Rumor: A Bend Studio co-op game could become one of PlayStation’s more interesting comeback stories in 2027. However, the real question goes beyond its possible release date. After a cancelled project, major layoffs and years without a new game, can the Days Gone developer finally establish its next chapter?
According to an October 31 report from MP1st, citing anonymous sources familiar with Bend Studio, the team is reportedly developing a third-person action game with cooperative gameplay. Neither Sony nor Bend Studio has confirmed these claims.
Why a Bend Studio co-op game would signal a fresh direction
The most intriguing detail is not simply the inclusion of co-op. Instead, it is the reported absence of a live-service structure. That distinction matters because Bend previously spent years developing a different multiplayer-focused project.
According to MP1st’s sources, the new title would offer third-person action and cooperative play without adopting a live-service model. However, the report provides no confirmed details about player counts, combat systems or mission design.
Co-op also does not automatically mean an always-online game built around recurring purchases or seasonal updates. A cooperative adventure could follow a more traditional structure. Still, that remains an interpretation rather than a confirmed design decision.
Furthermore, this reportedly isn’t Days Gone 2. Whether Bend is creating an entirely new intellectual property or returning to an established franchise remains unknown.
The cancelled project makes this rumor more significant
Bend Studio has not released a completely new game since Days Gone arrived on April 26, 2019. Consequently, a potential 2027 launch would end an unusually long gap between original releases.
That gap becomes more understandable when looking at the studio’s recent history. In January 2025, Sony cancelled Bend’s live-service project. Animations associated with that abandoned game, reportedly codenamed Mirror Pond, surfaced during 2026.
Then, in June 2025, Bend laid off approximately 30% of its workforce. Those cuts added another difficult chapter to the studio’s transition beyond Days Gone.
Against that background, the rumored shift toward a non-live-service action game deserves attention. It could indicate a different creative direction after the previous cancellation. Nevertheless, the available information cannot establish whether the projects share technology, ideas or development history.
Meanwhile, Days Gone Remastered launched for PS5 on April 25, 2025. That release brought the studio’s best-known modern adventure back into the spotlight. Yet it did not represent the completely new project players have been waiting for.
Why 2027 could become a defining year for Bend Studio
MP1st’s anonymous sources suggest development has progressed further than many observers might expect. They also point toward a reveal in 2027, with a release reportedly targeting the same year.
If both milestones happen, PlayStation could introduce and launch Bend’s next adventure within a relatively short promotional window. However, no announcement schedule, launch month or marketing strategy has been confirmed.
More importantly, the report explicitly warns that development plans can change. Sony could reportedly introduce live-service elements, remove cooperative gameplay or otherwise reshape the project before release.
That uncertainty makes the 2027 target especially important to treat cautiously. A planned release window is not a guaranteed launch date. Likewise, an anticipated reveal does not mean Sony has committed to a public presentation.
PS5 seems like a reasonable platform to consider because Bend belongs to PlayStation Studios. Nevertheless, the report does not confirm any platforms. Readers can follow broader PS5 news and PlayStation developments while waiting for official information.
Bend’s history suggests more possibilities than Days Gone 2
Although Days Gone dominates recent discussions about Bend, the developer has a much longer history. Originally known as Eidetic, the studio created the Syphon Filter series, which appeared across PlayStation, PS2 and PSP.
It also developed Uncharted: Golden Abyss for PlayStation Vita. Therefore, Bend has experience with established franchises as well as its own action-focused properties.
That background makes the project’s unknown identity particularly interesting. A return to an older license would carry different expectations from a completely original adventure. However, there is currently no reliable basis for choosing either possibility.
Some fans may still hope for another Days Gone. Bend previously pitched a sequel, but PlayStation was not interested at the time. Moreover, the new report specifically describes the rumored project as something other than Days Gone 2.
For players, the most meaningful question may concern how cooperative action fits Bend’s strengths. Its previous games have emphasized combat, exploration and cinematic storytelling. Whether the new project retains those qualities remains to be seen.
PlayStation’s wider PS5 ecosystem continues evolving, including smaller changes such as the PS5 community activity widget update. However, a new Bend release would represent a very different kind of addition to the platform’s lineup.
Ultimately, the rumored Bend Studio co-op game represents a possible turning point rather than a confirmed comeback. The strongest reason to watch 2027 is not the promise of another Days Gone. Instead, it is the possibility that Bend finally gets to show what comes next. Would players rather see a completely new adventure or the return of a classic PlayStation franchise?
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
