Sony Interactive Entertainment's Bend Studio seems to be advancing with a fresh gaming project, more than six years following the debut of their acclaimed title Days Gone. The development team responsible for the 2019 action-adventure survival horror sensation Days Gone is currently searching for an experienced creative director to spearhead an undisclosed game initiative.

Established in the early 1990s, Bend Studio initially focused on developing games for PC and Apple platforms, including titles like Dell Crossword Puzzles and Live Action Football. The studio found its footing after transitioning to PlayStation development in 1996, eventually being acquired by Sony in 2000. While their most recent original release, Days Gone, launched in 2019, the studio has experienced renewed attention following the April release of Days Gone Remastered for PlayStation 5.

A recently identified job posting on PlayStation's Greenhouse recruitment platform seeks a creative director to help "craft our next title," explicitly mentioning that the project is already underway at Bend Studio. While the listing provides limited details about the nature of the project, one notable requirement specifies that candidates must have experience in multiplayer game development and design. This strongly indicates that the studio's upcoming project may incorporate multiplayer elements, potentially marking a departure from their recent single-player focused titles.

Although Bend Studio is primarily recognized for Days Gone and their PlayStation Vita contributions to the Uncharted series—both predominantly single-player experiences—the studio does have historical precedent with multiplayer gameplay. Several installments in their Syphon Filter franchise successfully integrated multiplayer components, demonstrating their capability in this area.

The potential development of a new game represents encouraging news for the studio's future prospects. Like many throughout the gaming industry, Bend Studio experienced significant layoffs in June, with approximately 40 employees—roughly 30% of their workforce—affected by restructuring measures. These cuts reflected broader industry trends that reached their peak during the summer months.

Beyond the workforce reductions, July reports indicated that Bend Studio had canceled several unannounced projects. Following the layoffs, a former employee's LinkedIn profile revealed they had worked on "multiple canceled/unannounced projects," including development of open-world events, missions, puzzles, and systems. Earlier in January, reports surfaced that PlayStation had canceled two live-service games in development, with one reportedly being led by Bend Studio.