VizionEck

(https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2021/09/Firesprite-Welcome-Image-PSS-Blue-02-210901.jpg?resize=1088%2C612&crop_strategy=smart&zoom=1.5)

Welcome to the family, @FirespriteGames!

Veterans of The Playroom and The Persistence bring awesome technical and creative capabilities to PlayStation Studios. Full details: https://t.co/R1IOJo2BYi pic.twitter.com/YjfK3OYrxZ

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 8, 2021

Another incredibly talented team of creative minds joins the PlayStation Studios family today. Welcome @FirespriteGames pic.twitter.com/7nuvExJ4fO

— Hermen Hulst (@hermenhulst) September 8, 2021

Sony Interactive Entertainment ("SIE") announced today that SIE has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Firesprite Limited, the UK-based videogame studio with a history of developing highly-polished showpieces for cutting-edge hardware. With a partnership spanning more than 8 years and a games portfolio highlighting PlayStation's technological innovations, Firesprite will play a critical role in strengthening SIE's exclusive games catalog in genres outside of PlayStation Studios' core offerings.

Founded by industry veterans from SIE's Studio Liverpool, Firesprite has a strong record of developing showcase games for PlayStation console and peripheral launches. Over the past few years, Firesprite has partnered with SIE to develop games for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®VR launch including The Playroom (PS4) and The Playroom VR (PS VR), both of which showcased unique hardware capabilities with highly-quality gameplay.

Originally a PS VR exclusive, with its most recent release, The Persistence, Firesprite pushed the boundaries of how users interact with the PS VR headset by introducing a groundbreaking virtual reality social element that further demonstrated the studio's technical and creative capabilities. Later adapted for flat screens in 2018, Firesprite recently released The Persistence Enhanced in June 2021 which optimized the game for PlayStation®5 to include DualSense™ wireless controller haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and raytraced rendering.

"We are delighted to welcome Firesprite into the PlayStation family," said Jim Ryan, President & CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment. "We have a rich history of working with the founders of Firesprite and are excited to grow the PlayStation presence in Liverpool. The portfolio of titles Firesprite has developed has continually demonstrated the team's ability to transcend traditional gameplay experiences and brilliantly showcase the potential of our hardware."

"Creating quality, state-of-the-art games has always been at the forefront of Firesprite's work and I'm confident they will push the bar even further as part of PlayStation Studios," said Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. "Firesprite's ability to weave best-in-class gameplay with new technology is exceptional and I think fans will be excited about their creative vision for the future."

"At Firesprite, we're always striving to bring something new to a game or genre and developing for new technologies is a driving force of our passion," said Graeme Ankers, Managing Director, Firesprite. "Joining PlayStation Studios will allow us to amplify this passion, working more closely on cutting-edge hardware without any limitations and furthering our studio's heritage of creativity and technical innovation to offer some truly unique experiences for PlayStation fans."

Based in Liverpool, UK Firesprite will join the global development operation of PlayStation Studios and will be the 14^th studio to join the PlayStation Studios family. The day-to-day operations post-acquisition will continue to be run by Firesprite's current management team. Terms of this transaction including the acquisition cost are not disclosed due to contractual commitments.

SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT TO ACQUIRE FIRESPRITE (https://www.sie.com/en/corporate/release/2021/210908.html)

Based in Liverpool, UK Firesprite will join the global development operation of PlayStation Studios and will be the 15th studio to join the PlayStation Studios family. The day-to-day operations post-acquisition will continue to be run by Firesprite's current management team. Terms of this transaction including the acquisition cost are not disclosed due to contractual commitments.

PlayStation Studios family as our 14th studio!

Hmmm a discrepancy. :o

(I mean it's probably just a typo)

BluePoint when though?

This studio is weirdly big.

They have 250 employees, and hiring very aggressively with 45 open positions right now.

They are apparently the 5th or 6th biggest SIE studio after Naughty Dog (450+), Guerilla Games (300+), Insomniac (300), Santa Monica (250+),and maybe Polyphony (200+).
Basically they just picked up a studio the size of Santa Monica/Insomniac Games.

Just woke up and read the title as Fortnite.

Made the real news feel mild.

This studio is weirdly big.

They have 250 employees, and hiring very aggressively with 45 open positions right now.

They are apparently the 5th or 6th biggest SIE studio after Naughty Dog (450+), Guerilla Games (300+), Insomniac (300), Santa Monica (250+),and maybe Polyphony (200+).
Basically they just picked up a studio the size of Santa Monica/Insomniac Games.

They were a support studio for star citizen apperantly. They also seem to have 3 games in development.

Maybe sony saw what they have, liked what they saw and decided to buy them

This studio is weirdly big.

They have 250 employees, and hiring very aggressively with 45 open positions right now.

They are apparently the 5th or 6th biggest SIE studio after Naughty Dog (450+), Guerilla Games (300+), Insomniac (300), Santa Monica (250+),and maybe Polyphony (200+).
Basically they just picked up a studio the size of Santa Monica/Insomniac Games.

dang, makes their released game catalog look all the more dismal.   :P

so if i get the timeline right.

sony closes their liverpool studio
these employees band together to make firesprite studios
sony buys firesprite studios


horray for a wipeout revival?

dang, makes their released game catalog look all the more dismal.   :P

They've expanded a lot over the past 12 months.
Likely to work on new projects with Sony.

Just back in February:

We're continuing to grow and expand our studio and currently have 64 stellar career opportunities across multiple disciplines - remote and open applications welcome!

Find out more and apply here:
??  https://t.co/jGXGGc9FSV

Build the future ????#GameJobs #GameDevJobs #Hiring pic.twitter.com/hXDB9l6o27

— Firesprite (@FirespriteGames) February 15, 2021

so if i get the timeline right.

sony closes their liverpool studio
these employees band together to make firesprite studios
sony buys firesprite studios


horray for a wipeout revival?

That is what happened, but they do not seem to be working on Wipeout.

They are currently hiring for a Narrative Adventure game:

>deliver exceptional quality interactions and gameplay for a AAA branching narrative adventure game.
>you will create compelling content that generates meaningful gameplay possibilities, supporting and altering the flow of the characters' choices and stories.
>The game is at an early stage and the successful candidate will play a role in shaping the game.
>This huge, highly ambitious partnership project takes atmosphere, storytelling, player agency and narrative firmly into ground-breaking territory on next-generation hardware technologies.


And an Action Shooter:

>ground-breaking next generation PvP shooter project with a Games as a Service focus. This is a AAA quality original IP at an exciting stage


And an Adventure VR:
>We're looking for a Senior Development Manager to assist with all aspects of planning and delivery on a VR action-adventure project adapted from one of the most original and successful multimillion selling console IP titles in the last 10 years.

That is what happened, but they do not seem to be working on Wipeout.

sure, it was just a joke.   i just find the situation to be funny that they are reaquiring the studio the killed quite recently.

...can't wait for the japan studios revival!

More about one of Firesprite's projects:

The AAA adventure game is described as an "ambitious dark narrative blockbuster". The studio's been on a hiring spree, adding talent from Naughty Dog, Rockstar, Ubisoft, Rocksteady & more.

Link: https://t.co/mhyH5ocDt8

One to watch ???? pic.twitter.com/cJvISASXPc

— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) September 8, 2021

I think this is the shooter they're talking about. Don't think there is a different one.

I think this is the shooter they're talking about. Don't think there is a different one.

>ENVIRONMENT ARTIST (STAR CITIZEN - THEATERS OF WAR)
>ENVIRONMENT ARTIST (ACTION SHOOTER):
The project is a huge multi-platform next generation action shooter experience with a heavy focus on Games as a Service

A bit of a similar description, but why wouldn't they use the actual title, instead of calling it a new IP?

>ENVIRONMENT ARTIST (STAR CITIZEN - THEATERS OF WAR)
>ENVIRONMENT ARTIST (ACTION SHOOTER):
The project is a huge multi-platform next generation action shooter experience with a heavy focus on Games as a Service

A bit of a similar description, but why wouldn't they use the actual title, instead of calling it a new IP?

Seems strange to be working on games with so many similarities simultaneously. Would be a hassle to prove to Cloud Imperium that Theaters of War funds only went to Theaters of War development. Reminds me of the John Carmack VR lawsuits or PUBG suing Fortnite without cause.

Seems strange to be working on games with so many similarities simultaneously. Would be a hassle to prove to Cloud Imperium that Theaters of War funds only went to Theaters of War development. Reminds me of the John Carmack VR lawsuits or PUBG suing Fortnite without cause.

Does this mode have an in game economy?

We are looking for a Senior System Designer with detailed knowledge and/or experience designing in-game economies.

In this role, you will join an ambitious team working on a AAA quality new IP ahead of the games launch. Working with the lead systems designer and a cross discipline team, to create and develop engaging and robust design for the project as a whole.

Imagining and defining exciting and original features
F2P economy design for a multiplatform live service game

Does this mode have an in game economy?

I didn't know about Theaters of War till an hour ago. People on reddit mentioned it.  :P

I didn't know about Theaters of War till an hour ago. People on reddit mentioned it.  :P

Sorry, Fair enough.  :-X

Curious what the arrangements are on that.  

Sorry, Fair enough.  :-X

Curious what the arrangements are on that.  

Nah it makes sense. I used to follow star citizen's every move but haven't since 2019. If this thread was about Sony buying the other studio that helped with Star Citizen, I'd know everything about them.

lol

Firesprite acquires Fabrik Games (https://www.firesprite.com/news/2021/09/firesprite-limited-completes-acquisition-of-fabrik-games-limited/)

Sony Interactive Entertainment ("SIE") announced today that the newest developer set to join PlayStation Studios - Firesprite Limited - has completed the acquisition of Fabrik Games, a developer headquartered in the North West England.

The acquisition of Fabrik Games occurred in connection with Firesprite joining PlayStation Studios, bringing Firesprite's total studio headcount to 265 as of September 29, 2021.

Doesn't mean much, but I'm getting a bit of a kick out of a studio buying out another developer. 

(https://i.imgflip.com/5onloa.jpg)

I found it here (https://www.resetera.com/threads/playstation-studios-ot22-ot21-directors-cut.471669/page-373#post-74304162)

A little funny, that studio is located in Manchester, and probably is similar in size to SIE Manchester.   ;D

that happend to me.

my small company was being bought but a medium sized company at the same time as that company being acquired by a huge company.

funny enough,.. right now we are the "headliners" of the companies marketing efforts.   my little software just secured our companies largest single contract ever. 


i expect big things from you Fabrik....