The third quarter of 2022 may be over pretty soon, but it seems safe to say that the year thus far has been a big one for the industry. Releases likeHorizon Forbidden WestandElden Ringhave certainly done a lot in the actual games department, but it’s been a huge year for acquisitions too. In mid-January,Microsoft announced it was acquiring Activision-Blizzard.
Sony also announced an acquisition at the end of January, that beingDestiny 2developer Bungie. More has always felt inevitable, as many have joked about “acquisition season” ever since Microsoft went on a shopping spree and picked up a ton of studios a couple of years ago. Now, Sony has announced it is making another acquisition. This time, it’s for Jade Raymond’s Haven Studios—purchased at an unspecified price.
RELATED:Jade Raymond’s Haven Studios Recruits Former Google Stadia Developers
One person doesn’t make a studio, of course, but it would be unwise to look over Raymond’s experience in the industry. She has won numerous awards for her work, as well as having spent time at EA, Ubisoft, and Google.Raymond announced her departure from Stadia Games and Entertainmentwhen Google decided to wind down its approach in the area. She’s perhaps most known for her work as a producer and executive producer on theAssassin’s Creedfranchise, having worked onACI, AC2,andAC Bloodlines. She also worked onAssassin’s Creed Unityas a managing director, and in a way,Watch Dogsis her brainchild too.
This acquisition doesn’t really come as a shock, however. Jade Raymond’s studio has reportedly been working ona new live-service game on PS5, and with Bungie under its wing, it’s clear Sony is looking into a live-service future. Having another studio under its belt focusing on this aspect simply makes sense, especially in obtaining Raymond’s expertise in the industry too.
Of course, Raymond’s studio is relatively young as it was founded after her departure from Google. It was around March 2021, so Haven’s new PS5 game is likely still some time away. However, fans ofAssassin’s Creedmay want to keep an eye on Haven Studios. While many ex-Google employees joined Raymond at Haven, so did many former Ubisoft names who worked on the franchise. Live-service andAssassin’s Creeddon’t necessarily go hand in hand, but it’s that same vision held by many of the developers there.
For now, it remains to be seen what comes of this acquisition, as well as Haven’s PS5 game. AS SIE CEO Jim Ryan describes the acquisition, though, “The studio’s focus on creating an original AAA multiplayer game will not only flex thepower of PlayStation 5but will further expand upon the diverse catalog of gaming experiences that can only be found on PlayStation.”
