Pixelopus
{{short description|American video game developer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = PixelOpus
| type = Division
| logo = PixelOpus Logo.png
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2014}}
| founder =
| defunct = {{End date and age|2023|06|02}}
| location_city = San Mateo, California
| location_country = United States
| industry = Video games
| key_people = Dominic Robilliard (creative director)
| products = {{Unbulleted list|Entwined (2014)|Concrete Genie (2019)}}
| parent = PlayStation Studios
}}
PixelOpus was an American video game developer based in San Mateo, California, It was established in 2014 as a first-party developer for Sony Interactive Entertainment. The studio's debut game, Entwined, was released the same year. Their second and ultimately last game, Concrete Genie, was announced on October 30, 2017 and released on October 8, 2019.
In May 2023, it was announced that the studio would be closing on June 2, 2023.{{Cite web |first=Brendan |last= Sinclair |date=May 8, 2023 |title=Sony shutting down PixelOpus |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-shutting-down-pixelopus |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}
History
In 2012, SIE's Foster City Studio (now known as San Mateo Studio) product development group decided to work with small development teams following the success of Journey (2012) developed by the small studio, Thatgamecompany, and published by Santa Monica Studio. Soon after, SIE's Foster City sponsored a game development program for students at Carnegie Mellon University. They provided PlayStation Vitas for students to experiment with; Foster City were jubilant with students' ability in to rapidly prototype game ideas. In July 2013, Foster City offered six students from the development program at the Carnegie Mellon University and three students from San Jose State University. Additionally, a pair of industry veterans were hired to lead the 9-man team, forming PixelOpus. Dominic Robilliard is the creative director at PixelOpus.
On May 5, 2023, PixelOpus announced through their Twitter that the studio would be shutting down.{{cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/Pixelopus/status/1654563543386296320|title=Dear friends, our PixelOpus adventure has come to an end. As we look to new futures, we wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the millions of passionate players who have supported us, and our mission to make beautiful, imaginative games with heart. We are so grateful!|date=May 5, 2023|user=Pixelopus|number=1654563543386296320}} In a statement to IGN, Sony confirmed that it would be closing the studio on June 2, 2023, as it "regularly evaluates its portfolio and the status of studio projects to ensure they meet the organization’s short and long-term strategic objectives. As part of a recent review process, it has been decided that PixelOpus will close on June 2".{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sony-studio-pixelopus-concrete-genie-shutting-down |title=Sony Studio PixelOpus, Best-Known for Concrete Genie, Is Shutting Down |date=May 5, 2023 |access-date=May 5, 2023}}
Games
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ ! rowspan="2" |Year ! rowspan="2" |Game title ! rowspan="2" |Publisher ! colspan="4" |Platform(s) ! rowspan="2" |Notes ! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|Ref(s).|References}} |
| PS3
!PS4 !PS5 |
|---|
| 2014
| {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{N/A}} |
| 2019
|rowspan="2" | Sony Interactive Entertainment | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{N/A}} |style="text-align:center;" | |
| Cancelled
| Untitled project | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} | In collaboration with Sony Pictures Animation |
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/a/e3-2014/entwined|title=The story behind Sony's surprise PS4 launch|last=Leone|first=Matt|year=2014|website=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=March 9, 2020}}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/cybertainment/2014/06/28/Pittsburgh-to-Pixelopus-CMU-grads-at-core-of-Sony-s-newest-gaming-studio/stories/201406280007|title=From Pittsburgh to Pixelopus: CMU grads are at the core of Sony's newest gaming studio|last=Parker|first=Max|date=June 28, 2014|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|publisher=Block Communications|access-date=February 23, 2015}}
{{Cite web|url=https://blog.us.playstation.com/2017/10/30/concrete-genie-from-the-team-behind-entwined-comes-to-ps4-in-2018/|title=Concrete Genie, From the Team Behind Entwined, Comes to PS4 in 2018|last=Robilliard|first=Dominic|date=October 30, 2017|website=PlayStation.Blog|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment|access-date=October 30, 2017}}
}}
{{PlayStation Studios}}
Category:2014 establishments in California
Category:2023 disestablishments in California
Category:Companies based in San Mateo, California
Category:Defunct companies based in California
Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States
Category:First-party video game developers
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2023
Category:Video game companies established in 2014
Category:Video game companies of the United States
Category:Video game development companies
Category:American companies disestablished in 2023
{{US-videogame-company-stub}}