PlayStation is planning to bring the likes of Uncharted and God of War to mobile
New business unit will adapt Sony’s “most popular franchises” for mobile
Amid reports that Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is doubling down on its hit series, a job advert has revealed that PlayStation is opening a new business unit to adapt its biggest franchises for mobile.
PlayStation Studios is currently seeking to hire a head of mobile to work at its San Mateo or Los Angeles offices in California, where the successful applicant will be responsible for developing a mobile product roadmap for a 3-5-year time frame.
“As Head of Mobile, you will own and develop the mobile games strategy for PlayStation Studios and help build a foundation for future growth opportunities,” reads the job description.
“You will lead all aspects of the expansion of our game development from consoles and PCs to mobile & Live Services with a focus on successfully adapting PlayStation’s most popular franchises for mobile.
“You will be responsible for building and scaling a team of mobile leaders and will serve as the Head of this new business unit within PlayStation Studios.”
PlayStation’s most popular franchises by sales are Gran Turismo, God of War and Uncharted.
A Bloomberg report published on Friday claimed SIE is increasing its focus on exclusive blockbusters at the expense of “niche” teams within its first-party organisation.
It’s claimed PlayStation rejected plans for a sequel to Sony Bend’s Days Gone in 2019, instead reportedly assigning one team within the studio to work on a new Uncharted game with supervision from Naughty Dog, which is reportedly developing a remake of the original The Last of Us.
In terms of its other major console franchises, SIE is currently gearing up to release Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart in June 2021, before the studio likely shifts focus to a Spider-Man Miles Morales follow-up.
Further reading
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Guerrilla’s Horizon Forbidden West is slated for release in late 2021, and God of War Ragnarök was announced via a brief teaser last September for release on PS5 this year, although nothing more has been heard of Santa Monica Studio’s sequel since.
In February, Gran Turismo 7’s release date was delayed from this year to 2022 due to “Covid-related production challenges” experienced by developer Polyphony Digital.
SIE is also working on “a counterpunch” to Microsoft’s popular Xbox Game Pass service, according to a former senior developer.
God of War creator and Twisted Metal co-creator David Jaffe recently claimed to have spoken to a number of sources within PlayStation about the company’s plans to respond to Microsoft’s subscription service.
