PlayStation has formed new studio Dark Outlaw Games with Call of Duty Zombies lead Jason Blundell
The new first-party studio comes from one of the minds behind Treyarch’s beloved COD Zombies
Sony has formed a new first-party studio within PlayStation Studios. Dark Outlaw Games comes from studio head and director Jason Blundell.
Former Treyarch co-studio head Blundell was one of the lead creators of Call of Duty’s Zombies mode before leaving Activision in 2020 after 13 years. He would then serve as one of the co-founders of Deviation Games.
Deviation Games didn’t get a chance to release its debut project, an original IP that was set to be exclusive to PlayStation platforms.
In an interview with Jeff Gerstmann, Blundell confirmed that the new studio is “staffing up,” and that he would have more to share on the studio’s first project in the future.
“I’ve had the amazing opportunity to create a new studio within PlayStation Studios for Sony,” Blundell said.
“The studio is called Dark Outlaw. We’ve been working away in the shadows for a while, when we’ve got something to talk about we’ll step out into the light.”
“It’s such a privilege to be able to do it with Sony as a new first-party studio, Sony doesn’t start up first-party studios all the time, so to have that privilege is humbling.”
Blundell wouldn’t confirm where the studio is in terms of production schedule, other than that the studio has been going “for a little bit of time.”
“It’s about getting the team to gel,” he continued. “I’m a programmer at heart so let’s test those assumptions, is it working?… You’re trying to hit that escape velocity.”
Blundell also confirmed he will serve as studio head and director for Dark Outlaw Games.
Deviation was reportedly “over 100 strong” in 2021 when it signed the deal with Sony. At the time of its announcement, the studio told GamesIndustry.biz that its PlayStation deal ensured “complete financial security for years and years to come”.
The studio closed its doors in 2024.
