PlayStation will acquire even more studios

2021 has been a massive year for PlayStation when it comes to acquisitions. This year alone, the console manufacturer has purchased 4 different studios. Despite this rapid influx of new talent, PlayStation is not done yet, claiming that they will be acquiring even more studios.

Sony recently announced that it had acquired Bluepoint Games – known most recently for developing the Demon’s Souls remake. This studio marks the 4th major acquisition by PlayStation in 2021. Speaking to IGN however, Hermen Hulst, the head of PlayStation Worldwide Studios revealed that the console manufacturer will soon be challenging Microsoft when it comes to the number of studios owned.

Hulst said “We are open always to building new relationships or bringing people in-house, but only if we adhere to the quality-first mentality and the right kind of innovative content, new experiences, diverse experiences. Because all of these teams, they share a lot, but they're also very different from one another, and that's what I really like. And I think that's what the PlayStation audience, the PlayStation fans, deserve, it's that diverse slate of games coming out of PlayStation Studios.”

Following the acquisition of Housemarque, Nixxes, Firesprite and now Bluepoint Games, PlayStation is in possession of 19 first-party studios. While an impressive figure, this still falls short of the 23 that Microsoft owns.

What is interesting is the fact that 15 of the 23 Xbox studios were acquired within the last 3 years. Similarly, PlayStation has either acquired or opened 7 studios within the same time – suggesting that both console manufacturers are rapidly increasing the number of studios held. What this means for the future of the industry is still unknown, however it does seem to reveal that any studio could be the next to be acquired.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of these acquisition sprees? Is it good or bad for the industry in the long term? Who do you think Sony will acquire next? Let us know down below.

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