![]() ![]() After nearly two decades and countless substantial contributions to Santa Monica Studio’s rich legacy, Yumi has the unquestioned respect and trust of her peers. Her project management prowess and meticulous oversight of 2018’s God of War helped the title fully realize its groundbreaking potential. Taking over as studio head is Yumi Yang, a 19-year PlayStation veteran with an extensive background in product development and heavy involvement across many of Santa Monica Studio’s biggest games. All of PlayStation is better for and grateful of her many years of exemplary service and bold creative vision. In her role as VP of Product Development, Shannon helped smaller independent teams incubate within the studio, leading to groundbreaking works like Journey and The Unfinished Swan. Under her leadership, the studio she helped found over twenty years ago masterfully reinvented itself and its greatest franchise with 2018’s Game of the Year, God of War. We extend our warmest congratulations to Shannon Studstill on her new role. God of War 2 will likely be released for PS5.Sony issued a statement about Studstill’s departure and Yang’s new position: Perhaps one of these new IPs will eventually beat Santa Monica Studio at their own game, but that remains to be seen. Both Google and Microsoft have a blind spot when it comes to first-party action-adventure games like God of War, but these new hires should hopefully change that. However, these moves indicate we're likely to see new, innovative riffs on the God of War model from Stadia and Xbox in the years to come. Still, with Barlog and much of the original team still there, God of War 2 will likely turn out well. While God of War likely didn't suffer a massive change in direction because Barlog is still attached and has a pretty clear idea of what he wants to do, the departure of several key members at Sony Santa Monica will have a trickle-down effect. He thinks that " everyone will love it." The only game that we know inXile Entertainment is working on right now is Wasteland 3, which comes out on May 19, but Rymer's tweets confirm that the studio already has another game in the works.Ĭonsidering it has the input of a former God of War combat designer, could it possibly be a departure from the top-down RPGs we've come to expect from the studio? Microsoft has also been poaching Sony Santa Monica talent for The Initiative, one of its brand new studios, so the God of War team has lost some good talent since the title's release in 2018. ![]() Meanwhile, Rymer confirmed he has taken on the role of Lead Combat Designer at inXile Entertainment and is working on an unannounced game. God of War's Senior Combat Designer has also left Sony Santa Monica. ![]() ![]() At this new studio, Stadia Games and Entertainment VP Jade Raymond says Shannon Studstill and her studio will "focus on delivering exclusive games, using new gameplay mechanics, creative ways to play together and unique interaction models that we’re just starting to explore." Raymond also teases that Studstill's next game will be a "new IP." Following the acquisition of Typhoon Studios in January, this move and studio opening shows that Google still has faith in Stadia's long-term prospects, despite the concerns of many developers. Studstill is poised to lead a new branch of Stadia Games and Entertainment in Playa Vista, California. Santa Monica Studio Head and Executive Producer Shannon Studstill has left for a role at Stadia, while God of War's Senior Combat Designer Dean Rymer revealed he is working on an unannounced game at Microsoft subsidiary inXile Entertainment. Both Google and Microsoft have a blind spot when it comes to first-party action-adventure games like God of War, but these new hires seem intended to change that. God of War 2has all but been confirmed by Sony Santa Monica, but one has to wonder how the project will turn out now that top talent has left the lauded developer this week. ![]()
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