Bluepoint Games facing the blues over shutdown talks

A recent report stated that Bluepoint Games is being shut down by its parent company. Bluepoint Games was bought by Sony back in 2021. The task then? To make live service games.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sony and PlayStation have fumbled yet another treasured video game company under their wing.

Recent reports revealed that Bluepoint Games is being shut down by its parent company. For the record, Bluepoint Games was bought by Sony in 2021. The task then? To make live service games.

Bluepoint Games’ skillset includes creating great remakes of existing Sony IP, which include the remastered Uncharted collection and Gravity Rush Remastered. They remade Shadow of the Colossus in 2018 to high acclaim and praise, and also the hardcore RPG Demon’s Souls for the PlayStation 5 in 2020. Note that the latter remake was the last game they made before the buyout and being sent to the live service mines.

This is arguably one of the worst decisions Sony has made, putting the publisher in quite a bad light. Other bumbles from the company include cancelling The Last of Us multiplayer, wasting resources and studio energy by cancelling multiple live service games, and releasing Concord, a game no one asked for. Do you know what people are asking for, Sony? Remakes of your long-forgotten RPGs and action titles from the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 days. A remastered collection for PlayStation 5. Nobody wants this live service era being built by the current Sony regime.

Xbox may have fumbled quite a bit, but at least they are getting their developers to make actual games for people who want them instead of commissioning 10 or so live service games in hopes of chasing a buck. I sincerely hope PlayStation’s few exclusive offerings – Saros, Marvel’s Wolverine, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls – can put them on the right track.

Even so, their past cancelled live service projects will no doubt have repercussions, with no one to blame but Sony management’s lack of foresight and bad decision-making, instead making people under them pay.

Then again, the team that used to be Bluepoint may be rescued somehow if a certain first-party company or two in video games had anything to say about it. Xbox and Nintendo – ball’s in your court for this talented remaking specialists!

Short Beats

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Games Out This Week

Demon Tides is a new 3D platformer from indie developer Fabraz, slated for PC and coming soon for Nintendo Switch. As Queen Beebz, race, jump, snake-swim and air dash across open oceans and uncover a kingdom’s dark secrets, complete with lovely cel-shaded graphics, a lovely-looking open world to explore and a catchy soundtrack.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is a new visual novel from Xeen and Square Enix for PC, Nintendo Switch and iOS/Android. Uncover the supernatural mystery behind the curses taking over the remote island of Kameshima and attempt to survive the summer before it overwhelms you and your friends.

Styx: Blades of Greed is a new 3D action stealth game where you play as a master stealth goblin with magic Quartz powers, infiltrating the Iserian Continent and assassinating enemies. Out for PC and consoles.

Under The Island is a new 90s pixel-styled 2D action-adventure game made by indie studio Slime King Games. Taking place on a remote island, you play as Nia as she battles fierce monsters, solve clever puzzles and uncover the mysteries of the island you are in.

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