Key Takeaways
- Bend Studio, identified for Days Gone, is reportedly growing a brand new IP targeted on a stay service mannequin as an alternative of a sequel.
- Recent discoveries from a UI designer’s portfolio counsel the brand new mission could contain a third-person shooter with navy themes.
- There are indications of sport mechanics involving customization, rating methods, and superior weaponry, hinting at a contemporary navy setting.
As we method 2025, PlayStation is preparing with first-party releases like Ghost of Yotei and Marathon, the latter closely rumored for subsequent yr regardless of no official affirmation. Beyond these titles, a lot stays unknown about what different initiatives PlayStation Studios are growing, as they’re wrapped in secrecy.
One of those initiatives shrouded in thriller is the subsequent sport from Bend Studio, builders of the 2019 open-world zombie shooter: Days Gone. From what little is thought, regardless of reportedly having offered over 9 million copies of Days Gone, they might have opted to work on a brand new IP slightly than a sequel.
Job listings point out that it could be a stay service title constructed upon the open-world methods of Days Gone. Beyond that, not a lot is thought, however provided that the title reportedly started pre-production in 2019, it’s anticipated to function stable gameplay components by now. The upcoming discovery we current might supply insights into what to anticipate from this sport, each by way of style and mechanics.
An Early Look with UI, Concepts, and Possible Environments
This discovery comes from an internet portfolio of a UI designer (identify witheld to guard their privateness) who labored at Bend Studio from 2022 till March of this yr. In their resume, we are able to see that he labored on an unannounced Bend Studio mission, however the attention-grabbing half lies inside pictures of their work, the place we are able to discover designs for initiatives he labored on, together with ideas associated to a mission from Bend.
The ideas present design explorations for what seems to be a third-person shooter. One of those designs makes use of a picture from Days Gone as a placeholder, which we all know is a placeholder because of the distinction made by the UI components with this sport. Thus, it’s protected to say that this mission shouldn’t be associated to this franchise.
Despite not realizing the precise date of this materials, we all know that the one video within the listing comes from a Google Drive file uploaded in 2023. This means that the opposite pictures may additionally be from the identical yr or presumably from 2022.
A Military-Themed Game as a Service? Our Speculations
Based on the photographs above, there’s not an entire lot to go on outdoors of the plain like weapons, crafting, an XP system, and a few fundamental UI components. However, there’s a picture and a video that look like set on check phases.
In the check pic, you possibly can see issues corresponding to a “wardrobe,” suggesting some type of customization. Then there’s the “Rank” room. We can solely guess this refers to your character stage, and utilizing the time period “rank” could indicate that it is a military-based sport. This is backed up by the opposite pictures exhibiting fashionable weaponry. But trying again on the doable check stage picture, the character mannequin doesn’t look like your fundamental stand-in, as they’re clearly carrying physique armor round elements of their physique.
Now, within the check video, we are able to see the identical character from the picture located in what seems to be a multiplayer area, with blue and inexperienced zones which may function cowl for the participant. Another noteworthy element is that the aim of the video is to showcase a mechanic the place the weapon’s reticle pulses like a heartbeat when well being reaches a low stage.
Suppose that is certainly Bend Studio’s subsequent mission. In that case, we are able to infer that the sport can have a navy theme, leaning in direction of some kind of multiplayer/live-service format, and that includes futuristic components corresponding to nanotechnology, as advised by mentioning “nanites” in one of many UIs.
Another guess we’ll doubtless see floating round is that this being a brand new entry within the basic Syphon Filter saga. Some of the UI components for the weapon menu resemble these from the Syphon Filter video games, and the navy theme suits nicely. We aren’t leaning towards this being the case, given the earlier rumors and reviews of this being extra GaaS-focused. There are additionally a number of UI components that will counsel in any other case and could also be an excessive amount of of a change from the sequence. It’s unlikely that is Syphon Filter, although one might dream {that a} return to the sequence continues to be within the playing cards.
So, when can we anticipate to see this title be revealed? With a little bit of optimism, we would say quickly, provided that The Game Awards are simply across the nook and there are whispers of PlayStation making an look. However, at MP1st, we are likely to assume it’s going to extra doubtless be showcased at a PlayStation occasion early subsequent yr.
If the sport has been in improvement for 4-5 years now (hypothesis), then we anticipate its divulge to be sooner slightly than later.
While one may assume these ideas might belong to a canceled mission, we lean in direction of believing they’re from Bend’s present sport, as they align with the details about a multiplayer sport present in job listings this yr. Additionally, the artist’s resume signifies no canceled initiatives, just one unannounced.
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