Key Takeaways
- PlayStation's London Studio was developing a live-service PS5 game set in a fantasy version of London, but that was canceled following the studio's closure earlier this year.
- New concept art for London Studio's PS5 game has been released, showcasing its unique art style and visual identity.
- Sony's decision to close its London studio may be part of a shift away from its ambitious live service plans.
Two new canceled concept art pieces playstation Live service projects have come online. The studio that developed this game was London Studio, a first-party PlayStation team that was shut down by Sony earlier this year.
London Studio is one of PlayStation's oldest teams, dating back to 2002. In addition to supporting the development of other PlayStation first-party games, London Studio was known for its innovative experiences experimenting with PlayStation hardware in a variety of ways, including: Singstar, playstation home, PlayStation VR World, snow toyAnd many more. Unfortunately, the London studio closed in February 2024.
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Before its closure, London Studio was developing a live service PS5 game that would feature co-op gameplay and a fantastical representation of London. Some concept art for London Studio's unannounced game was officially released in 2022, but nothing else was published beyond those images, and the project was ultimately canceled when the studio closed. Now, two new concept art pieces for this mysterious live service game have been discovered on former London studio artist Léa Pinto's ArtStation profile.
New concept art for PlayStation London Studio's canceled PS5 live service game
Pinto did not explicitly state that the concept art was from London Studio's co-op game, instead stating that it was created in 2023 for a now-canceled project. However, comparing it to the 2022 official concept art makes it very clear that the same art style and visual identity is for the London studio's live service game. Moreover, these concept art pieces clearly depict the streets of London, and the ingenious wordplay of fairies, orcs, and elves that appear on store signs further enhances the fantasy point.
And if Pinto's concept art is anything to go by, it's safe to say that London Studio's PS5 game certainly had a strong and unique art style. The nighttime neon iterations are particularly striking and somewhat resonant. Blade Runner 2049color palette. It's unfortunate that the London studio's game and incredible visual identity never saw the light of day, especially after the criticism surrounding it. agreement's character designs have proven how essential art style is to the success of a live service game.
Sony has never given an exact reason for closing its London Studio, but the current theory is that the gaming giant is relaxing the ambitious live service plans it pushed forward a few years ago. There was a rumor about Firesprite. twisted metal Along with the closure of the London studio, live service projects were also canceled, and even Naughty Dog canceled its long-awaited project. The Last of Us Online Games at the end of last year gave the theory a lot of credence.
playstation 5
Sony's PlayStation 5 is part of the ninth generation of consoles and debuted with a launch lineup that included Demon's Souls and Astro's Playroom. The console comes with a Blu-ray disc, but a digital-only edition is also available for a cheaper price.