Sony is closing two studios - Neon Koi, which was still working on its first mobile game, and Firewalk Studios, developers of the failed shooter Concord. This was announced in a letter to employees by Hermen Hulst, CEO of Studio Business Group at Sony Interactive Entertainment.
"Regarding Firewalk, as announced in early September, certain aspects of Concord were exceptional, but others did not land with enough players, and as a result we took the game offline. We have spent considerable time these past few months exploring all our options. After much thought, we have determined the best path forward is to permanently sunset the game and close the studio," Hulst wrote.
Sony did not say why it decided to close Neon Koi. In the letter, Hulst wrote that "mobile devices remain a priority for development" and that the studio is currently in the early stages.
He noted that in order to succeed in this area, Sony should focus on games that match the style of PlayStation Studios. As a result of the respective changes in priorities, Neon Koi was closed along with the mobile action game the studio was working on.
"I am a big believer in the benefits of embracing creative experimentation and developing new IP. However, growing through sustainable financials, especially in a challenged economic environment is critical," Hulst noted.