A push for new PlayStation multiplayer franchises? Television shows and movies? It’s more likely than you think.
Hermen Hulst, the head of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, recently spoke with Reuters. He mentions that the PlayStation brand is not just “looking at fresh investment to bolster its push into PC and mobile” but also at other opportunities.
“You should think of collaborations on the game development side first and foremost,” Hulst said, “but it’s also not unthinkable with our PlayStation Productions efforts that we explore opportunities,” This quote, in particular, is about Sony’s investment in FromSoftware, best known for their work on the Dark Souls and Elden Ring franchises.
In August, Sony acquired a 14.09% stake in FromSoftware’s parent company, the Kadokawa Corporation. In a press release regarding the news, which also included Tencent acquiring a 16.25% stake, the Kadokawa Corporation had the following to say about Sony, saying that they have the
“strength in its capabilities to deploy IP in games, videos and various other media in the global market, concurrently and separately.”
The upcoming HBO series The Last of Us is just one of several properties Sony Interactive Entertainment is exploring in the realm of television and movies. A Gran Turismo movie starring David Harbour is in the works, as are films in the Ghosts of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, and Days Gone franchises. The Horizon series is also seeing a Netflix adaptation as well.
Hulst also discusses the future of multiplayer releases for the PlayStation brand. The company has made great strides in its single-player games. God of War, Horizon, Uncharted, and The Last of Us are all marquee single-player franchises.
“If Sony can pull off what they did with single player experiences but (as) multiplayer experiences across platforms,” said Katan Games founder Serkan Toto, “on the PC, on consoles and maybe even on the phone, then all bets are off.”
