Another Shuttered Studio

PlayStation has closed Dark Outlaw Games less than a year after announcing the studio, making it the second first-party shutdown in recent weeks. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported the closure, which arrives shortly after PlayStation confirmed in February that Bluepoint Games would wind down by March 2026. Dark Outlaw was described internally as a "first-person studio" and was formed in March 2025, but it never revealed a project publicly.

This move deepens a trend many fans have watched with growing concern. Bluepoint’s fate stunned players who associate the studio with some of PlayStation’s most polished remakes. Now, a brand-new team with top-tier shooter pedigree has met a similar end before showing any work. Sony hasn’t detailed what happens to any in-development concepts at Dark Outlaw, and it’s unclear if the IP the studio was building will surface in any form.

Who Led Dark Outlaw Games

Dark Outlaw was founded by Jason Blundell, a former Call of Duty lead best known for his work on Treyarch’s Black Ops series and its Zombies mode. Blundell had previously helmed Deviation Games, which closed in 2024. His track record stretches back to 2000 and includes several high-profile shooter credits and licensed titles. While Dark Outlaw’s debut game never made it to a reveal, Blundell’s résumé underscored the team’s intended lane.

  • Starlancer
  • X2: Wolverine's Revenge
  • Catwoman
  • Requiem of Hell
  • Xanadu Next
  • The Roots: Gates of Chaos
  • Warhammer 40,000: Glory in Death
  • Call of Duty 3
  • Spider-Man 3
  • 007 Quantum of Solace
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
  • Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Despite the leadership and experience attached, Dark Outlaw never reached a stage where gameplay, a title, or even basic concept art became public. That lack of visibility makes this shutdown harder to contextualize for fans; players can’t point to a trailer or a pitch and imagine what might have been. Internally, the label of "first-person" strongly suggested a shooter, but beyond that, details remain locked away.

Bluepoint’s Fate Sets the Tone

PlayStation’s recent decision to shutter Bluepoint Games set the tone for a difficult spring. Bluepoint built its reputation on acclaimed remakes such as Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls, and also assisted with God of War Ragnarok. After reportedly working on a canceled God of War live-service project, the studio "could not lock down another project" and was scheduled to shut down in March 2026.