Sony has confirmed that Japan Studio, the in-house video game developer in Tokyo, will essentially phase out and refocus on a single team. In a statement to IGN, Japan Studio said it would be ‘refocused on Team Asobi, the creative team behind Astro’s playroom, allowing the team to focus on one vision and build on the popularity of Astro’s playroomIn other words, prepare for more Astro spell.
Astro’s playroom is a well-received title that comes with every PlayStation 5 console. It’s a 3D platformer designed to show off the advanced haptic feedback of the new DualSense controller. The same team developed for that Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, widely regarded as the standout PlayStation VR exclusive title.
VGC reported earlier today that the “vast majority” of Japan Studio’s staff were fired because Sony refused to renew their annual contracts, which run until the end of the fiscal year on March 31. Some employees are said to have been assigned to Team Asobi, while others are reportedly joining Bokeh, a new studio founded by Silent Hill and Gravity Rush director Keiichiro Toyama.
While Team Asobi’s work has been praised to date, Japan Studio has been a staple of Sony’s first PlayStation development efforts for decades. It created series such as The escape of primates Patapon, and LocoRoco, while also helping with the development of titles such as Blood borne and The last protectorBefore leaving last year, Toyama led a division responsible for the Siren and Gravity Rush spell.