Sony's PlayStation Studios have revealed new projects for PS5, including God of War Laufey and Marvel's Wolverine, but several teams face delays, cancellations and closures as the platform's first-party line-up shifts for the years ahead
With 2026 now well underway, Sony's PlayStation Studios are navigating a period of transition, marked by major new game announcements, shifting release schedules and the closure of several development teams. While third-party titles such as Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light have kept the PlayStation 5 library active, only Housemarque's Saros has joined the first-party line-up so far this year. The decision to end physical disc production for new games from January 2028 has also raised questions about the future availability of boxed editions for upcoming exclusives.
Major Announcements and Studio Changes
Several PlayStation studios have confirmed new projects, but the overall roster is slimmer than last year. Bluepoint Games, known for its remakes of Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus, has been closed, and Dark Outlaw Games, formed in 2025, has reportedly been shuttered after a short existence. These changes reflect a broader trend of consolidation and shifting priorities within Sony's first-party operations.
Naughty Dog is now focused on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a new science-fantasy IP with a retro '80s aesthetic. The game stars Tati Gabrielle as bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun and is said to feature a more complex combat system than previous Naughty Dog titles. Despite a cinematic trailer at The Game Awards 2024, no gameplay has been shown, and the release window remains unconfirmed. Studio head Neil Druckmann has also hinted at a second unannounced project, but details are scarce.
Santa Monica Studio has revealed God of War Laufey, which shifts the spotlight to Kratos' wife, Faye, and expands the Norse saga into new mythological territory. The game's story reportedly runs parallel to God of War (2018), blending modern combat with elements from the original Greek entries. No release date has been set, but with God of War Ragnarök launching in late 2022, a multi-year gap is expected.
Upcoming Releases and Delays
Insomniac Games is preparing to launch Marvel's Wolverine on 15 September 2026. The game promises a more linear structure than the studio's Spider-Man series, but retains the signature action style. Insomniac's development cadence has slowed, partly due to a 2024 data breach that exposed future plans, including a rumoured Venom game that has not materialised. Wolverine will be the studio's first new release in three years.
Sucker Punch Productions released Ghost of Yōtei in October 2025, following up Ghost of Tsushima with a new protagonist and a well-received co-op Legends mode. Given the studio's recent output, further announcements are unlikely in the near term, though speculation about an Infamous remake persists.
Guerrilla Games is expected to continue the Horizon trilogy after the Burning Shores DLC, but no formal announcement has been made. Instead, the studio's next confirmed project is Horizon: Hunters Gathering, a tactical three-player co-op game with a stylised art direction. No release date has been provided.
Live-Service Struggles and Studio Setbacks
Housemarque's Saros launched in April, but early sales have been described as "lukewarm", with around 300,000 copies sold according to analyst estimates. Post-launch support is anticipated, but Sony is reportedly returning to a console-exclusive strategy, with no PC release planned for Saros. Meanwhile, Haven Studios' multiplayer shooter Fairgames remains in development after missing its original 2025 target, and the project has seen leadership changes and rumours of a rebrand.
Bend Studio, best known for Days Gone, has faced a turbulent year, including the cancellation of a live-service project and layoffs affecting 30% of staff. The team is working on a new open-world game, but no details or timeline have been confirmed. Media Molecule has ended live support for Dreams following significant layoffs, and its next project remains unannounced.
Elsewhere, Firesprite has shifted from VR development to work on Until Dawn 2, set on a tropical island and targeting a 2027 release. Team Asobi continues to support Astro Bot after its 2024 success, but has not announced a new title. Polyphony Digital and San Diego Studio are expected to continue their Gran Turismo and MLB The Show series, respectively, with new entries likely but not yet revealed.
Platform Strategy and Remaining Uncertainty
Sony's acquisition of Bungie in 2022 has not delivered the expected results, with Destiny 2 winding down and significant layoffs affecting the studio. Marathon, Bungie's extraction shooter, launched in March 2026 to critical acclaim but has struggled to maintain a large player base. The future of Sony's live-service ambitions remains unclear as several projects have been cancelled or delayed.
Looking ahead, the PlayStation 5's first-party calendar for late 2026 and beyond is notably sparse, with many studios either between projects or facing internal restructuring. The looming release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November is likely influencing publisher scheduling decisions, as studios avoid direct competition with Rockstar's blockbuster. For a look at how classic games and their physical editions continue to hold value for players, see how a rare Modern Warfare 2 copy made headlines at Fanatics Fest in New York in this recent report.
As Sony phases out physical discs and focuses on digital distribution, questions remain about how future PlayStation exclusives will be preserved and accessed. With several high-profile projects still lacking gameplay footage or release dates, players are left waiting for concrete updates on the next wave of PlayStation experiences.
Understanding the difference between cinematic trailers and actual gameplay footage is crucial when assessing upcoming releases. Cinematic trailers are often pre-rendered or in-engine sequences designed to set the tone and showcase story elements, but they rarely reflect the final gameplay experience or technical performance. Until developers release unedited gameplay or technical demonstrations, it remains difficult to judge how these titles will play or perform on PlayStation 5 hardware.
