Sony has officially formed a new first-party studio, Dark Outlaw Games, with Call of Duty Zombies co-creator and former Treyarch co-studio head Jason Blundell at the helm. This marks a significant move for PlayStation Studios, as Sony doesn’t frequently establish new first-party teams.
A New Beginning for Jason Blundell
Blundell, a veteran game developer, played a pivotal role in shaping the Call of Duty franchise, particularly its beloved Zombies mode. After leaving Activision in 2020 following a 13-year tenure, he co-founded Deviation Games, a studio that had an exclusive deal with PlayStation but ultimately closed its doors in 2024 before releasing its debut project.
Now, Blundell is taking on a new challenge with Dark Outlaw Games. In a recent interview with Jeff Gerstmann, he confirmed that the studio is in the early stages of development and is actively building its team.
“I’ve had the amazing opportunity to create a new studio within PlayStation Studios for Sony,” Blundell said. “The studio is called Dark Outlaw. We’ve been working away in the shadows for a while—when we’ve got something to talk about, we’ll step out into the light.”
What’s Next for Dark Outlaw Games?
While Blundell remained tight-lipped about the studio’s first project, he emphasized the importance of assembling the right team and laying a strong foundation.
“It’s about getting the team to gel,” he explained. “I’m a programmer at heart, so let’s test those assumptions, is it working?… You’re trying to hit that escape velocity.”
The studio’s formation suggests that Sony is investing in new creative ventures, but given its early development phase, it may be some time before fans hear concrete details about what Dark Outlaw Games is working on.
For now, Blundell and his team remain in the shadows—ready to make a grand entrance when the time is right.