Firewalk Studios, the Sony-owned developer behind the ill-fated PlayStation shooter Brotherly Love, has been largely out of action and the game will remain completely offline despite previous suggestions that it would return. Sony’s mobile-focused developer Neon Koi has also been shut down.
Sony teased Firewalk’s closure in a post on its site, sharing an email that Sony Interactive Entertainment boss Hermen Hulst recently sent to company employees. “We constantly evaluate our game portfolio and the status of our projects to ensure we are meeting short- and long-term business priorities,” Hulst wrote. “As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen SIE’s studio business, we have had to make a difficult decision regarding two of our studios: Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios.”
“Expanding beyond PlayStation devices and creating engaging online experiences alongside our single-player games are key focus areas for us as we evolve our revenue streams,” Hulst added. “However, we must be strategic in bringing our games to new platforms and recognize when our games do not meet player expectations.”
“Certain aspects of Concord were exceptional,” Hulst endured, “but others didn’t land with enough players and, as a result, we pulled the plug on the game. We’ve spent considerable time these past few months exploring all of our options.” [and] After much thought, we have determined that the best path forward is to permanently suspend the game and close the studio. “I want to thank everyone at Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit and dedication.”
“The PvP first-person shooter genre is a continually evolving competitive space and, unfortunately, we fell short of our goals with this title,” added Hulst. “We will leverage the lessons learned from Concord and continue to advance our live service capabilities to achieve future growth in this area.”
Brotherly Love has been offline since early September, when it was pulled from sale just two weeks after the PS5 and PC dropped, amid suggestions that it had not sold up to 25,000 copies. That day, Sony stated that the sport would remain offline indefinitely so Firewalk can “determine the best path forward” and “explore options, including those that will best reach our players.” After that same past, it was reported that Brotherly Love game director Ryan Ellis had been indisposed and the overstaffing at Firewalk was in limbo as they awaited Sony’s decision in the week of the game. Firewalk, which hired between 150 and 170 people, was acquired by Sony in the past, as part of a big live service push under former PlayStation boss Jim Ryan.
In addition to Firewalk’s closure, Hulst announced that Sony is closing its mobile-focused studio Neon Koi (officially Save Game Studios) and canceling the developer’s action game. “Mobile telephony remains a priority growth area,” Hulst insisted in his email to workers, “[but] We need to focus on titles that are in line with the PlayStation Studios pedigree and have the potential to reach more players around the world… I want to express my gratitude to everyone at Neon Koi for their hard work and endless passion to innovate “.
“I know none of this is easy news to hear, especially among colleagues and friends leaving SIE,” Hulst endured. “Both selections had serious thinking, and in the end, we believe they are the right ones to strengthen the organization. Neon Koi and Firewalk were home to many talented people, and we can work to find a location for some of those impacted within our world, people of studies wherever possible.
“I am a big believer in the advantages of embracing creative experimentation and developing intellectual property intact. On the other hand, it is important to grow through sustainable finances, especially in a challenging financial climate.
“While today is a difficult day, there is much to look forward to in the coming months from Studio Business Group and our teams,” Hulst concluded in his comment. “I remain confident that we are building a resilient and capable organization driven by creating unforgettable entertainment experiences for our players.”
