Active Developer Studios That Have Yet To Release A Game In The 2020s

Highlights

The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S launched in 2020, with factory delays due to the pandemic.
Some big names like Sony Bend and Sora Ltd have yet to release anything new for these consoles.
Major studios like Quantic Dream and The Initiative are working on highly anticipated projects.

As a long-time gaming enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of many studios, I must say I find myself intrigued by this list of anticipated games from developers with a history of delays or changes in direction.

2020 marked the start of a new era in gaming, with the launch of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, obtaining these consoles was challenging due to production delays caused by the pandemic. Fortunately, the industry has largely bounced back since then. These latest consoles offer an extensive library of games, created by both first-party and third-party developers.

While some well-known developers haven’t released games for these new consoles yet, one might wonder about their recent activities. Could their upcoming project be unveiled soon? There are rumors that perhaps the Switch 2 has delayed some projects. Let’s delve deeper to understand what could possibly be happening behind the scenes.

8 Sony Bend

From Spies To Zombies

Active Developer Studios That Have Yet To Release A Game In The 2020s

Over the course of its significant history with PlayStation consoles, Sony Bend Studios has undergone multiple name changes. They were once known as Eidetic and created the Syphon Filter series. Their latest release was Days Gone in 2019, but since then they’ve only updated it for better performance on the PS5. This update doesn’t equate to a significant re-release. In 2022, they revamped their logo, and that has been the most recent news about Sony Bend Studios. They tend to take time before starting new projects, as evident by the large gap between Days Gone in 2019 and their previous PS Vita game, Uncharted: Fight for Fortune, which was released in 2012.

7 Sora Ltd.

A Legend In The Fighting Game Community

Sora Limited, established by Masahiro Sakurai following Hal Laboratory, primarily developed “Kid Icarus: Uprising.” Over time, they took over as the studio behind the “Super Smash Bros.” series, with their latest installment being “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” in 2018. Post-release, they continued to update the game until 2021, adding characters like Sora from “Kingdom Hearts” along the way. However, since downloadable content isn’t a significant focus, fans have been curious about future projects for Sora Limited and Masahiro Sakurai. Will they create another “Super Smash Bros.” game for the potential Switch 2 or will they revisit Kid Icarus once more?

6 Compulsion Games

Down On The Bayou

Prior to Microsoft’s acquisition in 2018, Compulsion Games operated independently as a third-party developer. Their debut title, “Contrast,” released for the PS4 at launch, showcased clever use of shadows and perspective in a puzzle game setting. In the same year, they also launched “We Happy Few,” which bore resemblance to games like “BioShock.” Fast forward to 2023, their upcoming project, titled “South of Midnight,” was officially announced.

2024 saw an announcement teasing gameplay and promising a release in 2025 for this upcoming game. However, since the game hasn’t been launched yet, we don’t know if it will actually hit its 2025 target. It’s important to remember that with Xbox exclusives, there have often been delays or even cancellations, so it’s possible that this game might encounter similar issues.

5 GenDesign

An Epic Return For This Creator

Fumito Ueda is renowned for directing games like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus on the PS2, and he continued this work within Sony studios with The Last Guardian, which was announced in 2009 but faced numerous challenges during production, including a shift from the PS3 to the PS4 and a delay until its release in 2016. Amidst all these troubles, Ueda established his own studio, GenDesign, in 2014. In 2020, Epic Games agreed to help fund GenDesign’s upcoming project, but details about this new game have yet to be disclosed. It has almost been a decade since the release of The Last Guardian.

4 Monolith Productions

From Lords To Lasses

Monolith Productions initially gained fame by developing popular shooter series like F.E.A.R. Later, they moved on to action games, with their most successful titles being Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, which was launched in 2017 for the previous generation of gaming consoles. In 2021, a teaser trailer hinted that they were developing a Wonder Woman game, featuring only a computer-generated model of the character. Since then, no further updates have been shared about this project, except that it is still in active development.

3 Irrational Games/Ghost Story Games

Don’t Be Shocked By This Developer’s Bio

2K Boston/Irrational Games, renowned for creating the popular BioShock series, were primarily responsible for its development. The mastermind behind these games, particularly notable in the creation of BioShock Infinite, was Ken Levine. Shortly following the release of BioShock Infinite in 2013, Levine rebranded the studio as Ghost Story Games, with their initial project remaining a secret until 2022.

For the first time, Judas was presented in 2024, following which it has been demonstrated to media personnel. The projected release date for Judas is currently 2025; however, given the length of time Levine and his team took with BioShock Infinite, there’s a possibility that another delay might occur.

2 Quantic Dream

From Creative Adventure Game Developer To A Publisher

Quantic Dream gained prominence when they launched Heavy Rain on PS3, even though it wasn’t their debut title. This game marked a shift in how adventure stories were conveyed by abandoning the traditional point-and-click narrative approach. Moreover, its branching storyline encouraged players to explore various paths. Following Heavy Rain in 2009 was Beyond: Two Souls in 2013 and then Detroit: Become Human in 2018. In 2021, they unveiled plans for a Star Wars-themed adventure game titled Star Wars Eclipse. However, since the release of Detroit: Become Human, Quantic Dream hasn’t developed any new games but has published a couple instead, such as Under the Waves in 2023 and an upcoming title called Dustborn. Although publishing involves releasing someone else’s game, it’s not the same as developing one. So, the question remains: where is Star Wars Eclipse?

1 The Initiative

A Long Awaited Return For Joanna Dark

2018 saw the establishment of a new initiative by Microsoft, primarily aimed at developing a fresh installment in the “Perfect Dark” series. The last new entry in this franchise was “Perfect Dark Zero,” released for the Xbox 360 back in 2005. A hint of the revamped “Perfect Dark” sequel emerged in 2020, with a trailer unveiled in 2024. It’s reported that Crystal Dynamics is collaborating on this project, which could potentially be beneficial or detrimental. Historically, having two studios work towards a single vision has had mixed results, but Activision has successfully managed it for over a decade with the “Call of Duty” series. As for the release date of “Perfect Dark,” it remains undisclosed, but it’s expected to be exclusive to the Xbox Series X/S.

2024-08-09 14:33