Modern PlayStation's focus is all about bringing exclusive AAA games to the PlayStation 5. Whether that's through internally developed games like God of War 2, contractual exclusives with other publishers like Final Fantasy 16, or through publishing third-party games itself. The latest example of the latter being a newly announced partnership with Firewalk Studios. PlayStation announced today that a new, original multiplayer IP will be coming to PlayStation platforms.
The question many PlayStation fans are probably asking is, "Who is Firewalk Studios?" That's because Firewalk is a young studio, formed in 2018, without a major game release to its name. That doesn't mean that PlayStation fans shouldn't be excited, however. Firewalk was formed by a self-described team of "best-in-class talent" to make great games. Clearly, the team has already persuaded PlayStation of its potential, considering the publisher has reached a deal to publish its first game before it's even been announced.
There are several key positions being filled with industry talent that will turn some heads at Firewalk, of course. For example, the new game's director is Ryan Ellis, better known as Bungie's technical art director since 2009 and more recently its creative director between 2014 and 2016. Also from Bungie is the new game's executive producer, Elena Siegman, who also has experience on Guitar Hero 2 and BioShock Infinite. The last name mentioned is Tony Hsu, previously Activision's general manager for Destiny.
For the time being, neither PlayStation nor Firewalk is ready to begin talking about the upcoming project in specifics. The announcement was simply to confirm the partnership, as well as reinforce PlayStation's current messaging surrounding its dedication to exclusives for the PlayStation platform. All that's currently known is that the game is an online multiplayer game and an original IP. Otherwise, PlayStation says the team has an "ambitious vision" for the project and is excited for what it puts together.
Firewalk creative director Ryan Ellis is willing to share some hints, however. Ellis calls attention to the ways multiplayer environments can tell stories, how "surprising possibilities" happen when players gather within a game. He then mentions several games by name as examples of multiplayer games that tell good stories, those games being Diablo 2, Destiny, and Battlefield 1942. Each title offering up "Do you remember that time?" types of storytelling.
Obviously, if PlayStation sees something special in Firewalk Studios then fans would probably be served by paying attention to it going forward. Unfortunately, it may be some time yet before more concrete information about Firewalk's project is shared. It could be years before Firewalk is brought up again, and as such PlayStation fans will just have to be patient.