Japan Studio

Last updated

Japan Studio
Native name
JAPANスタジオ
Company type Division
Industry Video games
FoundedNovember 16, 1993;31 years ago (1993-11-16)
DefunctApril 1, 2021;3 years ago (2021-04-01)
FateMerged into Team Asobi and other studios
Successor Team Asobi
Headquarters
Tokyo
,
Japan
Products
Parent Sony Computer Entertainment (1993–2005)
PlayStation Studios (2005–2021)
Divisions

Japan Studio was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. Formerly the video game development division for Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. and serving as a first-party developer for the company, it was best known for the Ape Escape , LocoRoco , Patapon , Gravity Rush , and Knack series, the Team Ico games, Bloodborne , The Legend of Dragoon , and Astro's Playroom . In April 2021, Japan Studio was reorganized and merged with Team Asobi and other SIE studios.

Contents

History

Sony Computer Entertainment was founded in Tokyo on 16 November 1993, jointly established by Sony and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. [1] The studio was run similar to Sony Music Entertainment Japan during its first few years, with producers seeking out creative talent and nurturing them to help develop new games. [2] Examples of these works included PaRappa the Rapper by NanaOn-Sha, and Everybody's Golf by Camelot Software Planning. [2]

Shuhei Yoshida oversaw the company from 1996 through 2000. Yoshida started creating teams and hired for them, while simultaneously assisting other developers for Sony-published exclusives; said teams included Sugar & Rockets, Arc Entertainment and Contrail. [3] These teams were consolidated into the company in 2000. [4] Sony's internal development team also developed original titles such as Ape Escape and The Legend of Dragoon , with dedicated teams such as Team Ico for Ico , Project Siren/Team Gravity for Siren and Gravity Rush and Polys Entertainment for Gran Turismo (which eventually was spun out as Polyphony Digital) emerging. [5] Alongside these first-party titles, the latter years of the original PlayStation saw strong third-party support, with games like Square's Final Fantasy VII and Konami's Metal Gear Solid . According to Yoshida, this led Sony into some complacency on relying on third-party games to support further consoles, and oversight and support for first-party games was less of a priority. [5] The studio was moved to SCE Worldwide Studios in 2005, rebranding afterwards as Japan Studio; the brand first appeared in Genji: Days of the Blade , the studio's first game for the PlayStation 3.[ citation needed ] Though Japan Studio's output during the PlayStation 2 years were strong, it struggled to release successful games during the PlayStation 3 era. Yoshida attributed this to the general game development practice in Japan which he described as a "grassroots and bottom up", without a clear vision of what a final game would look like, with exceptions being for people like Kazunori Yamauchi or Fumito Ueda who possessed a specific drive towards a product. In contrast to Western video game development, Yoshida said Japan Studio's methods tended to allow games to wander. [5] Allen Becker, who led Japan Studio starting in 2011, said that their complacency during the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 era caused the studio to fall behind on updated tools and methodologies for game development. [2]

Yoshida took over full control of Japan Studio in 2008, at the same time that the PlayStation 3 was out and Sony was preparing to launch the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. Around that time, mobile gaming and casual gaming started to become a major factor in the Asian video game market and drove competition from the consoles. [5] Sony found that there was a lack of triple-A third-party support for these new products, and they had to turn to rely on their internal studios for game support. To get Japan Studio back on track, Sony brought in Becker, who had been working at Santa Monica Studio, to lead Japan Studio. Becker made several tough calls of the 40-some games that were in development at the time of his arrival to terminate development of those unlikely to be successful and implemented similar development processes as Sony's Western studios to get the studio back on track. [5] Though Becker's approach, the studio was able to release shorter but cohesive titles that still reflected a Japanese approach to video games, such as Puppeteer , Rain and Knack . [5] Also during this time, emphasis was placed on The Last Guardian , the highly anticipated third title from Ueda which had been in development for over six years, eventually released in 2016. [2]

Across late 2020 and early 2021, several notable Japan Studio employees announced that they were departing the company. [6] [7] [8] According to multiple sources speaking with Video Games Chronicle Sony had not renewed most of the contracts for the studio outside of those on the Team Asobi because the studio was not considered profitable enough to continue with original game development. [9] In a statement, Sony stated that, as of 1 April 2021, Japan Studio would be re-centered around Team Asobi to build on the popularity of Astro's Playroom . [10] Before and shortly after 1 April 2021, several additional Japan Studio staff announced their departure from the studio. [11] Team Asobi was moved into PlayStation Studios in June 2021. [12] Shawn Layden, former chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios, stated in 2024 that Japan Studio had been suffering from "legacy malaise", having failed to recreate the successful games they once had and lacked the experience to do so again, and eliminating all but Team Asobi was akin to "trimming a bonsai", hopeful that the smaller team would be able to recapture the earlier successes. [13]

List of games

1994–1998

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
1994 Crime Crackers PlayStation [14]
Motor Toon Grand Prix
1995Victory Zone
Rapid Reload
Jumping Flash!
Arc the Lad
Philosoma
Hermie Hopperhead: Scrap Panic
Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
Sengoku Cyber: Fujimaru Jigokuhen
Beyond the Beyond
Sentou Kokka: Air Land Battle
Project Horned Owl
1996 Jumping Flash! 2
Motor Toon Grand Prix 2
PopoloCrois Monogatari
Eigo no Tetsujin: Center Shiken Trial
Victory Zone 2
Arc the Lad II
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenyaku Romantan – Ishin Gekitou Hen
PaRappa the Rapper
Fluid
Wild Arms
1997 I.Q.: Intelligent Qube
Sentou Kokka Kai: Improved
Alundra
Velldeselba Senki Tsubasa no Kunshou
Pet in TV
Baby Universe
Quest for Fame
Ghost in the Shell
Everybody's Golf
Arc the Lad: Monster Game with Casino Game
Linda Cube
The Granstream Saga
Crime Crackers 2
Elemental Gearbolt
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan – Juu Yuushi Inbou Hen
Gran Turismo
1998PlayStation Comic No. 1 – Space Adventure Cobra: The Psycogun Vol. 1
PlayStation Comic No. 1 – Space Adventure Cobra: The Psycogun Vol. 2
Zero Pilot: Ginyoku no Senshi
PlayStation Comic No. 2 – Carol the Dark Angel
Tomoyasu Hotei: Stolen Song
Devil Dice
Yarudora Series Vol. 1: Double Cast
Souten no Shiroki Kami no Za: Great Peak
Yarudora Series Vol. 2: Kisetsu O Dakishimete
Yarudora Series Vol. 3: Sampaguita
Legend of Legaia
Yarudora Series Vol. 4: Yukiwari no Hana
PopoRogue
Wonder Trek
PlayStation Comic No. 3 – 2999 Game Kids
I.Q Final

1999–2000

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
1999CircadiaPlayStation [15]
Pocket MuuMuu
PlayStation Comic No. 4 – Cobra Galaxy Knights
Global Force: Shin Sentou Kokka
Um Jammer Lammy
Pocket Dungeon
Tamago de Puzzle
PlayStation Comic No. 5 – Buzzer Beater (Part 1)
PlayStation Comic No. 5 – Buzzer Beater (Part 2)
Lord of Monsters
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Ape Escape
The Book of Watermarks
Gekisou TomaRunner
Doko Demo Issyo
Everybody's Golf 2
Panekit
Wild Arms 2
Ore no Ryouri
Paqa
Robbit Mon Dieu
Brightis
Poketan
Arc the Lad III
Pet in TV With my dear Dog
Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins
The Legend of Dragoon
Vib-Ribbon
Love & Destroy
XI Jumbo
2000Pocket Jiman
Beat Planet Music
PoPoLoCrois Monogatari II
Chase the Express
Koneko mo Issyo: Doko Demo Issyo Tsuika Disc
Addie no Okurimono: To Moze from Addie
Fantavision PlayStation 2
I.Q. Remix+: Intelligent Qube
Tiny BulletsPlayStation
Docchi Mecha!
Aconcagua
Boku no Natsuyasumi
ScandalPlayStation 2
TVDJ
Gekitotsu Toma L'Arc: TomaRunner vs L'Arc-en-Ciel PlayStation
Bikkuri MousePlayStation 2
Magical Dice KidsPlayStation
Bealphareth
Gunparade March
Kouashi Kikou Shidan: Bein Panzer
Sky Odyssey PlayStation 2 [16]
Shachou Eiyuuden: The Eagle Shooting HeroesPlayStation [15]
Kokohore! Pukka: Dig-a-Dig Pukka
Dark Cloud PlayStation 2
Blood: The Last Vampire (Volume One)
Blood: The Last Vampire (Final Volume)

2001–2002

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
2001Sagashi ni IkouyoPlayStation 2 [16]
Tsugunai: Atonement
Extermination
Okage: Shadow King
Check-i-TV
Phase Paradox
iMode mo Issyo: Doko Demo Issyo Tsuika DiscPlayStation
Mister Mosquito PlayStation 2
Rimo-Cocoron
Pipo Saru 2001
Everybody's Golf 3
PaRappa the Rapper 2
Ico
SkyGunner
The Yamanote Sen: Train Simulator Real
Mad Maestro!
Genshi no Kotoba
Seigi no Mikata
Bravo Music: Christmas Edition
Legaia 2: Duel Saga
Toro to Kyuujitsu
Yoake no Mariko
2002 Bravo Music: Chou-Meikyokuban
Yoake no Mariko 2nd Act
Dual Hearts
Wild Arms 3
Surveillance Kanshisha
Otostaz
Popolocrois: Adventure of Beginnings
Futari no Fantavision
Boku no Natsuyasumi 2
Ape Escape 2
Poinie's Poin
Space Fishermen
The Keihin Kyuukou: Train Simulator Real
Dark Chronicle
Gacharoku
Let's Bravo Music
Bombastic

2003–2005

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
2003 Lifeline PlayStation 2 [17]
DekaVoice
Shibai Michi
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
Doko Demo Issyo: Watashi na Ehon
Minna no Golf Online
Ka 2: Let's Go Hawaii
Hungry Ghosts
Flipnic: Ultimate Pinball
ChainDive
Siren
Mojib-Ribbon
Kuma Uta
Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Everybody's Golf 4
Gacharoku 2: Kondo wa Sekai Isshuu yo!!
2004 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Popolocrois: Adventure of the Law of the Moon
Doko Demo Issyo: Toro to Nagareboshi
Koufuku Sousakan
Vib-Ripple
Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed
Finny the Fish & the Seven Waters
DJbox
EyeToy: Monkey Mania
Doko Demo Issyo: Toro to Ippaii
Pride of the Dragon Peace
Bakufuu Slash! Kizna Arashi
Arc the Lad: End of Darkness
Everybody's Golf Portable PlayStation Portable
Doko Demo Issyo
Ape Escape Academy
2005 PopoloCrois
Ape Escape: On The Loose
Wild Arms 4 PlayStation 2
Bokura no Kazoku
Bleach: Heat the Soul PlayStation Portable
Derby Time
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai PlayStation 2
Kenran Butousai
Ape Escape 3
Kingdom of Paradise PlayStation Portable
Yarudora Portable: Double Cast
Yarudora Portable: Kisetsu wo Dakishimete
Yarudora Portable: Sampaguita
Yarudora Portable: Yukiwari no Hana
Bleach: Erabareshi Tamashii PlayStation 2
Bleach: Heat the Soul 2 PlayStation Portable
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
MawazaPlayStation 2
Shadow of the Colossus
Fuku Fuku no ShimaPlayStation Portable
Talkman
Rogue Galaxy PlayStation 2 [18]
Ape Academy 2 PlayStation Portable [17]
Work Time Fun

2006–2007

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
2006Gunparade Orchestra: Shiro no ShouPlayStation 2 [18]
Rule of Rose
Yarudora Portable: Blood The Last Vampire
Bleach: Hanatareshi Yabou
Forbidden Siren 2
Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner PlayStation Portable
Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light
Derby Time 2006
Bomberman: Bakufuu Sentai Bombermen
XI Coliseum
I.Q. Mania
Gunparade Orchestra: Midori no ShouPlayStation 2
Talkman EuroPlayStation Portable
Doko Demo Issyo: Let's Gakkou!
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Brave Story: New Traveler
Brave Story: Wataru's Adventure PlayStation 2
Saru! Get You! Million Monkeys
LocoRoco PlayStation Portable
Gunparade Orchestra: Ao no ShouPlayStation 2
Bleach: Heat the Soul 3 PlayStation Portable
Blood+: Souyoku no Battle Rondo PlayStation 2
Blood+: Final Piece PlayStation Portable
Everybody's Tennis PlayStation 2
Bleach: Blade Battlers
Tenchi no Mon 2: BusoudenPlayStation Portable
Genji: Days of the Blade PlayStation 3
Jeanne d'Arc PlayStation Portable
PaRappa the Rapper
Ape Escape Racing
Wild Arms 5 PlayStation 2
P-karaPlayStation Portable
2007Talkman-Shiki Shaberingual Eigkaiwa
Kikou Souhei ArmodynePlayStation 2
Bleach: Heat the Soul 4 PlayStation Portable
Minna no Golf Ba Vol. 1
Folklore PlayStation 3
Piyotama
Talkman-Shiki Shaberingual Eigkaiwa for Kids!PlayStation Portable
Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 PlayStation 3
Everybody's Golf 5
Saru! Get You! SaruSaru Big Mission PlayStation Portable
Minna no Golf Ba Vol. 2
Wild Arms XF
Rezel Cross
LocoRoco Cocoreccho! PlayStation 3
Bleach: Blade Battlers 2nd PlayStation 2
Go! Sports Ski PlayStation 3
Minna no Golf Ba Vol. 3PlayStation Portable
The Eye of Judgment PlayStation 3
Toy Home
Minna no Golf Ba Vol. 4PlayStation Portable
Dark Mist PlayStation 3
What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? PlayStation Portable
Everybody's Golf Portable 2
Talkman Travel
Doko Demo Issyo: Let's Gakkou! Training Hen
Patapon

2008–2009

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
2008 Ape Quest PlayStation Portable [19]
Go! Sports Skydiving PlayStation 3
Coded Soul PlayStation Portable
MyStylist
Echochrome
Echochrome PlayStation 3
Nippon no Asoko dePlayStation Portable
Bleach: Heat the Soul 5
Shiki-Tei PlayStation 3
Siren: Blood Curse
The Last Guy
Afrika
Xam'd: Lost Memories Video
Aquanaut's Holiday: Hidden Memories PlayStation 3
What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? 2 PlayStation Portable
Bleach: Soul Carnival
Derby Time OnlinePlayStation 3
Patapon 2 PlayStation Portable
LocoRoco 2
Minnya no Putter GolfPlayStation 3
White Knight Chronicles
2009Dress
Enkaku Sōsa: Shinjitsu e no 23 Nichikan PlayStation Portable
Demon's Souls PlayStation 3
Trash Panic
Bleach: Heat the Soul 6 PlayStation Portable
Juusei to Diamond
Numblast
Numblast PlayStation 3
Boku no Natsuyasumi 4 PlayStation Portable
Toro to Morimori PlayStation 3
Everybody's Stress Buster PlayStation Portable
Echoshift
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival
Bleach: Soul Carnival 2

2010–2014

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
2010 Patchwork Heroes PlayStation Portable [20]
Everybody's Tennis Portable
The Eye of Judgment: Legends
No Heroes Allowed!
Influence
Piyotama
Boku no Natsuyasumi 2
White Knight Chronicles II PlayStation 3
Trick×Logic Season 1PlayStation Portable
Bleach: Heat the Soul 7
Trick×Logic Season 2
Kung Fu Rider PlayStation 3
Beat Sketcher
PlayStation Move Ape Escape
Echochrome II
2011 White Knight Chronicles: Origins PlayStation Portable
Patapon 3
Bleach: Soul Resurrección PlayStation 3
The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke PlayStation Portable
Everybody's Golf 6 PlayStation Vita
Welcome Park [21]
2012 Gravity Rush [20]
Tokyo Jungle PlayStation 3
Everybody's Golf 6
Open Me!PlayStation Vita
Paint Park
2013 Soul Sacrifice
Puppeteer PlayStation 3
Rain
Knack's Quest Android, iOS [22]
The Playroom PlayStation 4 [20]
Knack
No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either!PlayStation Vita
2014 Soul Sacrifice Delta
Destiny of Spirits
Freedom Wars
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines

2015–2020

YearTitlePlatform(s)Ref(s).
2015 Bloodborne PlayStation 4 [23]
Gravity Rush Remastered
2016 The Playroom VR
The Tomorrow Children
The Last Guardian
2017 Gravity Rush 2
PaRappa the Rapper
LocoRoco
Everybody's Golf
Patapon
Knack II
Japan Studio VR Music Festival
No Heroes Allowed! VR
LocoRoco 2
2018 Shadow of the Colossus
No Heroes Allowed! DASH! Android, iOS [24]
Astro Bot Rescue Mission PlayStation 4 [23]
Déraciné
2019 Everybody's Golf VR
Monkey King: Hero Is Back [25]
2020 Patapon 2 [23]
Astro's Playroom PlayStation 5 [26]
Demon's Souls

Teams

Japan Studio was formed by several internal development teams, with all of them being disbanded, reorganised, or spun off into a separate studio.

The studio's unnamed main unit, its first development team, is responsible for all co-development efforts. As a primary developer, they developed the Ape Escape and LocoRoco series as well as individual titles like The Legend of Dragoon and Fantavision .

Polys Entertainment

A unit of SCEJ headed by Kazunori Yamauchi dedicated to racing games and the second established. Initially developing Motor Toon Grand Prix and its sequel, the success of its 1997 racing game Gran Turismo caused it to be formally spun off into Polyphony Digital.

Team Asobi

Team Asobi is a team founded in 2012 by Nicolas Doucet, who previously worked for London Studio and Saffire. [27] In April 2021, they were formally spun off into a separate studio under SIE Worldwide Studios, serving as a successor to Japan Studio after its redundancy. [12]

Team Ico

A development unit at Japan Studio headed by Fumito Ueda and the third established in the studio. It developed Ico and Shadow of the Colossus . [28] They were disbanded following lead game designer Fumito Ueda departing the company and establishing genDESIGN during development of The Last Guardian . [29]

Team Gravity

A development unit formed in 1999 by former members of Team Silent, the creators of Silent Hill . [30] The team developed games in the Siren and Gravity Rush series and was led by game designer and director Keiichiro Toyama, who, alongside designers Kazunobu Sato and Junya Okura, left Japan Studio in late 2020 to form Bokeh Game Studio. [31]

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <i>Ico</i> 2001 video game

    Ico is a 2001 action-adventure game developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It was designed and directed by Fumito Ueda, who wanted to create a minimalist game based on a "boy meets girl" concept. Originally planned for the PlayStation, Ico took approximately four years to develop. The team employed a "subtracting design" approach to reduce elements of gameplay that interfered with the game's setting and story in order to create a high level of immersion.

    <i>Legaia 2: Duel Saga</i> 2001 video game

    Legaia 2: Duel Saga, released as Legaia: Duel Saga in Japan, is a role-playing video game developed by Prokion and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The sequel to Legend of Legaia, it was released in Japan in November 2001 and internationally in 2002 by Fresh Games.

    Quest for Fame is a music video game developed by Virtual Music Entertainment and published by IBM. They were eventually acquired by Namco to create karaoke machines.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Fumito Ueda</span> Japanese video game designer (born 1970)

    Fumito Ueda is a Japanese video game designer. Ueda is best known as the director and lead designer of Ico (2001) and Shadow of the Colossus (2005) while leading Team Ico at Japan Studio, and The Last Guardian (2016) through his own development company GenDesign. His games have achieved cult status and are distinguished by their usage of minimal plot and scenario using fictional languages, and use of overexposed, desaturated light. He has been described by some as an auteur of video games.

    <i>Dual Hearts</i> 2002 video game

    Dual Hearts is a 2002 action-adventure video game developed by Matrix Software and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. Atlus released the game in North America. It was released on PlayStation Network in 2015.

    <i>Pet in TV</i> 1997 video game

    Pet in TV, known in Japan as Go For It! Morikawa-kun MK 2, is a pet-raising simulation video game developed by MuuMuu and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The game was released in Japan in May 1997, and later in Europe in August 1998. Pet in TV consists of teaching a virtual pet known as a PiT tricks, getting it new costumes and learning what items are edible in the wild along with solving random puzzles around the PiT world. The game's developers, MuuMuu previously developed the Jumping Flash! series of games.

    <i>Toy Home</i> 2007 video game

    Toy Home is a 2007 racing video game developed by Game Republic and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It was released as a downloadable game on the PlayStation Store.

    <i>Dark Mist</i> 2007 video game

    Dark Mist is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Game Republic and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It was released as a downloadable game on the PlayStation Store.

    <i>Gekitotsu Toma LArc: TomaRunner vs LArc-en-Ciel</i> 2000 video game

    Gekitotsu Toma L'Arc: TomaRunner vs L'Arc-en-Ciel (激突トマラルク) is a 2000 racing game developed by Desert Productions and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the sequel to GekisouTomaRunner and includes members of the Japanese band L'Arc-en-Ciel as playable characters; like its predecessor it was only released in Japan,

    <i>Go! Sports Skydiving</i> 2008 video game

    Sky Diving is a 2008 sports video game developed by Lightweight and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It was released only on PlayStation Network.

    <i>Ape Quest</i> 2008 video game

    Ape Quest is a role-playing video game developed by Shift and Alvion and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. It is a spin-off of the Ape Escape series. It was released in North America and Europe exclusively on the PlayStation Store and a UMD in Japan only. It is downloadable as a free Starter Pack, with the remainder of the game available as three separate downloadable chapters.

    <i>Saru! Get You! SaruSaru Big Mission</i> 2007 platform video game

    Saru Get You: SaruSaru Big Mission is a platform video game developed by h.a.n.d. and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. A spin-off of the Ape Escape series, it was released only in Japan.

    <i>Robbit Mon Dieu</i> 1999 video game

    Robbit Mon Dieu (ロビット・モン・ジャ), sometimes referred to as Jumping Flash! 3, is a 1999 platform game developed by Sugar & Rockets and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was released only in Japan on October 14, 1999. It is the fourth and final game in the Jumping Flash! series. The game was later released on the Japanese PlayStation Network on July 26, 2007.

    <i>Pocket MuuMuu</i> 1999 action video game

    Pocket MuuMuu (ポケットムームー) is an action game developed by Sugar & Rockets and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was released exclusively in Japan in 1999. It is a spin-off game in the Jumping Flash! series. The game makes use of the Sony PocketStation peripheral. PocketStation is not required to play.

    <i>Everybodys Golf 2</i> 1999 golf video game

    Everybody's Golf 2, known in Japan as Minna no Golf 2 and in North America as Hot Shots Golf 2, is a golf video game developed by Clap Hanz and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second game in the Everybody's Golf series, the first in the series to not be developed by Camelot Software Planning and the debut game of Clap Hanz.

    <i>The Last Guardian</i> 2016 video game

    The Last Guardian is a 2016 action-adventure game developed by Japan Studio and GenDesign and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. Players control a boy who befriends a giant half-bird, half-mammal creature, Trico.

    <i>Aconcagua</i> (video game) 2000 adventure video game

    Aconcagua (アコンカグア) is a 2000 adventure video game developed by WACWAC! and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was released only in Japan.

    <i>Coded Soul</i> 2008 video game

    Coded Soul is a 2008 action role-playing game developed by Gaia and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. Initially released only in Japan, it was Gaia's final game to be published by Sony as well as their final game to be on a PlayStation console.

    <i>Boku no Natsuyasumi 4</i> 2009 video game

    Boku no Natsuyasumi 4 is a 2009 adventure video game developed by Millennium Kitchen and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. It is part of the Boku no Natsuyasumi series and was released only in Japan. Like Boku no Natsuyasumi 2, it takes place in a Japanese coastal village.

    <i>Hermie Hopperhead: Scrap Panic</i> 1995 platform game

    Hermie Hopperhead: Scrap Panic is a platform video game developed by Yuke's and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was released in Japan in September 1995.

    References

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    2. 1 2 3 4 Goldfarb, Andrew (30 June 2017). "How PlayStation's Japan Studio Stands Out". IGN . Retrieved 9 June 2021.
    3. ↑ "Digital entertainment and software production companies founded" (PDF) (in Japanese). Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. 14 October 1997. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
    4. ↑ "Personnel reform and reorganisation announcement" (PDF) (in Japanese). Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. 1 August 2000. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
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    6. ↑ Romano, Sal (2 December 2020). "Siren and Gravity Rush creator Keiichiro Toyama leaves Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Studio, establishes Bokeh Game Studio". Gematsu. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
    7. ↑ Romano, Sal (24 December 2020). "Teruyuki Toriyama to leave Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Studio". Gematsu. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
    8. ↑ Romano, Sal (25 February 2021). "Bloodborne producer Masaaki Yamagiwa to leave Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Studio at the end of February". Gematsu. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
    9. ↑ Robinson, Andy; Calvin, Alex (25 February 2021). "Sources: PlayStation is winding down Sony Japan Studio". Video Games Chronicle . Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
    10. ↑ Kim, Matt (25 February 2021). "PlayStation Confirms Japan Studio Will be Re-Organized". IGN . Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
    11. ↑ Kim, Matt (1 April 2021). "Sony Japan Studio Restructure Leads to Mass Exodus of Developers". IGN . Retrieved 1 April 2021.
    12. 1 2 Doucet, Nicolas (2 June 2021). "Introducing Team Asobi, creators of the Astro Bot series". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
    13. ↑ https://www.eurogamer.net/sonys-closure-of-japan-studio-was-like-pruning-a-bonsai-says-former-playstation-boss
    14. ↑ "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 1998年～1994年" [List of Japan Studio works 1998–1994] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    15. 1 2 "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2000年～1999年" [List of Japan Studio works 2000–1999] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    16. 1 2 "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2002年～2001年" [List of Japan Studio works 2002–2001] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    17. 1 2 "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2005年～2003年" [List of Japan Studio works 2005–2003] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    18. 1 2 "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2007年～2006年" [List of Japan Studio works 2007–2006] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    19. ↑ "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2009年～2008年" [List of Japan Studio works 2009–2008] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    20. 1 2 3 "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2014年～2010年" [List of Japan Studio works 2014–2010] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
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    22. ↑ Mark Cerny (29 November 2013). "How Knack's unlockable gadgets work". PlayStation Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
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    31. ↑ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (2 December 2020). "Silent Hill, Gravity Rush's Keiichirō Toyama Leaves SIE, Founds New Studio". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
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