Teruyuki Toriyama, the acclaimed producer behind Sony Japan Studio's iconic titles like Bloodborne and Demon's Souls, has embarked on a new journey with Sirius Studio. After departing Sony in 2020, Toriyama collaborated with industry veterans Hikaru Okamura and Hideki Irie at Thirdverse, a Japanese studio focusing on innovative game development.

Sony boasts an impressive portfolio of franchises, including God of War, The Last of Us, and Ghost of Tsushima. The company has also shown a strong affinity for soulslike games, evident from the buzz around FromSoftware's latest IP, The Duskbloods, revealed during Nintendo's recent showcase. Amidst growing anticipation for Nintendo's next-gen console, Sony has even surveyed PlayStation users about their interest in the Switch 2, possibly gearing up for its own handheld successor to the PlayStation Portal.

Sirius Studio marks a fresh venture co-founded by Toriyama, Hideki Irie, and Tomohiro Suzuki under the umbrella of Osaka-based Gz Group, known for its VR and AR game expertise. Suzuki will lead as president, with Irie as executive vice president and producer. This move parallels the trajectory of Call of Duty Zombies developer Jason Blundell, who recently launched Dark Outlaw, a new PlayStation studio. Unlike Thirdverse, which pivoted toward casual games, Sirius is dedicated to high-end digital games for consoles, PCs, and immersive VR/AR experiences.

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Toriyama's contributions to Demon's Souls cemented its place among the finest RPGs of the 2020s, alongside Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Baldur's Gate 3. While Sirius remains discreet about upcoming projects, its long-term goal is to evolve into a "world-class development studio," prioritizing international releases to capture 80% of the English-speaking VR market.

Having shaped Bloodborne—a masterpiece that continues to resonate with fans a decade after its release—Toriyama and the Sirius team aim to craft games that "spark joy and emotional connection." The fervor for a Bloodborne sequel reached a fever pitch during Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct, where FromSoftware's The Duskbloods appeared strikingly reminiscent of the beloved title. Some speculate The Duskbloods might be the spiritual successor fans have longed for.