Days Gone Director Claims Bend Studio’s Project Costs Over $250 Million; Says PlayStation Co-CEO Doesn’t Want 2 Zombies Games in Portfolio
Just yesterday, we reported on Sony’s unintended reveal that Bend Studio (Days Gone) is working on a “multi-genre/evolving” project. While there’s no details about that in-development game that’s known, it seems Sony is spending quite a hefty sum in creating it.
At least that’s according to former Bend Studio developer and Days Gone director Jeff Ross. Over on Twitter, Ross mentioned that Sony has already spent over quarter of a billion dollars ($250 million) in the unannounced project.
In addition to that, Ross mentioned that while Days Gone didn’t sell as well as Ghost of Tsushima, it did do better than Death Stranding, a game which already has a sequel in development.
Nope. Did better than Death Stranding though.
— Jeff Ross (@JakeRocket) May 30, 2024
This revelation of Bend Studio’s purported spending stemmed from Ross claiming PlayStation co-CEO Hermen Hulst “hated” the Days Gone franchise.
A lot of people still ask me if there will ever be a Days Gone sequel, so I submit this poster as evidence it will never happen. Sony higher ups like Hermen were never fans, so you won’t hear about it at the PlayStation State of Play today or ever. pic.twitter.com/9G8lPgJgVW
— Jeff Ross (@JakeRocket) May 30, 2024
Note that the image above was fan made and not something whipped up by Sony. Ross himself admitted to posting it a little bit too hastily as well given people might deem it as an official Sony image.
According to Ross, Hermen Hulst’s “bias” was purely because of PlayStation’s portfolio given they already have a zombie game in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us, why would they need a lesser-performing title.
Nope. Did better than Death Stranding though.
— Jeff Ross (@JakeRocket) May 30, 2024
Portfolio clashes, which is fair. They could have just said that.
— Jeff Ross (@JakeRocket) May 30, 2024
While I have no doubt Ross knows quite a number of people at his former studio at Bend, the $250-million figure is still something not publicly revealed or confirmed by Sony, and as such, shouldn’t be taken as an official development budget.
The former Days Gone director hasn’t been shy in voicing his opinion on his love for Days Gone. Chances for a sequel are next to impossible especially after Shawn Layden’s departure at PlayStation according to Ross.
More PlayStation Reading:
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- Helldivers 2 Got Double the Development Budget From PlayStation According to Studio Boss
- Report: God of War Ragnarok and Until Dawn PC Versions Will Require PSN Accounts Even If They’re Single-Player Games
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Ross has to be the most obnoxious game developer in existence. The guy didn’t create Half Life, he didn’t invent a genre, he didn’t make a GOTY title. He made a slightly above average zombie game and the dude’s still crying about it years later. I don’t know if I’d buy a sequel or not, but I don’t care if it exists and neither do most gamers. This clown needs to stfu or nobody will work with him again. And no, folks, his little biker game did not sell more than Death Stranding. Anyone that believes that is a moron like him.
Go f*** yourself and go Play the LesOfUs Part II
Yep and Days Gone also had a “Gruff White Male Protagonist”……… exactly like Death Stranding too. But did the scum at IGN try to take down a Hideo Kojima darling game???
Nope, they went after DG with the white main character RACIST shit though.https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/06/days-gone-open-world-gameplay-impressions