Sony Explores Reviving Classic IPs While Stellar Blade Mods Hit Top 20
Today’s gaming news roundup brings a mix of industry developments and community milestones. Reports indicate Sony is evaluating the revival of several classic PlayStation franchises, while Stellar Blade has achieved a notable milestone in the modding community. Meanwhile, speculation surrounds a potential new project from Crytek, and a dedicated hardware enthusiast has unveiled a custom-built handheld that natively runs PlayStation 2 games. These stories highlight both corporate strategies and grassroots creativity within the gaming ecosystem.
Industry insider NateTheHate has indicated that Sony is exploring the revival of several classic IPs, including Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, and MotorStorm. However, it was clarified that franchises like Uncharted and Bloodborne are not included in this consideration, as they are not considered “older games.” VGC journalist Jordan Middler also reported that Sony is planning to revive multiple classic PlayStation titles, specifically mentioning Ape Escape. Sony has not yet issued an official statement regarding these potential revivals, but the speculation suggests the company may be looking to leverage its dormant library of IPs to appeal to longtime PlayStation fans.
According to data from the Nexus Mods platform, Shift Up’s action title Stellar Blade has surpassed 44.9 million total mod downloads, securing the 20th position on the platform’s all-time download chart. This achievement places the game ahead of established titles such as Resident Evil 4. While it still trails far behind leaders like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4, which boast billions of downloads, the figure is particularly impressive given that Stellar Blade’s PC version was released relatively recently. The strong modding interest reflects the game’s growing presence in the PC gaming community.
Tech4gamers reports that Crytek is allocating resources to an unannounced project, as indicated by a recent job listing for a development director position. Industry observers speculate that this could point to a full remake of the original Crysis. The hiring activity suggests that Crytek may have multiple games in development simultaneously, following a period of restructuring after layoffs earlier last year. However, it remains unclear whether the new project is related to the Crysis franchise or another title in the studio’s portfolio, such as Hunt: Showdown. More details are expected as the project progresses. The PS2 handheld effort from modder Tschicki, built over four years with a custom reverse-engineered motherboard, also demonstrates impressive dedication within the hardware modding scene.
