PlayStation is closing another game studio

March 25, 2026 - 03:22

Reports have emerged that Sony Interactive Entertainment has closed Dark Outlaw Games, a studio founded by veteran developer Jason Blundell. Blundell is best known to fans as the co-creator of the highly popular Call of Duty Zombies mode during his tenure at Treyarch.

The studio, which had been operating under the PlayStation Studios umbrella, was reportedly working on a new, unannounced project. Details surrounding the closure remain sparse, with Sony offering no official comment on the matter at this time. The shutdown is said to have occurred recently, affecting the entire development team.

This move continues a recent trend of consolidation within Sony's first-party portfolio. It follows the closure of other studios, including the acclaimed PixelOpus last year, and comes amidst a period of industry-wide layoffs and restructuring. The closure of Dark Outlaw Games suggests a strategic refocusing of resources by PlayStation, potentially prioritizing larger, established franchises over newer, experimental ventures.

For fans of Blundell's narrative-driven work in the Zombies universe, this news dashes hopes of seeing his unique creative vision applied to a fresh project in the near future. The industry now watches to see where the talented developers from the shuttered studio will land next.