Bend Studio will not make Days Gone 2 its next project, as anonymous insiders report an unannounced third-person co-op game slated for reveal and launch in 2027. PlayStation higher-ups previously rejected a sequel pitch, steering the studio toward this new title rather than reviving Deacon St. John’s biker saga.
Following a seven-year gap since Bend Studio released Days Gone on April 26, 2019, insider reports indicate that Sony’s Oregon-based developer is moving in an entirely different direction. For players hoping to ride alongside Deacon St. John again, the road ends here.
Sony Rejects Days Gone 2 for a New Project
Sony cancelled it in January 2025, and around 30% of the studio was laid off. According to multiple outlets, Bend pitched a sequel to Sony and Sony turned the pitch down. Wolf’s Gaming Blog adds that Sony passed even though the original game was profitable. Earlier reports and leaked footage suggested Mirror Pond was a third-person co-op project before it was cancelled. Historically, Bend has been part of Sony for over 20 years, creating tons of Syphon Filter games, Resistance: Retribution for the PSP, and Uncharted: Golden Abyss on the PS Vita.
Inside the Unannounced Third-Person Co-op Project
Insiders speaking to MP1st who asked to remain anonymous note that the upcoming title is much further along in development
than fans might expect for an unannounced game. Rather than retreating into prolonged silence, the studio has channeled its resources into a completely separate undertaking. MP1st, GameRant, and TechPowerUp report on these unconfirmed details, noting the game will not be in the Days Gone universe. Whether it ends up being a completely original property or a revived Syphon Filter remains unclear in the report, since Game Rant notes it omits any details on if it’s a new IP or an adaptation. According to Evgen Kovalov writing for GameGPU, the upcoming game is being built to fully exploit the hardware capabilities of the standard PlayStation 5 and its upgraded counterpart.
The listing reportedly calls the project the studio’s next high-profile AAA title. Shane the Gamer points out that developers rarely bring on social media managers for titles that remain years away from public presentation. Jason Schreier of Bloomberg stated back in August that Bend’s upcoming project might make its debut within one to two years, which points toward a timeframe of 2027 or 2028.
Bend Studio Targets 2027 for Reveal and Release
Current reports point to a 2027 debut, with the studio aiming for both an official public reveal and a commercial launch within the same 12-month window. TechPowerUp suggests a late 2027 release, placing it alongside other first-party releases slated for that year, such as God of War Laufey, Until Dawn 2, Media Molecule’s still-unannounced game, and potentially Intergalactic, marking what could be a busy 12 months for Sony’s first-party developers. Neither Sony Interactive Entertainment nor Bend Studio has confirmed these dates publicly, and release schedules across the gaming industry remain subject to change.