Hey everyone,
I’ve been thinking a lot about Bend Studio lately and where they fit into PlayStation’s first-party lineup.
I’m personally a huge fan of Days Gone. I thought the open-world systems, the motorcycle physics, and managing the dynamic Freaker hordes were super fun. However, we all know the reality: despite solid long-term sales, it underperformed critically compared to Sony’s strict "prestige single-player" standards (God of War, The Last of Us, Spider-Man).
That puts Bend in a really tricky spot. Looking across PlayStation Studios, almost everyone has a distinct, carved-out identity:
Sucker Punch: Feudal Japan / Historical Open-World (Ghost)
Insomniac: Marvel Superheroes & High-Tech Action (Spider-Man, Wolverine)
Sony Santa Monica / Naughty Dog: Cinematic Prestige Narrative (God of War, TLOU)
Guerrilla: Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi (Horizon)
Bend, on the other hand, seems trapped without a clear identity.
Some people suggest they should go back to their roots with a modern tactical spy/espionage game (Syphon Filter style), but honestly, I think that’s a tough sell right now. The stealth-espionage genre is brutally hard to monetize and capture AAA audiences with today—even giants like Ubisoft and Kojima have struggled to hit the mark cleanly in that specific space.
To me, reviving a legacy PlayStation IP feels like one of the few plausible ways for the studio to land a guaranteed hit and survive without getting absorbed or repurposed.

- Resistance
- Taking their open-world horde tech from Days Gone and applying it to a stealth/horror-focused Chimeran invasion on Earth.

2.
- inFAMOUS
- Taking over the IP while Sucker Punch is busy with Ghost, leaning into a stylized, comic-book co-op/morality open world.
The problem? Relying on someone else’s legacy IP isn't a sustainable long-term strategy if a studio wants to build its own lasting legacy.
What do you guys think? Is there an unclaimed genre or setting where Bend could launch a new IP that doesn't step on the toes of Sony's other heavy hitters? Or is taking over a classic franchise like inFAMOUS or Resistance their safest bet?
Curious to hear your thoughts!