Dark Outlaw Games, the studio spearheaded by Call of Duty veteran Jason Blundell, has officially been shut down by Sony PlayStation. This marks the second studio closure for Blundell, following Deviation Games. The team comprised approximately 20 individuals.
Blundell and JCbackfire Speak Out
While the precise reasons behind the closure remain undisclosed due to confidentiality agreements, Blundell and streamer JCbackfire, who also worked as a level designer at the studio, appeared on Twitch to offer some insights.
Blundell clarified that he holds no ill will towards Sony, referring to them as a “great partner.” He attributed the decision to a “change in strategy” and evolving priorities within PlayStation, which ultimately led to the team’s dissolution. He expressed the devastating impact this news had on the company members.
“We must respect our confidentiality agreements, so we can’t delve into every minute and gory detail,” Blundell explained. JCbackfire added succinctly, “To put it simply: we’re unemployed.” Crucially, JCbackfire confirmed that the game they were developing was not a live service project.
“I can reassure you – and I’ve received reassurance myself – that it’s simply a matter of changing times, changing priorities, but fans would have been enthusiastic about the project we were pursuing and what we were doing,” Blundell stated during the live stream.
JCbackfire, who has only five years of experience in development, conveyed his low spirits but emphasized his strong desire to continue working in the video game industry.
This unfortunate event is Blundell’s second studio closure, underscoring the volatile nature of the game development landscape.