Bend Studio is working on a new IP that ‘builds on Days Gone’s open-world systems’

Sony Interactive Entertainment has confirmed that Days Gone developer Bend Studio is working on a new IP.

Bloomberg claimed in April that Bend had a Days Gone 2 pitch rejected by Sony following a disappointing critical reception to the original game, but that it had since started production on an original title, as well as supporting various Naughty Dog projects.

PlayStation Studios boss Herman Hulst confirmed part of that report in a Q&A published on Wednesday.

“Bend Studio is working on a very exciting new IP that they’re very, very passionate about,” he told the PlayStation Blog. “They’re building on the deep open-world systems that they developed with Days Gone. So I’m really happy for Bend Studio.”

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Sony released a PC version of Days Gone in May, following the release of Horizon Zero Dawn for PC last year, and Hulst also spoke about the company’s journey to take PlayStation first-party IP off console.

“We’re still early on in our planning for PC. And Horizon Zero Dawn has been very successful. I think it shows there’s an appetite from gamers outside the PlayStation ecosystem to experience the amazing portfolio of games that PlayStation fans have enjoyed for years,” he said.

“But I want to emphasize that PlayStation will remain the best place to play our PlayStation Studios titles at launch. But we do value PC gamers, and we’ll continue to look at the right times to launch each game. Bend Studio just released the PC version of Days Gone on May 18. So that’s about two years after the PS4 release.

“And I hope that a new set of fans can and will enjoy that title,” Hulst added. “And that’s the goal — we want to reach new gamers who haven’t yet experienced the great stories, characters, and worlds that we’ve built. Releasing games on PC will not come ever at the expense of building an exciting lineup of great console games.”

Presentation documents published by Sony last week seemingly revealed the company plans to make 2016’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End one of its next PC releases.

Sony also confirmed on Wednesday that Gran Turismo 7 and God of War Ragnarök will be released for PS4 as well as PS5, and that Santa Monica Studio’s action sequel has officially been delayed to 2022.