New PlayStation Game Inspired by Smash Bros Coming Soon

Summary

• Bungie's mysterious game, code-named Gummy Bears, has reportedly changed developers and is now being developed at a new PlayStation studio.
• While primarily a MOBA, the game is rumored to take inspiration from Super Smash Bros., featuring a percentage-based damage system instead of traditional health bars.
• Gummy Bears has been in development for at least three years but could still be years away from release. It aims to target a younger demographic than any prior Bungie game.

A first-party PlayStation game, code-named Gummy Bears, is said to draw significant inspiration from the Super Smash Bros. series. This intriguing detail comes from a recent report that also sheds light on other aspects of this mysterious PlayStation project.

The first hints of Gummy Bears' existence surfaced online in August 2023, when The Game Post reported that a MOBA with this codename was under development at Bungie. A year later, Bungie announced layoffs affecting 220 employees—a 17% reduction in its workforce. At the same time, the Destiny developer revealed plans to integrate an additional 155 staff members into Sony Interactive Entertainment.

These integration efforts have now led Sony to establish a new PlayStation studio, according to The Game Post, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the matter. This new subsidiary, reportedly comprising around 40 employees, has taken over the development of Gummy Bears. Although the game is likely years away from release, its current development stage remains undisclosed. Details about Gummy Bears are still sparse, but The Game Post reports that the MOBA will adopt a mechanic similar to Super Smash Bros.

Gummy Bears Reportedly Won't Have Health Bars, Similar to Smash Bros.

Specifically, Gummy Bears is said to feature a health system without traditional health bars. Instead, it uses a modifier that determines how far a character is knocked back when hit. As the percentage-based damage increases, characters can be knocked off the map, reminiscent of the damage percent system in Super Smash Bros.

Gummy Bears will reportedly include three character classes typical of MOBA games: Attack, Defense, and Support. The game is expected to offer multiple game modes and boast an aesthetic described as cozy, vibrant, and "lo-fi." These elements differ significantly from Bungie's previous work, a deliberate choice to set Gummy Bears apart and appeal to a younger audience.

Gummy Bears has been in development since at least 2022, counting its time at Bungie. The recent claim of a developer switch aligns with the news of PlayStation establishing a new studio in Los Angeles, assuming this California-based division is the one working on Gummy Bears.

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