E3 2021: PlayStation to Partner with Deviation Games, A New Studio From ex-Treyarch Studio Head

Deviation Games announced their presence during the Summer Game Fest Kickoff. Helmed by Dave Anthony and former Treyarch co-studio head Jason Blundell, the studio also announced a partnership with PlayStation for a “new original IP”.

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“When my partner Jason Blundell and I first met decades ago, we often dreamt about having our own studio, making games our way with our own team of like-minded developers, and building a community where lasting friendships are created. That dream has become a reality today”, says studio co-founder Dave Anthony in a post on the PlayStation Blog.

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Both Anthony and Blundell had worked almost solely on Call of Duty in recent years, with Blundell working at Treyarch for over a decade before leaving his post in February 2020. Combined, the pair are credited on Call of Duty: Black Ops, Black Ops II, and Black Ops III whilst Blundell has also worked on Call of Duty 3.

Although setting their ambitions high, the team at Deviation isn’t quite ready to confirm what they’re working on just yet. However, Anthony does confirm that development on the project has begun before saying: “We’re drawing on what we’ve learned over our collective decades making games, but we’re also out to make something fresh and brimming with innovation like you’ve never experienced before.” So a Call of Duty-like shooter, then - ed.?

This isn’t the first partnership announcement from PlayStation, who have recently announced working relationships with Jade Raymond’s new studio Haven and a new multiplayer game from Firewalk Studios.