London Studio (formerly also known as SCEE London Studio) was a British video game developer of PlayStation Studios based in London. Founded in 2002, it was best known for developing the SingStar series, as well as games for PlayStation's external peripherals including the EyeToy camera and the PlayStation VR virtual reality headset. The studio created more than 60 titles since it was established.
History SingStar and EyeToy London Studio was established in 2002 following the merger of SCEE Studio Camden (formerly a division of Psygnosis) and Team Soho, the developer behind The Getaway. As London Studio, the studio developed the SingStar series, which became extremely popular and helped broaden the appeal of the PlayStation 2 beyond the typical demographics of young male gamers. The series sold more than 20 million copies within 6 years. It also created a lot of games for Sony's EyeToy webcam, and assisted the development of other Sony titles, such as Killzone 2 and LittleBigPlanet. The studio was working on two AAA exclusives for the PlayStation 3 including Eight Days and the sequel to The Getaway, but both were cancelled by Sony Europe as Sony wanted to reallocate resources to other first-party games.
Virtual reality London Studio developed a virtual reality (VR) rendering technology, called LSSDK, which supports PlayStation 4 and PC. This engine was first used in PlayStation VR Worlds, which contained five virtual reality experiences: "The London Heist", "Into The Deep", "VR Luge", "Danger Ball" and "Scavenger's Odyssey". While VR Worlds received mixed reviews, "London Heist" was critically acclaimed, and the game was commercially successful. Developing titles for the virtual reality headset became the company's main focus. The studio's next game was Blood & Truth, which serves as the successor to the London Heist level. It became the first VR title to reach number 1 on the UK's retail sales chart when it was released in May 2019.
In 2022, the studio was working on a cooperative multiplayer game for the PlayStation 5. Set in a modern fantasy London, it was described by studio head Tara Saunders as the company's "most ambitious project to-date". Players wouldn't need to use a virtual reality headset to play this game.
Closure In February 2024, Sony announced that it was proposing the closure of the studio as part of wider layoffs that includes 8% of the company's workforce, or 900 employees. The studio closed in May 2024.
Games developed Game Year Platform(s) This Is Football 2003 2002 PlayStation 2 Hardware: Online Arena This Is Football 2004 2003 EyeToy: Play This Is Football 2005 2004 EyeToy: Groove SingStar The Getaway: Black Monday SingStar Party EyeToy: Chat 2005 World Tour Soccer: Challenge Edition PlayStation Portable Fired Up SingStar Pop PlayStation 2 EyeToy: Play 2 EyeToy: Play 3 SingStar '80s EyeToy: Kinetic EyeToy: Operation Spy EyeToy: Kinetic Combat 2006 EyeToy: Play Sports SingStar Rocks! SingStar Anthems Gangs of London PlayStation Portable SingStar Legends PlayStation 2 World Tour Soccer 2 PlayStation Portable SingStar Pop Hits 2007 PlayStation 2 SingStar 90s SingStar Amped SingStar Rock Ballads Aqua Vita PlayStation 3Operation Creature FeatureTori-Emaki SingStar R&B PlayStation 2 Beats PlayStation Portable SingStar PlayStation 3 SingStar Summer Party 2008 PlayStation 2 SingStar Vol. 2 PlayStation 3 SingStar ABBA PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 SingStar Vol. 3 PlayStation 3 PlayStation Home SingStar Queen 2009 PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 SingStar Pop Edition PlayStation 3 SingStar Motown PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 EyePet PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable SingStar Take That PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 SingStar Guitar 2010 PlayStation 3 SingStar Dance DanceStar Party 2011 EyePet & Friends DanceStar Party Hits 2012 WonderbookDiggs Nightcrawler2013 SingStar: Ultimate Party 2014 PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 PlayStation VR Worlds 2016 PlayStation 4 SingStar Celebration 2017 Blood & Truth 2019 Erica
References
External links