Deviation Games, the studio co-founded by Jason Blundell, creator of Call of Duty’s Zombies mode, and Dave Anthony, a seasoned Treyarch veteran, has unfortunately ceased operations before releasing the game it was working on in collaboration with PlayStation.
The closure was announced on LinkedIn by Kriste Stull, Deviation Games’ Chief HR & Operations Officer, who expressed gratitude to the team for their hard work and dedication. Stull also mentioned that a networking event would be held to support those affected by the studio’s closure.
Although not much is known about the project Deviation Games was developing, it was revealed in June 2021 that it was a new IP in the early stages of development. Blundell emphasized the team’s desire to create an innovative and content-rich gaming experience that pushed boundaries.
In a unfortunate turn of events, several Deviation Games developers shared on LinkedIn in 2023 that they had been laid off due to company restructuring. This situation adds to the growing trend of layoffs and studio shutdowns in the gaming industry in recent years.
The closure of Deviation Games follows other notable shutdowns, such as EA’s decision to close Ridgeline Games and the end of Rooster Teeth. These developments underscore the volatile nature of the gaming industry and the challenges faced by developers and studios.
For more insights into Deviation Games and the vision behind the studio, you can read our interview with Jason Blundell and Dave Anthony from 2021. Stay tuned for updates on the future endeavors of the talented individuals affected by the closure of Deviation Games.
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[Read more about Deviation Games’ closure here](https://www.ign.com/articles/deviation-games-is-shut-down-before-it-can-ship-a-game-in-its-partnership-with-playstation)