Sony’s Firesprite is moving to an office more than 20 times larger than its current one

The 10-year lease is the largest letting in Liverpool in three years.

[smashman98]

I guess sony wasn't lying about expanding their current studios. I wonder what this will mean for the frequency of firesprite's VR output.

[SullysCigar]

That was my first thought too. All signs pointing to Sony being deadly serious about PS VR2. This pleases me.

[Eonjay]

For VR in general it's great to see companies continue to invest in high quality content for the medium. And here they are taking a proven studio and expanding it as an inhouse team. The more AAA love VR gets .. the better.

[IanTH]

Wow, that's some almost insane faith in them. Before they've shipped even one game since being acquired, and knowing the only other game they've got to their credit (VR or otherwise) is The Persistence. Given it's just that middling game from over 4 years ago, Sony must be damn impressed with what they're seeing on Call of the Mountain.

[lodossrage]

They probably have faith in them because they are aware of the talent at the studio. Most of them use to work on games like Wipeout and Colony Wars for Sony. So the faith probably comes from familiarity

[SullysCigar]

The Persistence was one of the best VR games around when it launched - and for some time afterwards.

It was designed from the ground up for VR and only felt "middling" when they re-engineered it for flat screen years later, showing it's age a little.

These guys are proven, but I suspect you're right that they've embedded that respect with Sony witnessing their work on the new Horizon VR game.

[IanTH]

You're right, saying middling was a little harsh. I should have gone with polarizing. Some people really liked it, other's didn't. VR reviews were generally positive, user reviews were kinda all over the map. It currently sits at mixed on Steam, but some of that is probably a move from "mostly positive" down to mixed from flat screen not being the best transition.

That said, I was surprised enough that Sony put one of their biggest franchises in the hands of a rather small, fairly unproven studio to begin with. The Persistence, even after its upgrade, still had some of the stodgier, old school designs and controls of an early VR game. It would have been nice if there was at least one more title after, if simply to prove that they've been able to keep up with the evolving expectations of VR.

The fact they are moving them into such a nice place before CotM has shipped was unexpected. Maybe they're going to give them more staff, and a move was simply necessary. I'm gonna hope this does mean good things for CotM, though.

[ocelot07]

I don't live far from Duke Street and the new Sony Office in the old Echo building. They have bumper cars in the top floor lol.

[Michiel1989]

either they got a badass studio now or they worked from a basement before this.

[S2Killinit]

Give me that PSVR2 goodness.

[Solitariussaint]

A new WipEout VR type game would be stellar for sure! Bring on PSVR2!