PlayStation is closing down yet another one of their British studios, before it could manage to ship a single game. PlayStation's Manchester branch opened in 2015, and was intended to develop and release PlayStation VR titles, and while the studio was confirmed to be working on one game, that is now no longer the case. This is the third shuttering of a PlayStation development branch in the UK, following the closure of Guerilla Cambridge and Evolution Studios in the last four years. Two British teams yet remain under PlayStation's label: Media Molecule and London Studio.

The firm confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that it intends 'to close it as part of our efforts to improve efficiency and operational effectiveness'.

Source

 

[PrincessLillie]

Sony Person 1: "What will we do today?"
Sony Person 2: "Let's open a VR studio in Manchester!"

--- 5 years later... ---

Sony Person 1: "What will we do today?"
Sony Person 2: "Remember that VR studio we opened in Manchester? Let's pull the plug!"
Sony Person 1: "But we didn't even give them a proje-"
Sony Person 2: "THE FUCK DID I JUST SAY? SHUT IT DOWN!"

Real smooth, dipshits.

 

[Mythical]

Nice power play Sony

 

[Haymose]

Studios don’t close for no reason. There was probably no money to be made. It was in development for 5 years so they were already in the hole. Being a PSVR exclusive wouldn’t help predicted sales either. I wonder if Sony is cooling down on VR.

 

[Deleted member 506316]

Sony needs all the help it can get trying to run PS3 games on the PS5.

 

[TunaKetchup]

They spent 5 years making a shit game

Sony was pissed

 

[jt_1258]

Nice job at doing jack shit '_>'

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Why do I suddenly remember this after seeing this headline?

 

[MagnesG]

Just like the Vita. so quick to backtrack after loss of investments.

 

[wolf-snake]

Well what did you expect from not doing your job? a raise?

 

[Rj.MoG]

Nice power play Sony

Sony is T posing over their unemployment checks right now

seriously though this is fucked up of Sony. It’s sad how abused game developers are

 

[Reploid]

Sony is still being financial black hole? Hope MS gonna buy em soon

 

[Fusion]

Next studio to close will be London Studio as for not releasing Getaway like they teased eons ago.

 

[gudenau]

Maybe they will move to SteamVR, that's a better VR platform.

 

[dimmidice]

Sony Person 1: "What will we do today?"
Sony Person 2: "Let's open a VR studio in Manchester!"

--- 5 years later... ---

Sony Person 1: "What will we do today?"
Sony Person 2: "Remember that VR studio we opened in Manchester? Let's pull the plug!"
Sony Person 1: "But we didn't even give them a proje-"
Sony Person 2: "THE FUCK DID I JUST SAY? SHUT IT DOWN!"

Real smooth, dipshits.

But they did have a project? Like it's mentioned right there in the first post.

 

[DANTENDO]

Just like the Vita. so quick to backtrack after loss of investments.

So to you 5 years is quick lol its called business if it doesn't look like it's gonna achieve anything you shut it down what's the big deal

 

[MagnesG]

So to you 5 years is quick lol its called business if it doesn't look like it's gonna achieve anything you shut it down what's the big deal

It's no big deal, just like the Vita I guess.

 

[DANTENDO]

It's no big deal, just like the Vita I guess.

You keep going on about vita yeh it's a shame it didn't hav more support from Sony but you hav to respect ther decision for not making more big games for it-in business yr allowed to change yr minds and its just unlucky for those who bought the vita and was expecting mor

 

[yoyoyo69]

I think Sony is concerned. Genuinely. You always have to be mindful of competition, but Microsoft have bank AND they have been killing it lately.

Sony have already verbally committed to VR next gen, they may try Nd back track (I doubt it though, I think they try to stay in this market, it has more promise than 3D)

VR could be Sonys "Kinect". Microsoft have the Hololens, which is in a different price range by some margin. I think Microsoft's VR was inferior on price (the comparably priced systems are flawed)

Probably just saving cash due to lack of progress and moving staff.

 

[Deleted User]

Nice going Sony! Maybe, just maybe, actually letting the company make a game would bring more finical success than this, maybe. I dunno, maybe that's just me.