to say that their next multiplayer game will be a first-person shooter.

Live service games have gained momentum

Games like Apex Legends, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, Warframe, and League of Legends are just a few examples of live service experiences on the market. These games are more than profitable for the studios behind them.

Live services have become quite popular among streamers and content creators because of the periodic updates they receive through seasons. This strategy keeps the experiences fresh, so players keep playing the games season after season.

Despite having a lot of live service games on the market, each of them has a large daily player base; if Sony manages to produce incredible AAA live service experiences, it is certain that the games will be popular and quickly find their niche.

What are your thoughts on Sony's strategy for live services on the PlayStation 5? Let me know in the comments below.