Details on Sony Bend Studio Canceled Projects

Msamy

Msamy

Member
Based on Jeremy Koepek (current software engineer at bend studio) LinkedIn Profile their are some details on their canceled ps5 projects as fellowing :-
1- Their first cancelled was Day's Gone2
and it was built on Decima engine based on this LinkedIn profile.
2- Their second cancelled project was likely uncharted related because he stated that he edit modifications to naughty dog engine as part from his work on that project
3-Their third cancelled project is likely their mulplayer project which cancelled lately because it developed for ps5 & pc and this project also was built on Decima engine.

Finally he mentioned that they currently working on unannounced project but no information about it, for me the most interesting thing is that they completely cancelled their work on Naughty dog title, which means that the second naughty dog team is likely working on uncharted 5 (or whatever) 1 from scratch https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkoepke/
HDyuBfUKKsDhApUX.jpg
 
Last edited:
the lost generation:
1) a group of young american writers who came of age during the first world war. the term symbolically describes the people who were inevitably changed by the war after encountering suffering and disillusionment
2) the ps5. the term symbolically describes a piece of sophisticated hardware looking for something to do...
 
splattered said:
Huh weird i thought only Microsoft cancelled games this gen... O_o
Click to expand...
Projects get canceled all the time, but we mostly don't hear about it. The unusual thing about MS is canceling games after they've already been announced and been in development for an ungodly amount of time.

Then there's Concord which got canceled 11 days after it released lol
 
Games get canceled all the time - what's the problem?

We have no idea how big the graveyard of games that never made it past concept stage is but I can guarantee you Sony, Microsoft, Ubi, EA and the likes have canceled a crazy amount of games. That's just how the industry works - you try stuff and sometimes it just doesn't work out for reason x, y or z.
 
SJRB said:
Games get canceled all the time - what's the problem?

We have no idea how big the graveyard of games that never made it past concept stage is but I can guarantee you Sony, Microsoft, Ubi, EA and the likes have canceled a crazy amount of games. That's just how the industry works - you try stuff and sometimes it just doesn't work out for reason x, y or z.
Click to expand...
The problem that their entire work (3projects) this gen got canceled and their next project is likely to be released on PS6 If the studio still exist, and I don't blame the studio, I blame Sony management who didn't approve days gone 2 development for bullshit gaas strategy
 
Last edited:
splattered said:
Huh weird i thought only Microsoft cancelled games this gen... O_o
Click to expand...

I'm sure you know, but still, let me tell you about it: Cancelling games is nothing new 😎. It already happened, it still happens, it will happen again. It happened during the N64/PSX/Saturn era, during the PS4/One era, it will happen again when the PS6 and whatever MS is working on arrive.

May be for different reasons, but it happened..

Also, there is no general assumption that only MS is cancelling games in development.
 
Msamy said:
The problem that their entire work (3projects) this gen got canceled and their next project is likely to be released on PS6 If the studio still exist, and I don't blame the studio, I blame Sony management who didn't approve days gone 2 development for bullshit gaas strategy
Click to expand...
I blame Phill Spencer....he's the one that cancels every game in the industry...
 
Last edited:
Msamy said:
2- Their second cancelled project was likely uncharted related because he stated that he edit modifications to naughty dog engine as part from his work on that project
Click to expand...
Msamy said:
they completely cancelled their work on Naughty dog title, which means that the second naughty dog team is likely working on uncharted 5 (or whatever) 1 from scratch
Click to expand...
The cancelled 'Unannounced Title A" related to Naughty Dog could be The Last of Us Online, where some Bend did work as support team between the DG release and the greenlight of their own next game. The reference ND games could be TLOU1&2 before they got remastered/remade, and could be listed as PS5 only because ND only works in console and somebody else helps them with the PC ports.

ND has an unannounced SP AAA game under production since around early 2023 that isn't TLOU3. We know that around that time was when Bend got the greenlight for the new IP and Bend focused on it, leaving the early work they were making in an Uncharted spin-off that didn't have Cassie as main character and was just in early planning stages. So maybe when Bend moved away from the project ND got it for themselves.

'Unannounced Title B' could also be Horizon Online: uses Decima and is a GaaS so would release in PS+PC. This would mean 'Unannounced title C' would be Bend's new IP, which wouldn't have been cancelled at least when he updated this Linkedin portion.

Independently if ND is working in a new Uncharted game or not, it would be nice to see Bend working in Days Gone 2 and a Uncharted Golden Abyss remake.

The_hunter said:
Unix platform? Probably server side stuff for a multiplayer game?
Click to expand...
More likely refers to potential tweaks needed to the PC version to ensure it works well enough in Steamdeck.

Basically all online game servers work in Linux/Unix independently on which platform the game client is, so a Linux/Unix server is assumed and wouldn't be needed to specify it there.

AustinGAF said:
How many games did Sony Bend Released that was not Cancelled?
Click to expand...
17

Fake said:
I was told by some that Days Gone 2 never existed. How something that never existed be cancelled?
Click to expand...
It existed as a WIP pitch, which often includes some early prototype as part of the early preproduction work made for the pitch (as in this case would be to make a prototype of a new mechanic they'd introduce there, or another one doing a test of putting some small amount of DG1 stuff in another, newer engine).

But the intenal Bend studio head dedided to don't pitch it to PS Studios/SIE HQ, so it never was greenlighted and never entered production.

So yes, as production never "existed". But as WIP pitch / early preproduction yes, it did exist.

But well, all teams have many game ideas/small prototypes/pitches that never get pitched or are pitched and don't get the greenlight.
 
Last edited:
It's wild that Sony has still somehow cranked out GOTY nominees annually with this level of failure at some of their studios.

I guess the mismanagement has mostly been at new studios but, man, Bend must feel pressure to deliver soon, or else.

the simpsons ax GIF
 
Heimdall_Xtreme said:
If you add incompetents like Hermen Hulst, Hideaki Nishino, Druckmann, and the worst, industry scum Jim Ryan. You get these results. And even more idiots for making and promoting garbage like Horizon.
Click to expand...
Take Druckmann out of that group. He made the GOAT last gen, and has showed off a New IP this gen, also has his studio working on another unnanounced game.. Replace him with Cory Barlog who hasn't shown shit since 2018
 
Last edited:
Msamy said:
The problem that their entire work (3projects) this gen got canceled and their next project is likely to be released on PS6 If the studio still exist, and I don't blame the studio, I blame Sony management who didn't approve days gone 2 development for bullshit gaas strategy
Click to expand...
Days Gone 2 vs Star Wars Outlaws would have been a legendary sales thread.
 
Sonys portfolio/studio management is genuinely making Microsoft look good this gen....which is something I never thought id say. An absolute fucking circus, went all in on Gaas with little to no strategy or thought process, putting all of their studios on that shit even when they have no real experience or talent for it just because big money baby and don't worry, Gaas master Bungie who they got fleeced for will guide and lead all of their studios to the Gaas promised land!

Throwing away their status of top tier technical powerhouse single-player releases in place of lazy, unimpressive cross-gen releases, which have been eclipsed and overshadowed by studios with one-third of the budget and manpower, the very thing that gave them their strong position and saved their asses for basically nothing of note. They have been able to push out barely any real first party exclusives, most of the projects have been cancelled and the only success they have for their massive focus on Gaas this gen is basically helldivers 2 and gt7 i guess. I mean honestly, this is the closest I have been from moving fully to PC. If they move any more of their exclusives to PC and only push out cross-gen mediocre releases next-gen, I'm out... and I have owned every single Sony console.
 
Last edited:
Represent. said:
jesus christ sony is dumb as fuck this gen
Click to expand...
Think about why, or how it came to this: last gen PlayStation only had to deal with Wii U and Xbox One. Easy win. This gen Nintendo went with something unique and MS screwed themselves out of the console market. Another easy win for PlayStation without doing much besides existing as they've done since forever.

They've clearly become super weak, the price paid for not having strong competition for a decade or more. It's like the leadership at PS HQ is on auto pilot and it is showing.
 
Represent. said:
Take Druckmann out of that group. He made the GOAT last gen, and has showed off a New IP this gen, also has his studio working on another unnanounced game.. Replace him with Cory Barlog who hasn't shown shit since 2018
Click to expand...
Just for one game, is it already worthy?

😆😆😆😆.

Its sequel fell way short and the series was already bad.

I would definitely fire him.

Intergalatic is also another mediocre title.
 
SJRB said:
Games get canceled all the time - what's the problem?
Click to expand...
It's been six years and all three of this studio's games got cancelled. This is practically unheard of.

Even the worst studios like Rocksteady and WB montreal released games after getting multiple games cancelled.
 
Sony have about 17 Sony owned teams/studios. Excluding nonsense like directors cuts of ps4 games, this is their anaemic non cross gen ps5 output from their actual studios for the ENTIRE gen:

- 2020 (2 titles)
- Astro's Playroom
- Demon's Souls

- 2021 (1 titles)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

- 2023 (2 titles)
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Firewall Ultra

- 2024 (2 titles)
- Concord (removed from sale)
- Astro Bot

Summary of Quantity per Year
- 2020: 2
- 2021: 2
- 2023: 2
- 2024: 2
- 2025: 0 (as of August 16, 2025)

Total: 7 first-party PS5 exclusive games from Sony-owned studios. One of which was removed from sale it was so bad. One was a cheap Gaas flop (all state), one was an unbuilt short demo (playroom), one was a vr game.

So proper games, that you can actually buy, it's literally like 4, 4 games. None this year, they've literally cancelled more than 8 in the last 12 months. Their 1st party studio management this gen should literally be criminal. If their actual profits weren't doing too badly, investors would have a pretty strong case for criminal negligence towards shareholders. It's stunning there hasn't been many high profile firings of senior management.

The only thing that hasn't made it a total wash is some decent second party financed games and third party money hats. So whoever is responsible for managing 3rd/2nd party developer relations, and indies needs a raise, whoever handles 1st party needs sacking and banning from the industry.

Even including cross gen it doesn't grow much
 
Last edited:
yurinka said:
The cancelled 'Unannounced Title A" related to Naughty Dog could be The Last of Us Online, where some Bend did work as support team between the DG release and the greenlight of their own next game. The reference ND games could be TLOU1&2 before they got remastered/remade, and could be listed as PS5 only because ND only works in console and somebody else helps them with the PC ports.

ND has an unannounced SP AAA game under production since around early 2023 that isn't TLOU3. We know that around that time was when Bend got the greenlight for the new IP and Bend focused on it, leaving the early work they were making in an Uncharted spin-off that didn't have Cassie as main character and was just in early planning stages. So maybe when Bend moved away from the project ND got it for themselves.

'Unannounced Title B' could also be Horizon Online: uses Decima and is a GaaS so would release in PS+PC. This would mean 'Unannounced title C' would be Bend's new IP, which wouldn't have been cancelled at least when he updated this Linkedin portion.

Independently if ND is working in a new Uncharted game or not, it would be nice to see Bend working in Days Gone 2 and a Uncharted Golden Abyss remake.


More likely refers to potential tweaks needed to the PC version to ensure it works well enough in Steamdeck.

Basically all online game servers work in Linux/Unix independently on which platform the game client is, so a Linux/Unix server is assumed and wouldn't be needed to specify it there.


17


It existed as a WIP pitch, which often includes some early prototype as part of the early preproduction work made for the pitch (as in this case would be to make a prototype of a new mechanic they'd introduce there, or another one doing a test of putting some small amount of DG1 stuff in another, newer engine).

But the intenal Bend studio head dedided to don't pitch it to PS Studios/SIE HQ, so it never was greenlighted and never entered production.

So yes, as production never "existed". But as WIP pitch / early preproduction yes, it did exist.

But well, all teams have many game ideas/small prototypes/pitches that never get pitched or are pitched and don't get the greenlight.
Click to expand...
For naughty dog title it's high likely not last of us online because it ps5 only and sony strategy is to release their online games on pc and ps5 day one, for unannounced project B its not horizon online because it's not cancelled and some trusted reports confirmed bend new project which is gaas mulplayer got canceled and that aliens with this linked in profile information
 
Last edited:
Sony: cancel Days Gone 2, critics called the first one sexist/problematic!!!!! it wont sell!!!
Sony later: upsie it sold a ton, our bad, lets try something else
Sony again: lets make gaas game, this is the new trend!!!
Sony again later: upsie it's not a trend, cancel it!!!
Sony again again later: sry we wasted a decade on nothing, lets try dis again, but make it a very safe game, nothing original, we can't risk it!! hehe

Fire Herman Hulst and whoever greenlights/cancels projects.
 
Last edited:
The Cockatrice said:
Sony: cancel Days Gone 2, critics called the first one sexist/problematic!!!!! it wont sell!!!
Sony later: upsie it sold a ton, our bad, lets try something else
Sony again: lets make gaas game, this is the new trend!!!
Sony again later: upsie it's not a trend, cancel it!!!
Sony again again later: sry we wasted a decade on nothing, lets try dis again, but make it a very safe game, nothing original, we can't risk it!! hehe

Fire Herman Hulst and whoever greenlights/cancels projects.
Click to expand...
Sony didn't cancel Days Gone 2 because they never greenlighted it. What Bend cancelled was barely some super early prototype for a pitch that wasn't even pitched to Sony.

If they cancelled the GaaS was because it wasn't good enough, GaaS continue dominating the userbase and revenue of the gaming market and continue increasing their percentage since like two decades ago.

In the last six years Bend released:
  • Days Gone
    • Original game
    • DLCs
    • PC port
    • Remaster
  • Death Stranding (as support team)
  • Horizon Forbidden West (as support team)
In addition to this they also worked in the cancelled:
  • TLOU Online (as support team)
  • Bend's new IP
Regarding Bend's Uncharted, Uncharted spin-off ('in super early stages', 'didn't mean anything', 'wasn't anything', 'was just design papers and maybe a prototype or two' according to Schreier) it sounds like another rejected / abandoned WIP pitch.
 
Last edited:
Heimdall_Xtreme said:
Just for one game, is it already worthy?

😆😆😆😆.

Its sequel fell way short and the series was already bad.

I would definitely fire him.

Intergalatic is also another mediocre title.
Click to expand...
Intergalactic will be a front runner for GOTY whenever it's out. And one of the front runners for GOTG.

Cory has said literally nothing about his game he's been working on for 7 years.

I don't know how you give him more slack than Neil
 
Last edited:
ChorizoPicozo said:
Bend was a shitshow and Sony wiht they GaaS the lost the plot
Click to expand...
Days Gone was a good game, not a great one but it was fun to play and had some nice ideas.
From being a PSP/Vita and support studio they sure stepped up their game big time.

At this point, i am tended more towards Sony management fucking it up.

Also, if they indeed helped with Death Stranding and Horizon, it would give me them know how for Decima and they wouldn't have started working with this engine from scratch.
 
Embearded said:
Days Gone was a good game, not a great one but it was fun to play and had some nice ideas.
From being a PSP/Vita and support studio they sure stepped up their game big time.

At this point, i am tended more towards Sony management fucking it up.

Also, if they indeed helped with Death Stranding and Horizon, it would give me them know how for Decima and they wouldn't have started working with this engine from scratch.
Click to expand...
Days Gone had the potential to become bigger than The Last Of Us. Sony fucked up sure, but also Bend was in disarray
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Former Bend Studio Game Designer Outlines 'Multiple Canceled / Unannounced Projects' (Linkedin)
18
295
Rocinante618 replied
Former Bend Studio Developer, Robert Morrison, says "PlayStation needs to:"
3 4 5 6 7
317
909
sachos replied
‘We still plan on creating cool sh*t’: Bend Studio dev thanks players after Sony cancels latest game
Game Dev  2 3 4
175
10K
Ridicululzz replied
Sony Bend lays off 30% of their staff (40 people)
2 3 4 5 6
280
3K
mrMUR_96 replied
The new MMORPG project from Zenimax Online Studios, maker of Elder Scrolls Online, has been canceled
News 
34
657
March Climber replied
Top Bottom