Left 4 Dead Creator Making New Co-Op Game With PlayStation and JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot
PlayStation has slightly lifted the veil on its next project, confirming that the gaming division of the JJ Abrams-founded Bad Robot production company and Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth are making an exclusive game together. There is still a heavy shroud of mystery surrounding this new PlayStation title, but Sony seems to be quite excited about the newly announced team-up.
After several years working for Valve, Mike Booth eventually left the company and moved onto Blizzard, which would then lead him to Bad Robot. This isn’t the first time that word of Bad Robot and Mike Booth’s partnership has been reported. Back in 2018, JJ Abrams confirmed that Bad Robot would be venturing into video games. Fast-forward to the end of 2020, and Mike Booth is confirmed to be the Chief Creative Officer of Bad Robot’s gaming division. At the time, it was known that Booth’s new role with Bad Robot would bring forth a new game, but news about the project has been incredibly sparse over the years. At least, until now.
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Mike Booth and Bad Robot’s Unannounced Game is Set to Be a PlayStation Exclusive
Sony released an official statement regarding the announcement of the partnership, but there were very few details about the game itself. Beyond the confirmation that it will be a four-player co-op shooter, there isn’t much else to go on; not even a title. The most exciting piece of information, though, is that the game is going to be a fresh IP. While some may have hoped for something related to Booth’s Left 4 Dead or Bad Robot’s past work, like Cloverfield, Star Trek, or Overlord, it looks like that won’t be the case. However, the promise of something brand-new waiting on the horizon is just as intriguing. Bad Robot Games CEO Anna Sweet stated, “With the support of PlayStation, we hope to deliver a bold, innovative experience that is truly special for players. I could not be more excited that Mike Booth is at the creative helm, crafting a cooperative adventure that will lead to unforgettable moments with friends.”
Everything Known About the Project, So Far
- Exclusive to PS5 and PC
- Co-op shooter
- Supports up to four players
- Mike Booth is directing the project
- It’s a brand-new IP
While Sweet’s statements about the exclusive PlayStation deal sound confident, they are also strategically void of further details. This makes sense, since it’s best to keep as much information as possible a secret until the big reveal, but it’s also unclear when that announcement will take place. In the official statement, all Sony said in regard to a more substantial announcement was, “More details on the game will be shared at a later date.” Now, the big question is when exactly that date will be.
With the support of PlayStation, we hope to deliver a bold, innovative experience that is truly special for players.
It could be a long time before any further news is shared about the Booth-directed project. However, since The Game Awards are right around the corner, this announcement could potentially be planting the seeds for a bigger reveal at the event. Of course, this is purely speculation, so expectations should be kept low. It’s also interesting that Sony specifically confirmed that it would be exclusive to the PS5. With rumors and leaks suggesting that the PS6 could arrive in 2027, Sony confirming that Bad Robot’s project is specifically for the PS5 could signal that the game will be ready within a year or two. Booth has been with Bad Robot’s gaming division for several years now, but that doesn’t mean the game has been in development for that long. The co-op title could very well be in its infancy, so only time will tell how long it takes for Sony to reveal what Bad Robot and Mike Booth are cooking up.
Source: Sony Interactive Entertainment