Bluepoint Games
Bluepoint Games business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Physint goes from PlayStation to Xbox as Sony "unexpectedly" drops Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid…
Xbox has announced it will publish Hideo Kojima's upcoming action-espionage game, Physint, after PlayStation unexpectedly canceled the project. Kojima stated that PlayStation Studios informed him of the cancellation in mid-June, prompting a three-month search for a new partner, which led to the collaboration with Xbox. The article also touches on Sony's recent strategic decisions and Xbox's own challenges.
The live-service elements of Horizon Hunters Gathering are reportedly being stripped out following 'poor feedback' as new details emerge about several canceled PlayStation titles
Guerrilla Games is reportedly overhauling its upcoming live-service title Horizon Hunters Gathering, removing its multiplayer-focused features and shifting to a traditional cooperative multiplayer game with a story mode and smaller scope due to negative playtest feedback. This change comes as part of Sony's broader, and reportedly troubled, initiative to push its single-player focused studios into the live-service market, with several other PlayStation live-service projects, including a God of War game from Bluepoint and an online Spider-Man title from Insomniac, having been canceled.
Report: Live-service removed from Horizon Hunters Gathering following negative player feedback
Guerrilla Games is reportedly removing live-service elements from its upcoming co-op title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, due to negative player feedback. The game is being redesigned as a traditional multiplayer experience with a story mode and a reduced scope. This change follows PlayStation's broader challenges with live-service games, including cancellations and studio closures.
Report: PlayStation scales back live service ambitions for Horizon Hunters Gathering, reassigns devs
PlayStation-owned Guerrilla Games is reportedly scaling back its live-service ambitions for Horizon Hunters Gathering due to negative playtest feedback. The game is being reworked to be a smaller-scope multiplayer experience with a story mode, and many developers will be reassigned. This follows Sony's broader struggles with live-service titles and recent layoffs across PlayStation Studios.
Newly discovered Demon's Souls prototype footage reveals a scrapped first-person mode
Newly discovered footage from a 2007 developer presentation reveals that Demon's Souls originally had a selectable first-person mode. Dataminer Lance McDonald found the prototype gameplay, which also showed differences in the third-person camera controls and cut content like snake-headed enemies.
Indie Game Bundle Aiding Laid-Off Developers Is Nearing $200,000 Raised
A Game Industry Hardship Fund bundle on Itch.io, created by Necrosoft Games director Brandon Sheffield and the United Videogame Workers, has raised nearly $200,000 to assist laid-off developers with living expenses. The bundle features 127 games, including titles like Skatebird and A Short Hike, with all proceeds going to affected individuals in the US and Canada. This initiative comes in response to widespread layoffs within the industry, with funds being distributed by the union.
Modder restores missing PS2-era visual effects to Metal Gear Solid 2, including 'a ton of things that were literally left marked as BLUEPOINT TO-DO still in the source code'
A modder has restored numerous missing PS2-era visual effects to Metal Gear Solid 2, which were left unimplemented in the Bluepoint Games HD remaster. The MGSHDFix 4.0.0 update effectively returns the game to its original state, restoring effects like depth of field, water effects, and motion trails. This mod aims to provide the visual experience intended by the original designers for the PC version.
Former PlayStation Executive Hopes Bloodborne Comes to PS5 or PC Some Day
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida expressed his confusion and hope regarding the lack of a PlayStation 5 or PC port for Bloodborne. He noted that while Sony releases many remasters, Bloodborne remains unavailable on modern platforms, and he theorizes director Hidetaka Miyazaki may be hesitant to let others work on it. Rumors of a Bluepoint Games remake pitch were also mentioned, though FromSoftware reportedly opposed it.
Zero Parades Dev Announces Layoffs Despite Game’s Critical Acclaim
Despite critical acclaim, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies developer ZA/UM has announced layoffs affecting up to 32 staffers due to the game's commercial performance. The studio stated that while the team's shape is changing, its artistic standards remain unchanged. This news comes amidst a wave of layoffs across the gaming industry, with companies like Xbox and Sony also making significant staff reductions.
With PS3 and Vita digital stores closing, I've unearthed the best physical games to add to your collection before…
Sony is closing the digital storefronts for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita on August 9, 2024, impacting the availability of digital-only games and DLC. This closure is expected to increase the value and scarcity of physical game releases for these platforms. The article highlights several key physical titles across PS3, PS Vita, and PS2 that players should consider acquiring before prices potentially rise significantly.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-Service
Despite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
Bloodborne’s Potential PS5 Performance Showcased on Modded Console
Digital Foundry has showcased Bloodborne running at a stable 120 FPS on a modded PlayStation 5, a significant improvement over its original PlayStation 4 performance which was locked to 30 FPS with frame pacing issues. These enhancements, achieved through exploits on older console firmware, suggest that Sony could implement similar improvements if interested, though neither Sony nor FromSoftware have shown interest in revisiting the title. Reports indicate Bluepoint Games had pitched a Bloodborne remake, but FromSoftware declined, with Sony respecting their decision.
What the heck are you playing at, games industry?
The article criticizes the recent surge in video game studio closures and layoffs, highlighting numerous studios shut down by major publishers like Ubisoft, EA, Embracer, Sony, and Microsoft. It questions the business strategies of these publishers, particularly Microsoft's handling of Ninja Theory and the high development cost of Xbox exclusives like Gears of War E-Day, while also pointing to the industry's pursuit of live services and infinite growth over sustainable development.
Fumito Ueda says Bluepoint Games closure is sad and disappointing
Fumito Ueda, creator of Shadow of the Colossus, expressed disappointment and sadness over the closure of Bluepoint Games, a studio he collaborated with on the PlayStation 4 remake. Ueda learned of the closure through public reports and had hoped to work with Bluepoint again, potentially on a remake of Ico.
'It's So Sad They're No Longer Around': Fumito Ueda Would Have Liked to Remake ICO with Shuttered Sony Studio Bluepoint
Fumito Ueda expressed disappointment over the closure of Sony's Bluepoint Games studio, stating he had hoped to collaborate with them, potentially on a remake of ICO. Bluepoint, known for its work on Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus, was shut down earlier this year. Ueda's new title, gen ATLAS, is set to release on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5.
Shadow of the Colossus Director Fumito Ueda Laments Bluepoint Games Closure
Fumito Ueda, the original creator of Shadow of the Colossus, expressed sadness over the closure of Bluepoint Games, the studio responsible for the remakes of Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls. Ueda stated he had hoped to collaborate with Bluepoint Games again.
PlayStation first-party sales see modest rebound after half-decade decline
PlayStation first-party game sales saw a modest increase to 32.1 million copies in FY2025, the first upturn in five years, following a significant decline since a peak in 2020-2021. This growth is attributed partly to the release of Ghost of Yōtei, while the overall decline was linked to inconsistent studio output and lengthy development cycles. Sony has also reportedly scaled back on releasing PS5 exclusives for PC, fearing it could damage the console's brand.
I just learnt I've been playing Metal Gear Solid 3 with a broken camera for 15 years
A player discovered that the camera in the Bluepoint HD remasters of Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, which form the basis of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 1, is incorrectly positioned. This results in a slightly altered camera angle that cuts off the bottom portion of the screen, a detail that went unnoticed by many players for years, including the author.
Fan Favorite PS3 Adventure Games Might Be Revived on PS5 – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Sony is tasking a PlayStation Studios developer, not Sucker Punch Productions, with remaking the first two inFamous games for the PlayStation 5. While the source has a good reputation, they emphasize that this information is uncorroborated and plans could have changed.
PlayStation Shutting Something Else Down, But It's Not a Studio This Time
Sony Interactive Entertainment is shutting down the tournament website Repeat.gg, which it acquired in July 2022. This closure follows recent studio shutdowns by the company, including Bluepoint Games, Dark Owl Games, PixelOpus, and London Studio. Repeat.gg was part of PlayStation's earlier push into the fighting game esports scene, which also included the acquisition of the Evo tournament.
