Headline: Bend Studio Reportedly Axes Multiple Unannounced Projects Amid Internal Shifts
Subheading: Sources Hint at Downsized Ambitions Following Post-"Days Gone" Struggles
(Image: Concept art from "Days Gone" / Bend Studio)
Rumors are swirling that Bend Studio, the Sony-owned developer behind 2019’s Days Gone, has canceled at least two unannounced games amid internal restructuring. According to multiple industry insiders, the Oregon-based studio—once celebrated for its open-world zombie epic—has scaled back its roadmap after years of turbulent development cycles.
The whispers gained traction when former Bend Studio senior developer Jacob Fieth shared cryptic insights on Bluesky this week, hinting at "multiple unannounced projects hitting dead ends." While Fieth didn’t name specific titles, his post aligns with earlier reports of Bend pivoting from a large-scale Days Gone sequel to smaller ventures after Sony rejected a pitch in 2021.
"It’s a reset moment," claimed one anonymous source close to the studio. "After the Days Gone 2 rejection, they explored new IPs and live-service ideas. But something didn’t click."
The studio’s recalibration appears linked to broader Sony strategy shifts. In 2022, PlayStation leadership publicly emphasized live-service investments—a direction Bend reportedly struggled to adapt to. Though Days Gone initially drew mixed reviews, its cult following grew steadily, with recent Steam player counts peaking at over 27,000 concurrent users this year thanks to PC ports and sales.
What’s Next for Bend?
Industry analysts speculate the cancellations could signal a return to Bend’s roots. Before Days Gone, the studio helmed portable classics like Syphon Filter. With Sony prioritizing "proven franchises," a reboot or smaller-scope project now seems likelier than another AAA gamble.
Bend Studio has not officially commented. Meanwhile, Fieth’s social posts have fueled fan theories, including unverified claims that one canceled project was a multiplayer spin-off set in the Days Gone universe.
The Big Picture:
Sony’s first-party studios face mounting pressure to deliver megahits. Naughty Dog (The Last of Us) and Insomniac (Spider-Man) dominate, while Bend’s quieter output since 2019 has left its future ambiguous. As PlayStation doubles down on blockbusters and service games, studios without breakout successes risk becoming collateral damage.
For now, Bend’s legacy rests on the shoulders of Freaker-slaying biker Deacon St. John—and whether the studio can reinvent itself once more.
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