Two veteran Sony Bend directors dating all the way back to the Syphon Filter days have departed the first-party studio. John Garvin, who’s written every single one of the developer’s games, announced on Twitter that he actually left over a year ago, but this is the first time he’s commented on his decision.
In a series of posts, he explained that he’s been focusing on personal projects, like painting and writing. He added that he’s been “enjoying a break from the games industry”, having joined Eidetic – the former name of Sony Bend – in 1997. Game director Jeff Ross also has ties to the studio dating all the way back to 1998, although he’s been a bit more of a journeyman, having also held positions at Rockstar Vancouver over the years.
Exactly what this means for the future of Sony Bend is unclear. The team has been quiet since the release of Days Gone, although it did update the title for the PlayStation 5, and is expected to be working on some kind of sequel. Earlier in the year, job listings revealed that it was staffing up for a new project, although it’ll probably be a while before we see what it’s working on.
We interviewed Garvin last year, and he was extremely amiable, with decades of industry experience under his belt. Sony Bend will be worse off for both of these departures, but here’s hoping that the studio can step up to the challenge of moving forward without two of its founding fathers among its ranks.
[source twitter.com, via twitter.com, resetera.com]
Comments 21
Wow, big name departures but it’s an extremely high pressure job, with really quite little personal reward if the game isn’t a masterpiece or the next Fortnite. Hopefully they enjoy their downtime.
Best of luck to them and hopefully Bend is still in good hands. Days Gone sold well enough that the studio should at least have another game on the way.
I just hope whoever is the narrative lead on a possible Days Gone 2 understands what made the first game's story and characters so captivating and enjoyable.
Of course I'm still interested in whatever is next for the studio, be it DG2, Syphon Filter, or a new IP
@GingerSilent
I'd really love to see Syphon Filter come back but that seems like a pipe dream at this point.
@Gamer83
Never played the series, but I can understand the feeling, I'm still waiting for another Jak and Daxter game.
Insert "I will wait for you" scene from Futurama
It was a good series on PS1 and especially PSP. Was disappointed to see it go after that but I did like Days Gone so a sequel to that is cool too. Also, if Naughty Dog really isn't going to continue with the Uncharted series, I wouldn't mind seeing Bend work on it. Golden Abyss was one of my favorite Vita games.
Despite critics Days Gone is a magnificent game, but these guys are not "Top Tier" developers, they will be missed but I think Sony can hire better personal for Bend Studios and Days Gone 2.
Days Gone is a great game. Hopefully there is a sequel.
Syphon filter .thats mess up.i like bend studio.wordvup son
@Gamer83 I have good memories of playing the first Syphon Filter and burning terrorists with the taser.
@GingerSilent Hope they know it wasn't good.
Honestly 2019 was very, very weak for playstation. A walking sim and a generic open world, full of bugs with questionable cutscenes. Didn't bother buying them. I really don't want to pay to find out something I am pretty sure will regret.
Hopefully Kojima ans Bend make their next game as good as a regular sony banger.
@Turbodream all three Syphon Filter games on PS1 are really good. I can't state the same about the other ones.
"John Garvin, who’s written every single one of the developer’s games"
.................. So he wrote Bubsy 3D. Huh.
Love John Garvin and Days Gone but writing wasn't his strong point and was the biggest weakness of the game so I'm kind of glad this has happened, best of luck to them both.
Is it crazy for me to think if sony ever rebooted syphon filter that they would give it to blupoint instead of Bend
Great guys. I hope they are happy doing what they wanted to. Ultimately I'm sure there is always more talent and a studio like Bend is much more than a couple of individual.
Best of luck to them both.
@Gamer83 Never give up hope. 🤞
Somehow this will be twisted that the PS5 is doomed by Crazy Xbox cultists
Can't blame them, they've been in the studio since the beginning. 20+ years is A LOT by any measure. Sony Bend will be fine, they still have veteran producers who have stayed with the studio plus "new blood" is always good.
Dan Houser left Rockstar Games earlier in the year too and he's also from a writer's standpoint and creative lead - on another level.
I'm looking forward to whatever the studio does next!
I bet you are just so proud of that pun Sammy, aren't you?
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