The PlayStation universe is a vast and ever-evolving landscape, and as we approach the halfway mark of 2026, it's time to take a deep dive into the state of Sony's first-party studios. With the industry in flux and the future of physical media in question, the upcoming releases and projects from these studios are more intriguing than ever. So, let's explore the exciting and the enigmatic, the confirmed and the speculative, and uncover the stories behind the games that will shape the PlayStation experience in the coming years.
The Future of Naughty Dog: Intergalactic and Beyond
Naughty Dog, the powerhouse behind iconic franchises like The Last of Us and Uncharted, is currently focused on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi adventure with retro '80s vibes. The trailer for this game, featuring Tati Gabrielle as the lead, has left fans eager for more. The question on everyone's mind is: will Intergalactic be the big 2027 PS5 release we've been waiting for? Personally, I think the retro-futuristic setting and the involvement of Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross make it a strong contender. But what makes this particularly fascinating is the rumored deeper combat system, which could be a significant departure from the studio's previous works. In my opinion, this game has the potential to be a groundbreaking experience, but we'll have to wait and see if it lives up to the hype. And what's even more intriguing is the possibility of a second, unannounced game in development. Could this be The Last of Us Part 3, Uncharted 5, or something entirely new? Only time will tell.
Santa Monica Studio: Kratos' Legacy Continues
Santa Monica Studio has been busy expanding the God of War universe. With the reveal of God of War Laufey at the State of Play, we now know that the studio is working on a new game that expands the Norse saga into the afterlife. The combat promises to blend the heavy-hitting action of the modern games with the speed and agility of the original Greek titles. While we don't know the release date yet, the fact that the studio has been working on this project since the release of God of War Ragnarok in late 2022 gives us hope that it won't be too long before we can get our hands on it. From my perspective, this game is a testament to the studio's commitment to expanding the God of War universe and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the action-adventure genre.
Insomniac Games: Wolverine and Beyond
Insomniac Games, known for their open-world Spider-Man titles and Ratchet & Clank series, is currently working on Marvel's Wolverine, which launches on September 15, 2026. The game is expected to be more linear than Insomniac's recent open-world offerings, but the slick action style and the three-year wait since the last Insomniac game make it a highly anticipated release. What's more, the studio's future plans were stolen in a data breach in 2024, which included the notion of a Venom game. However, as of now, that game has been proven untrue, and Insomniac is focused on delivering Wolverine. In my opinion, this game is a testament to Insomniac's ability to deliver high-quality, engaging experiences, even after a long development cycle.
Sucker Punch Productions: Ghost of Yotei and Beyond
Sucker Punch followed up Ghost of Tsushima with Ghost of Yotei on October 2, 2025, and the game was well-received. The studio has also released Legends, the co-op multiplayer component of the Ghost series. With the success of Ghost of Yotei, we wouldn't expect to see much from the developer anytime soon, but the rumors of an Infamous remake/remaster keep popping up. From my perspective, Sucker Punch has established itself as a powerhouse in the open-world action genre, and we can expect more exciting projects from them in the future.
Guerrilla Games: Aloy's Journey Continues
Guerrilla Games followed up Horizon: Forbidden West with the Burning Shores DLC, and with the West Coast-set sequel ending on a cliffhanger, it's not a stretch to expect the studio to be working on the third part of the trilogy. The development time between Zero Dawn and Forbidden West was five years, so we may be getting close to hearing something about the series' next chapter. Before that, though, Guerrilla will release Horizon: Hunters Gathering, a multiplayer spin-off with a cartoon-like art style. In my opinion, this game is a testament to Guerrilla's commitment to expanding the Horizon universe and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the post-apocalyptic genre.
Housemarque: Saros and Beyond
Housemarque's latest looper shooter, Saros, arrived in April, and if its predecessor, Returnal, is anything to go by, we can expect post-launch support for some time yet. However, there are reports that Sony has reverted to its original console-only exclusive approach, and Saros may not come to PC. The game has gotten off to a 'lukewarm start' in terms of sales, but we'll see how that develops throughout 2026. In my opinion, Housemarque has established itself as a powerhouse in the looper shooter genre, and we can expect more exciting projects from them in the future.
Haven Studios: Fairgames and Beyond
Haven Studios' multiplayer shooter Fairgames was originally due for release in 2025, but it's nowhere to be seen. The project has faced challenges, including the departure of industry veteran Jade Raymond, who founded the studio in 2021. Work is still ongoing on the online heist game, but little to nothing has been seen of it since the 2023 cinematic trailer reveal. In my opinion, this game is a testament to the challenges of developing live-service offerings, but we can expect more exciting projects from Haven Studios in the future.
Bend Studio: Days Gone and Beyond
Bend Studio has been quiet since the release of Days Gone in 2019, but in 2022, a few slivers of detail were revealed about what the Oregon studio was currently working on. The game will 'build upon the open-world systems of Days Gone,' but won't be announced until 'the time is right.' Apart from knowing it won't be a continuation of Deacon St. John's story, we really know nothing. In my opinion, this game is a testament to the challenges of developing open-world games, but we can expect more exciting projects from Bend Studio in the future.
Media Molecule: Dreams and Beyond
Media Molecule spent most of the past decade working on Dreams, the game creation and curation project that was released in 2020. However, as a result of significant layoffs in 2024, live support for the game has now ended, with the studio's current aim being to ensure 'Dreams transitions into a self-sustaining platform.' There has since been no news on what the developer's next project will be. In my opinion, this is a testament to the challenges of developing innovative game creation tools, but we can expect more exciting projects from Media Molecule in the future.
Team Asobi: Astro Bot and Beyond
Team Asobi gave us one of 2024's biggest games with the charmingly creative platformer Astro Bot. The Japanese studio has continued to support Astro Bot with regular updates and levels as recently as this summer. Given the critical and commercial success of the 2024 Game of the Year winner, we wouldn't be surprised to see another Astro game on the way. In my opinion, this game is a testament to the power of creative platformers, and we can expect more exciting projects from Team Asobi in the future.
Polyphony Digital: Gran Turismo and Beyond
Polyphony Digital has been making Gran Turismo for over 25 years now, and it would certainly be a shock to see it veer from that racing line in the near future. GT7 came out around four and a half years ago, so maybe the time is approaching for the reveal of the studio's next racing sim. In my opinion, this game is a testament to the enduring appeal of racing simulations, and we can expect more exciting projects from Polyphony Digital in the future.
San Diego Studio: MLB The Show and Beyond
San Diego Studio is well established as the MLB The Show developer, and this year's entry only dropped in March. So, we can expect to see another next Spring if history is anything to go by. In my opinion, this game is a testament to the enduring appeal of sports simulations, and we can expect more exciting projects from San Diego Studio in the future.
Firesprite: Horizon: Call of the Mountain and Beyond
Firesprite most recently developed Horizon: Call of the Mountain for PSVR 2, following the studio's new-found focus on VR games. There have been reports suggesting that Firesprite was working on a live-service Twisted Metal game, which has since been canceled. Instead, at June's State of Play, it was revealed that the team is working on Until Dawn 2, a follow-up to Supermassive's horror hit. This time taking place on a tropical island, let's see if it can capture the magic of the original when it releases in 2027. In my opinion, this game is a testament to the power of horror games, and we can expect more exciting projects from Firesprite in the future.
teamLFG: A New Team-Based Action Game and Beyond
Formed in 2025 as part of PlayStation Studios, teamLFG was spun out of Bungie to create a new team-based action game that draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and 'frog-type games.' As to what a 'frog-type game' is, your guess is as good as ours, but the project has been described as letting players 'inhabit a lighthearted, comedic world set in a brand-new, mythic, science-fantasy universe.' In my opinion, this game is a testament to the power of innovative team-based action games, and we can expect more exciting projects from teamLFG in the future.
In conclusion, the state of PlayStation's first-party studios is a testament to the creativity, innovation, and dedication of the developers who work tirelessly to deliver new experiences to players. While some studios are focused on expanding existing franchises, others are pushing the boundaries of new genres and experiences. As we approach the end of 2026, we can expect to see more exciting projects from these studios, and I, for one, am eager to see what the future holds for the PlayStation universe.
