Rumor: Concept Art of Canceled PlayStation Game Has Surfaced

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Rumor: Concept Art of Canceled PlayStation Game Has Surfaced

Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation’s London Studio was developing a live-service PS5 game set in a fantasy version of London, but it was canceled alongside the studio’s closure earlier this year.
  • New concept art for London Studio’s PS5 game has surfaced, showcasing a distinctive art style and visual identity.
  • Sony’s decision to shutter London Studio may have been part of a shift away from its ambitious live-service plans.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia upon hearing about the cancellation of London Studio’s unannounced PS5 live-service game. Having grown up playing classics like SingStar and PlayStation Home on my trusty PlayStation, it’s disheartening to see such creative teams dissolve into thin air.

Recently, two fresh illustrations from a discontinued live-service game project for PlayStation were discovered online. This game was being developed by the esteemed London Studio – a PlayStation in-house development team, which unfortunately closed down earlier this year following Sony’s decision.

As a devoted admirer, I’ve always cherished the groundbreaking work of London Studio, a pioneering team that traces its roots back to 2002, making it one of PlayStation’s oldest and most respected studios. Beyond contributing to the development of numerous PlayStation first-party games, this studio was revered for its innovative spirit, consistently pushing the boundaries of PlayStation hardware with unique experiences like Singstar, PlayStation Home, PlayStation VR Worlds, Eye Toy, and countless others. However, in February 2024, our cherished London Studio was unfortunately closed down, leaving a void in the gaming community that will be hard to fill.

Prior to its closure, the London Studio had been working on a live-service game for PS5 that supposedly included cooperative gameplay and was based in a fantastical depiction of London. In 2022, an official glimpse of concept art for this unannounced game from London Studio was revealed, but no further details were shared beyond the single image. Unfortunately, the project came to an end when the studio had to close its doors. Recently, two more pieces of concept art related to this enigmatic live-service game have surfaced on Léa Pinto’s ArtStation profile, who used to work at London Studio.

New Concept Art for PlayStation London Studio’s Canceled PS5 Live-Service Game

Pinto doesn’t directly claim that the artwork originates from London Studio’s cooperative game; instead, he says they were designed in 2023 for a project that was later scrapped. However, their similar style and branding to the official 2022 artwork suggest they were indeed intended for London Studio’s live-service game. Furthermore, the artwork clearly depicts London streets, and the playful use of words like fairies, orcs, and elves in store signs strengthens the fantasy theme even more.

Additionally, it should be noted that Pinto’s concept art suggests London Studio’s PS5 game boasted a powerful and unique aesthetic. The neon tones during nighttime stand out particularly, hinting at a similar color scheme as seen in ‘Blade Runner 2049’. It’s regrettable that this game, along with its impressive visual identity, won’t be released, considering the impact of art styles on a live-service game’s success, as demonstrated by the criticisms faced by Concord’s character designs.

Sony hasn’t explicitly stated why they closed London Studio, but many believe it could be due to Sony scaling back on their ambitious live-service games initiatives that were initiated some years ago. It’s also been speculated that Firesprite’s live-service project for Twisted Metal, as well as Naughty Dog’s long-awaited The Last of Us Online, were canceled around the same time London Studio shut down, which supports this theory.

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2024-10-25 10:35