When Days Gone launched in 2019, it didn’t set the world on fire, but something about it resonated with players. Over time, its emotional story and haunting world built a loyal fanbase, many of whom never stopped hoping for a sequel.
For years, whispers of Days Gone 2 stirred online, keeping that dream alive. But now, in a move that’s both abrupt and heartbreaking, that hope may have finally been extinguished. Sony’s latest decision has left fans stunned; it’s left its legacy adrift, unfinished, and quietly buried under corporate noise.
Layoffs at Bend Studio crush Days Gone 2 hopes
According to Jason Schreier (via Bluesky), Bend Studio has laid off around 40 employees, roughly 30% of its staff. This follows Sony’s earlier decision to cancel a live service game the studio had been working on. The timing couldn’t be worse.
After years of silence regarding a sequel to the beloved game, fans believed that maybe, just maybe, the studio would return to the franchise after the live service detour. Instead, those hopes have been derailed completely.
While Bend is reportedly working on a new, undisclosed title, it’s clear that Days Gone 2 might no longer be on the roadmap. For fans who rallied behind the original game despite its rocky launch, the blow is particularly bitter.
Sony’s decision to cancel projects and downsize studios, especially ones with passionate, dedicated communities, feels like a step away from what made PlayStation’s single-player legacy shine in the first place. For now, the story of Deacon St. John ends not with a bang, but with a quiet corporate silence.
Sony isn’t just moving on; it’s letting a world with real potential fade without a fight.
A franchise that deserved more than silence
Bend Studio gave the world a game that, while flawed, offered something many triple-A titles now lack: heart. Days Gone wasn’t just about fending off hordes of Freakers; it was about grief, survival, and a man rediscovering purpose in a ruined world.
The community that grew around it didn’t just enjoy the gameplay; they connected with it. And in return? Silence from Sony. No sequel. No definitive closure. Just a slow death by corporate redirection.
It’s not uncommon for studios to pivot, especially after live service ambitions fall through, as happened earlier this year when Sony canceled two major titles: Bend’s project and Bluepoint’s rumored God of War online game.
But where other IPs are celebrated and nurtured, Days Gone seems to have been cast aside. Fans have even petitioned for a sequel in the past, but Sony’s lack of acknowledgment suggests the company doesn’t see the value in reviving it.
Sadly, it feels like a franchise punished for not becoming an instant blockbuster rather than given room to grow. The game’s legacy deserved better, and now, it remains a missed opportunity in a portfolio that once championed bold, emotional storytelling.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
