Sony Japan Studio Closes its doors: the rest of the Japanese team on a historic scale, within a highly resized framework, focuses on the Astro Pot series, thus stopping dedicating itself to new, original projects.
Despite many denials, this is a clear confirmation of the fact that it exists today Japan It no longer feels like a system at home PlayStation. This, of course, makes sense from a commercial point of view.
The trend of recent years is visible to all: the Nintendo Switch has overtaken the PS4 and PS5 to dominate the Japanese sales chart, hardware and software.
If we add to this the fact that much of the PlayStation’s business success lies in its extraordinary popularity in Europe and the United States, it is quite normal that the company has at least begun to reconsider its commitment domestically.
Economic convenience and business strategies undoubtedly represent the fundamental part of any business, but in the context of a medium such as video games it is also true that other factors must be considered, especially respect for the emotional sphere and traditions.
Here, when thinking in terms of these, the move to close Sony Japan Studios seems very inexplicable. On the stage of its last, big conference on E3, the Japanese house was very clear about the importance of emotions, but everything changed a little behind the scenes.
Whatever Sony’s true strategy regarding Japanese products, we say goodbye to a team with Japan Studio for some undeniable masterpieces during its long history, especially directed titles. Pumito Yuda: ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian.
Beyond that, there is room for the most important experiments: Jumping Flash from three-dimensional platforms! From the chaotic atmospheres of Soul Sacrifice, to the most cheerful and cartoonish characters of Gravity Russia, to the musicality of Baraba the rapper, the whole series of important supporting roles passes.
In short, closing the team as we know it so far and abandoning many of its talents will plunge the world of exclusive PlayStation into poverty, and everything on the other hand seems to be going in the opposite direction to the Xbox.
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