Load the Game

PixelOpus Studio Closure Saddens Former PlayStation Boss

• Jacob Chambers
• May 8th, 2023

Former Sony Worldwide Studios head Shawn Layden lamented PixelOpus’s closure. Layden said, “This is a deep cut. “Loved working with this team and watching them level up to deliver the genre-busting Concrete Genie while maintaining a culture of support, inclusion, and challenge.”

After Shawn Layden left PlayStation, Concrete Genie released on PS4. He wished PixelOpus employees “a new adventure awaits” in the future.

😔Ngl, this is a deep cut. So loved working with this team and watching them level up to deliver the genre busting, Concrete Genie, all while maintaining a culture of support, inclusion, challenge. Now a new adventure awaits. Only the very best to every team member. 🙏🏾🎮💪🏾💙 https://t.co/11ggG3kUCt

— shawn layden (@ShawnLayden) May 5, 2023

The San Mateo studio, which made the gorgeous PS4 indie game Entwined, will close in June. Sony explained PixelOpus’ closure: PlayStation Studios regularly evaluates its portfolio and studio projects to ensure they meet the organization’s short and long-term strategic objectives. PixelOpus will close on June 2 after a review.

Job listings indicated a PS5 game developed in Unreal Engine 5 with Sony Pictures Animation. PlayStation fans wanted a Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse spin-off, but it appears the studio won’t release it.

Shawn Layden stated in a September 2021 interview that he left PlayStation due to industry burnout. “A good time to step off on top and allow another generation to take the PlayStation 5 to market” after helping launch PS4 exclusives like Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War, he said. Tencent employs strategic advisor Shawn Layden.