It seems as though PlayStation’s desire to move beyond its popular console platforms is becoming a reality. In an announcement made earlier today, the Head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst has revealed a big step forward. The latest update on the PlayStation blog confirms the acquisition of German mobile game developers Savage Game Studios. They’ll now become part of the PlayStation Studios family, but with a specific focus on mobile gaming.
The update reveals that Savage Game Studios are already working on an unannounced “AAA mobile live service action game.” However, specifics around the title are yet to be revealed. The deal means that the Berlin-based development studio will form part of the newly-formed PlayStation Studios Mobile Division. It’s a move that shows the company’s commitment to expanding its reach beyond console gaming.
However, Hulst has also been keen to reaffirm that PlayStation’s focus on mobile gaming won’t dampen the quality or output of the company’s console-based titles. It seems that the ultimate goal for PlayStation is to broaden its audience in new and innovative ways. Its new concentration on the mobile gaming market is clearly a solid way to make that happen. Speaking on the topic of PlayStation’s focus on mobile experiences, Hulst explains that the company’s new mobile division won’t have an effect on PlayStation’s “passion to keep making amazing single-player, narrative-driven experiences.”
The job at hand for Savage Game Studios will be to ensure that consumers on mobile devices have the opportunity to experience what PlayStation can offer. Their specific remit, as described by Hulst, will be to “focus on innovative, on-the-go experiences based on new and existing PlayStation IP.” Whether this means beloved PlayStation console games will be getting mobile ports, or if new games derived from such titles will be heading to mobile, we don’t yet know. Either way, it’s definitely an exciting time to be a mobile gamer.
Clearly, mobile gaming is a huge talking point for the industry right now. Many developers are hard at work bringing mobile versions of their franchises to life. One example is Ubisoft’s The Division: Resurgence, which is set to launch in full next year. In addition, you only need to look at the success of free-to-play mobile games such as Genshin Impact, Apex Legends Mobile and Diablo Immortal to know that there’s a strong and successful market to get into. Judging by the successes of just some of those titles, PlayStation is bound to make an impact in that space. That is, whenever their new mobile AAA game comes to fruition. We’ll be watching this space to see what comes next from its new PlayStation Studios Mobile Division, as well as watching out for further acquisitions to help strengthen its mobile gaming roster of talent. You can read the update in full over on the PlayStation blog to find out more.
