Sony announced last Tuesday (29) the closure of two of its game studios, Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios , both recently acquired. The measure is part of a strategic restructuring of the company. The CEO of Sony's studio division, Hermen Hulst, explained that the decision aims to align the company's resources with its business priorities, both in the short and long term.
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Neon Koi, a mobile game development studio, and Firewalk Studios, responsible for the game "Concord ," have permanently shut down. The game, released in August with a budget of US$400 million, underperformed and was withdrawn from circulation shortly afterward. In an official statement, Sony indicated that the decision to close the studios was made after a detailed analysis of their portfolio and project performance.
Firewalk Studios shuts down after the failure of "Concord"
The decision to close Firewalk Studios is directly related to the performance of “Concord.” The title was launched to compete in the “hero shooter” market, a highly competitive sector. However, the game failed to attract a solid player base. In a statement, Sony said that, despite certain innovative aspects, the game did not achieve its projected goals.
Hermen Hulst publicly thanked the Firewalk team for their commitment and dedication, highlighting the producer's creative spirit. According to him, the decision, although difficult, was necessary to preserve the efficiency of the company's resources. "We will take the lessons learned from Concord and continue to improve our live service capabilities to drive future growth ," commented Sony.
Neon Koi: Revised strategy for the mobile market
Neon Koi, a mobile game development company, has also ceased operations. The company, which recently began expanding into this sector, states that the mobile gaming market remains a priority, but that it will focus on titles more aligned with the essence of PlayStation Studios. With this, Sony hopes to reach a broader and more diverse audience.
In an official statement, the company highlighted that, although the mobile market is promising, it is necessary for projects to be in sync with the vision of PlayStation Studios. "We are in the early stages of our mobile efforts, and we need to focus on games that match the pedigree of PlayStation Studios and that can reach a global audience ," the company explained.
These decisions are part of a broad restructuring that Sony has been implementing in its gaming divisions. According to the company, the adjustments aim to prepare the studios for a constantly evolving market, thus reinforcing its commitment to experiences that provide long-term growth.