Shattered Firesprite Dreams – Post-apocalyptic live service game and sci-fi battle royale

Firesprite, one of Sony’s most promising studios, has been making headlines recently not only for its ambitious projects, but also for internal turmoil. New leaks now show that two of the studio’s promising projects will never see the light of day: a dark post-apocalyptic live service game and a sci-fi battle royale, both developed with Unreal Engine 5.

The dark side of Firesprite

Known for games like The Persistence, Firesprite has come under fire in recent months over reports of toxic work culture, mismanagement and massive employee departures. The cancellation of the live service game Twisted Metal earlier this year was just the tip of the iceberg.

Now, leaked concept art and renderings put the focus on two more canceled projects that were in development. While both games had the potential to impress the PlayStation world, they obviously failed due to internal challenges and strategic decisions on Sony’s part.

A look into the lost future

The first project, a post-apocalyptic live service game, promised an immersive world with well-worn weapons and detailed props. Developed with Unreal Engine 5, the game should set new standards with its visual fidelity. “The weapon and prop designs reflect the desolate, crumbling world the player would have expected,” says an accompanying text from a former lead artist who shared the leaks.

The second concept, a sci-fi battle royale, is based on stylized design and fast-paced multiplayer action. But this project was never realized beyond the concept phase. Both projects show striking similarities to the one that collapsed Twisted metalgame that also featured live service elements and post-apocalyptic settings. The renewed failure of such projects could be an indication of deeper problems within Firesprite’s development and management processes.

Instead, it will now be “Until Dawn 2”, which Firesprite is currently working on and which may be released next year, along with the planned film.