Kena: Scars of Kosmora’s PS Studios Label Could Be Both a Blessing and a Curse

by

The delightful adventure game Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which came out in 2021 and didn’t get the attention it deserved, is getting a follow-up this year called Kena: Scars of Kosmora. While some might not have predicted this return to Kena’s world of spirits from Sony, it’s great news for fans.

Compared to most big-budget games today, Kena: Bridge of Spirits feels charmingly simple. While beautiful and unique visually, its world isn’t huge or filled with lots of extra things to do – it’s not as massive or detailed as many other games. But that’s actually what makes Bridge of Spirits so special; it doesn’t try to be like games such as Assassin’s Creed or The Witcher 3. It simply focuses on bringing its own creative ideas to life. Hopefully, Kena: Scars of Kosmora will maintain this focus, and with the backing of PlayStation Studios, it might be a bigger and more ambitious game than the first one.

What Does the PlayStation Studios Label Mean for Kena?

What Is PlayStation Studios?

PlayStation Studios is the division of Sony Interactive Entertainment responsible for developing and publishing most of PlayStation’s biggest exclusive games. While they don’t create games directly, PlayStation Studios manages and supports the projects of their internal game development teams, such as:

  • Insomniac Games
  • Sucker Punch Productions
  • Naughty Dog
  • Santa Monica Studio

Is Kena: Scars of Kosmora Owned by PlayStation Studios Now?

Ember Lab, the studio behind Kena, is different from developers like Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, and Insomniac. It’s a completely independent studio – not owned by Sony or any other major company. Instead, Ember Lab partnered with Sony to publish the Kena games. This partnership provided valuable support for Bridge of Spirits, including extra funding, early access to PlayStation 5 development tools, and help with marketing, all of which played a role in the game’s success.

With Kena: Bridge of Spirits now part of the PlayStation Studios family, it will receive the full support and funding of a first-party Sony game. This doesn’t mean Sony is buying Ember Lab, but it shows they have a lot of faith in the studio. Ember Lab says this increased confidence is allowing them to create a bigger and more impressive Kena game planned for release later this year.

‘Partnering with PS Studios Has Empowered Us’ — How PS Studios Might Improve Kena: Scars of Kosmora

In a recent PlayStation Blog post, Ember Lab’s Josh Grier shared that their collaboration with PlayStation Studios is allowing them to develop a more expansive and immersive experience for Kena: Scars of Kosmora. They’re focusing on well-crafted levels, thoughtful character development, and a greater sense of exploration. While details are limited, it’s clear Sony is providing increased support to Ember Lab, which should result in a more polished and ambitious game.

Even now, the original Kena is a visually stunning game on the PlayStation 5, making us eager to see how Scars of Kosmora will push those graphics even further. One criticism of Bridge of Spirits was that it felt too focused and simple in its gameplay, so we’re hoping Scars of Kosmora expands on those aspects. The reveal trailer suggests bigger, more explorable levels, which could be a key benefit of being developed by a PlayStation Studio.

I’m excited to see Scars of Kosmora build on the gameplay of the first Kena game, especially in terms of combat, exploration, and how players progress. Ember Lab has already shown they can create stunning visuals and animations, so I’m hoping Scars of Kosmora improves upon what came before, rather than just being a much larger game.

Kena: Bridge of Kosmora Should Hold Tight to Its Humble Roots

As I mentioned earlier, people enjoy Kena: Bridge of Spirits not because it’s a large, expensive open-world game, but because it’s genuinely heartfelt. What truly sets Kena apart is its story, animation, and overall atmosphere, not sprawling landscapes or overly complex skill trees. Essentially, I hope the upcoming Kena: Bridge of Kosmora, despite having a bigger budget, doesn’t end up feeling like a visually polished version of Horizon: Forbidden West or just another predictable open-world game.

I don’t think Kena: Bridge of Spirits feels limited in scope, even though some gameplay elements could be improved. While bigger and more varied environments might be nice, the success of Kena: Scars of Kosmora will likely come from the same thing that made the first game great: its strong creative vision. As long as Ember Lab stays true to that vision, Scars of Kosmora has the potential to be a fantastic addition to the series.

Read More

2026-02-16 22:09