London Studio
{{Short description|British video game developer}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = London Studio
| logo = London Studio.svg
| logo_caption = Final logo used from 2016 to 2024
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Video games
| key_people = {{ubl|Stuart Whyte|Tara Saunders}}
| predecessor = {{Unbulleted list|SCEE Studio Camden|Team Soho}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2002}}
| defunct = {{End date|2024|05|21|df=y}}
| fate = Closed
| hq_location_city = London
| hq_location_country = England
| products = {{Unbulleted list|EyePet|SingStar|The Getaway|Blood & Truth}}
| parent = {{unbulleted list|Sony Computer Entertainment (2002–2005)|PlayStation Studios (2005–2024)}}
| website = {{URL|https://playstationlondonstudio.com/}}
}}
London Studio was a British video game developer of PlayStation Studios based in London. Founded in 2002, it was best known for developing the SingStar series, as well as games for PlayStation's external peripherals including the EyeToy camera and the PlayStation VR virtual reality headset. The studio created more than 60 titles since it was established.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/playstation-studios-sony/|title=Here's every PlayStation Studio, and the games they're currently working on|first=Alex|last=Avard|date=4 October 2020|access-date=25 October 2020|work=GamesRadar|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002195307/https://www.gamesradar.com/playstation-studios-sony/|url-status=live}}
History
= ''SingStar'' and EyeToy =
London Studio was established in 2002 following the merger of SCEE Studio Camden (formerly a division of Psygnosis) and Team Soho, the developer behind The Getaway.{{cite web|url=https://it.ign.com/blood-and-truth-ps4/154913/feature/blood-truth-chi-sono-i-ragazzi-di-london-studio-e-cosa-e-stato-the-getaway|title=Blood & Truth: who are the guys from London Studio and what The Getaway was|first=Marco|last=Exposed|work=IGN|date=25 May 2019|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609133956/https://it.ign.com/blood-and-truth-ps4/154913/feature/blood-truth-chi-sono-i-ragazzi-di-london-studio-e-cosa-e-stato-the-getaway|url-status=live}} As London Studio, the studio developed the SingStar series, which became extremely popular and helped broaden the appeal of the PlayStation 2 beyond the typical demographics of young male gamers. The series sold more than 20 million copies within 6 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-11-06-sony-is-closing-down-singstar-servers-in-january-2020|title=Sony will close down SingStar servers in January 2020|first=Matthew|last=Handrahan|work=Gamesindustry.biz|date=16 October 2019|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924092316/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-11-06-sony-is-closing-down-singstar-servers-in-january-2020|url-status=live}} It also created a lot of games for Sony's EyeToy webcam, and assisted the development of other Sony titles, such as Killzone 2 and LittleBigPlanet.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/apr/28/sonylondon|title=Inside Sony's Secret Powerhouse|first=Steve|last=Boxer|work=The Guardian|date=28 April 2008|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027032327/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/apr/28/sonylondon|url-status=live}} The studio was working on two AAA exclusives for the PlayStation 3 including Eight Days and the sequel to The Getaway, but both were cancelled by Sony Europe as Sony wanted to reallocate resources to other first-party games.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-01-cancelled-eight-days-was-jaw-dropping|title=Cancelled Eight Days was "jaw dropping"|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|work=Eurogamer|date=2 August 2011|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031232132/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-01-cancelled-eight-days-was-jaw-dropping|url-status=live}}
= Virtual reality =
London Studio developed a virtual reality (VR) rendering technology, called LSSDK, which supports PlayStation 4 and PC. This engine was first used in PlayStation VR Worlds, which contained five virtual reality experiences: "The London Heist", "Into The Deep", "VR Luge", "Danger Ball" and "Scavenger's Odyssey".{{cite web |url=https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023665/Fast-and-Flexible-Technical-Art |title=Fast and Flexible: Technical Art and Rendering For The Unknown |first=James |last=Answer |date=March 2016 |website=GDC Vault |access-date=1 December 2017 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128155958/https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023665/Fast-and-Flexible-Technical-Art |url-status=live }} While VR Worlds received mixed reviews, "London Heist" was critically acclaimed, and the game was commercially successful. Developing titles for the virtual reality headset became the company's main focus.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/sony-london-studio-doubles-down-psvr-playstation-vr/|title=Sony's London Studio Doubles Down With VR as Its Top Priority|first=Ben|last=Lang|work=RoadtoVR|date=8 November 2017|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109030303/https://www.roadtovr.com/sony-london-studio-doubles-down-psvr-playstation-vr/|url-status=live}} The studio's next game was Blood & Truth, which serves as the successor to the London Heist level. It became the first VR title to reach number 1 on the UK's retail sales chart when it was released in May 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-06-03-uk-charts-blood-and-truth-is-the-first-vr-game-to-claim-no-1|title=UK Charts: Blood & Truth is the first VR game to claim No.1|first=Christopher|last=Dring|work=Gamesindustry.biz|date=3 June 2019|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107232128/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-06-03-uk-charts-blood-and-truth-is-the-first-vr-game-to-claim-no-1|url-status=live}}
In 2022, the studio was working on a cooperative multiplayer game for the PlayStation 5. Set in a modern fantasy London, it was described by studio head Tara Saunders as the company's "most ambitious project to-date". Players wouldn't need to use a virtual reality headset to play this game.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/why-playstation-london-studio-is-leaving-vr-to-create-a-fantasy-online-combat-game|title=Why PlayStation London Studio is leaving VR to create a fantasy online combat game|first=Christopher|last=Dring|work=Gamesindustry.biz|date=27 October 2022|accessdate=30 October 2022|archive-date=30 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030021152/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/why-playstation-london-studio-is-leaving-vr-to-create-a-fantasy-online-combat-game|url-status=live}}
= Closure =
In February 2024, Sony announced that it was proposing the closure of the studio as part of wider layoffs that includes 8% of the company's workforce, or 900 employees.{{cite web |date=27 February 2024 |title=Difficult News About Our Workforce |url=https://sonyinteractive.com/en/news/blog/difficult-news-about-our-workforce/?sf271923331=1 |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Sony Interactive Entertainment}} The studio closed in May 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/playstation-london-studio-issues-heartfelt-goodbye-after-sony-studio-closure |title=PlayStation London Studio Issues Heartfelt Goodbye After Sony Studio Closure |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=21 May 2024 |accessdate=22 May 2024 }}
Games developed
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://playstationlondonstudio.com/}}
{{PlayStation Studios}}
Category:2002 establishments in England
Category:2024 disestablishments in England
Category:British companies disestablished in 2024
Category:British companies established in 2002
Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom
Category:First-party video game developers
Category:Software companies based in London
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2024
Category:Video game companies established in 2002