Sony Interactive Entertainment and PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst has revealed the platform holder’s interest in reviving its classic video game IPs, igniting hopes for a resurgence of modern titles from its extensive backlog of dormant franchises.
During an interview with Famitsu, Hulst acknowledged the importance of PlayStation’s extensive classic portfolio and revealed that the platform holder is continually looking for ways to leverage upon them, when asked whether the success of Astro Bot and its many PlayStation-themed cameos could spark the platform holder to bring back some of its legacy IPs.
“The extensive IPs we hold are important assets for PlayStation, and as part of our efforts to strengthen our portfolio, we are continuously looking at opportunities to leverage past IPs, as well as developing new franchises,” he explained.
While vague, his statement certainly bodes well for fans hoping for a comeback of classic game franchises such as Syphon Filter, Jak and Daxter, Killzone or Infamous, which have remained dormant for years. Of course, some PlayStation titles have received a modern refresh in recent years, such as Ratchet and Clank, God of War and Gran Turismo, and their success further adds to the possibility of more franchises getting a similar revamp in the future.
It’s also worth noting that Hulst’s comments don’t specifically apply solely to video games, as the CEO also oversees PlayStation Productions, which handles the adaptation of its IPs into movies and TV shows. This means that he could be referencing video game film adaptations over game remakes, which makes sense considering the success of The Last of Us Max series, alongside the titles currently in production such as the Until Dawn and Gravity Rush movies.
For now, only time will tell what plans PlayStation has in store for its legacy IPs, but let’s hope that the studio can breathe new life into its classic franchises and introduce them to a new generation of gamers.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
