Sony has confirmed that Japan Studio, its Tokyo-based internal video game developer, will essentially break down and focus around a single team. In a statement to IGN, Japan Studio said it would be re-centered on Team Asobi, the creative team behind Astro’s playroom, so that the team can concentrate on a single vision and build on the popularity of Astro’s playroom. In other words, get ready for more Astro games.
Astro’s playroom is a great title that comes packaged with every PlayStation 5 console. It’s a 3D platform designed to showcase the advanced haptic feedback of the new DualSense controller. Before that, the same team developed Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, widely regarded as the conspicuously exclusive PlayStation VR title.
VGC reported earlier today that the “vast majority” of Japan Studio staff will be let go, as Sony did not want to renew their annual contracts, which run until the end of the financial year on March 31. It is said that some staff members have been reassigned to Team Asobi, while others are reportedly joining Bokeh, a new studio founded by Quiet hill and Gravity Rush director Keiichiro Toyama.
While Team Asobi’s work has been rewarded so far, Japan Studio has been a key part of Sony’s first party development efforts for decades. It created series like Monkey escape, Patapon, en LocoRoco, while also helping with the development of titles such as Bloodthirsty and The last guardian. Before leaving last year, Toyama led a division responsible for the Siren and Gravity Rush games.