PixelOpus, the Sony owned studio known for Concrete Genie has announced today that it’ll be shutting down. The news came in a tweet from the studio writing, “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!” Alongside the statement they posted artwork set in the Concrete Genie world of Desnka. The news was later confirmed by Sony to IGN, as the studio will shutter on June 2nd, 2023.
It’s not clear how the decision came from Sony to close down the studio, however in a statement to IGN they write, “PlayStation Studios 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 recent review process, it has been decided that PixelOpus will close on June 2.” PixelOpus was reportedly working on a PlayStation 5 title alongside Sony Pictures Animation, though it remains entirely unclear what will happen now with the unannounced game.
PixelOpus was an incredibly small studio within PlayStation Studio’s subsidiary. Founded in 2014 and based in San Mateo, California, around two dozen people worked at the company. First launching Entwined in 2014, and then followed up with the critically acclaimed Concrete Genie which the studio became widely known for. Concrete Genie had players step into the shoes of Ash, who uses his notebook and magic paintbrush to bring landscapes to life, revitalizing the town’s beauty. Adorable monsters, known as Genies within the game, would come to life and help Ash escape from his bullies and rid the town of pollution. Concrete Genie was praised and loved for its unique visual style in the form of art-based gameplay.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has purchased a litany of studios in the past few years, notably Bungie, Bluepoint Games, Housemarque and many more. The shuttering of any studio under SIE direction has largely been unheard of. The most recent was Japan Studio— the developers behind classics like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus — which closed in 2021.