No details were announced, but we dug into job descriptions to piece things together.
PlayStation’s London studio is currently hiring a team to kick off development for an upcoming PS5 game online. Based on the job descriptions, it looks like the project is in the very early stages of development, so we probably won’t see a trailer or even a name for a while.
What we do know is that it will be “an ambitious AAA project”, which will likely feature cooperative gameplay and potentially procedurally generated levels. The job descriptions also state that it’s a live service title, which Sony currently lacks. There’s Dreams, but it’s not triple-A, and Genshin Impact isn’t on Xbox, but it’s not a first-party game either.
The roles available range from prospects with titles delivered under their belt, to juniors just getting started, and even those who don’t require any experience in the video game industry. Each role also includes a clear commitment to increasing diversity in the studio, which seems absolutely necessary if the almost all-white team photo on the website is anything to behold.
Many jobs require experience with online triple-A titles for console and PC, knowledge of Unreal or Unity game engines, and building procedural environments. There are also relatively standard things like character artists and AI programmers, so we can expect to interact with NPCs in the game.
One of the requirements for the lead level designer was “experience designing online multiplayer combat”, but whether it will be PvP, PvE, or a mix of the two remains to be seen.
Each lead is expected to help build their own teams, and the studio is also recruiting an internal recruiter, so it seems these hires are just the tip of the iceberg for the new project.
PlayStation’s allure has always been its exclusives, so if this upcoming game is any good, it could help PS5 sales stay even further ahead of the Xbox Series than they already should. Sony’s stock value plummeted by $20 billion after Microsoft bought ABK, so seeing new games in the works – especially in a genre of profitable online live service – could appease investors. shareholder fears.
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