Dark Outlaw Games, a gaming studio established by former Call of Duty developer Jason Blundell, is facing closure. This is occurring amid an extensive trimming exercise at PlayStation, which reportedly saw approximately 50 individuals lose their jobs across various teams, including the mobile division.
Dark Outlaw Games was birthed after Blundell’s previous association, Deviation, was closed in 2024 after it teamed up with Sony. As noted, this is a tiny section of the larger retrenchment happening throughout the company.
A spokesperson from Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) acknowledged these alterations, stating their purpose was to support the long-term sustainability of PlayStation. Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group has resorted to several strategic changes to ensure long-term survival. In the course of these changes, there have been marginal workforce reductions in selected teams. Sony extends its gratitude to everyone who has been affected by these adjustments.
In 2025, Blundell expressed it was an honor to kick-start a fresh studio with PlayStation. Given that new first-party studios are occasionally introduced by Sony, Blundell acknowledged the opportunity as humbling. However, no reveal was made about the studio’s game, despite the team reportedly working ‘in the shadows’ for some time.
Unexpectedly, Sony’s career page still has a job offer for Dark Outlaw. The studio, according to the listing, was striving to develop the next groundbreaking AAA original IP as part of a lean and efficient developmental setup.
The contribution of Blundell to the gaming industry is undeniable. He played a pivotal role in the development of the widely acclaimed Zombies mode in Call of Duty during his tenure at Treyarch. Over the course of his career, he contributed to numerous Call of Duty games and assumed the position of director for 2015’s Black Ops 3.
The news of Dark Outlaw Games closure comes hot on the heels of Sony closing Bluepoint. Bluepoint is a studio known for its remarkable consistency in producing great remakes. More details about the situation are expected to emerge as time progresses.
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