Summary
- Call of Duty Zombies developer Jason Blundell has formed a new PlayStation studio called Dark Outlaw.
- Blundell previously partnered with PlayStation with his studio Deviation Games, which was eventually shut down.
- Blundell’s approach with Dark Outlaw suggests a focus on quality over hype, learning from past setbacks.
Jason Blundell, known largely for serving as a guiding force for the Call of Duty Zombies franchise, has announced that he is working with a new team called Dark Outlaw at PlayStation. PlayStation has worked with Blundell in the past, seemingly trusting his vision when it comes to the world of multiplayer gaming, but fans haven’t had the chance to see the result of some of his recent efforts. This collaboration between Blundell and PlayStation seems full of potential, now that both parties have had some learning experiences.
Over the past few years, PlayStation has had to deal with its changing trajectory after some of its biggest live-service bets didn’t work out. After Concord failed despite its standout team of developers involved in the Halo, Call of Duty, and Destiny franchises, the company appears to have taken a step back. Following several studio closures and game cancelations, PlayStation may be taking new steps forward, and it’s involving previous collaborators in its next venture.
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On the May 17 bonus episode of The Jeff Gerstmann Show: A Podcast About Video Games, Jason Blundell mentioned that he has taken part in the creation of a new PlayStation studio named Dark Outlaw. It’s unclear what kind of game Dark Outlaw will be releasing, but with the backing of PlayStation, and Blundell’s extensive experience throughout the Call of Duty series, there’s a strong chance this title will be an ambitious entry into the multiplayer space.
Jason Blundell Reveals Dark Outlaw Studio
Blundell told Gerstmann that he and the rest of the team at Dark Outlaw have been “working away in the shadows,” and that when they’re ready to show their work to the public, they’ll “step out into the light.” Blundell noted that the reason there hasn’t been any dramatic announcement about the studio with “fanfare” is because he and his team are focused on the game. This could signal that Blundell and PlayStation’s priorities have shifted, focusing on ensuring the quality of their game before getting fans hyped.
The shift in Blundell and PlayStation’s approaches could be seen as a reaction to their past work. In 2020, Jason Blundell and Dave Anthony founded Deviation Games and formed a partnership with PlayStation, and there was plenty of excitement and fanfare about their project. Eventually, Deviation Games was shut down before players got to see any of the work put into the title. Blundell seems to have learned from that loss, emphasizing optimism in his interview with Gerstmann about simply trying again regardless of misfortune. In the coming years, a Dark Outlaw title might show up during a PlayStation showcase or similar event.