Bend Studio
Bend Studio is a Sony PlayStation first-party AAA game developer in Bend, Oregon, with over 150 staff building open-world action titles such as Days Gone and Days Gone Remastered for PS5 and PC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersBend, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Bend Studio does
Bend Studio is a Sony Interactive Entertainment first-party AAA game developer headquartered at 721 SW Industrial Way in Bend, Oregon. Founded in 1993 as Eidetic with eight employees and later acquired by Sony following the success of the Syphon Filter series, the studio operates with a team of over 150 staff from backgrounds spanning games, film, TV, illustration, advertising, and marketing. The studio develops exclusively for the PlayStation ecosystem, with selective PC distribution, and has shipped titles across every PlayStation generation including Syphon Filter, Resistance: Retribution, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Days Gone.
The studio's core product is Days Gone, an open-world action-adventure game set in post-apocalyptic Oregon, released on PS4 in 2019 and rebuilt as Days Gone Remastered for PS5 in April 2025. The remaster leverages proprietary rendering work including atmospheric/sky simulation with ozone and spectral light modeling, screen space indirect lighting, and high shadowmap resolution, alongside full integration of PS5 hardware features such as Tempest 3D Audio, DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and VRR support. The remaster introduces three new game modes — Horde Assault (a survival arcade with high-score mechanics and 24 injectors), Permadeath, and Speedrun — plus an Enhanced Photo Mode. The PC version of these features ships as the Broken Road DLC ($10) on Steam and Epic Games Store.
The business model is straightforward retail-style licensing: $49.99 for new PS5 buyers, $10 for PS4-to-PS5 upgrades and PC DLC owners. Distribution flows exclusively through PlayStation Store (Sony) and Steam/Epic Games Store on PC, with marketing via Bend Studio's blog, X (@BendStudio), Twitch livestreams, the PlayStation Blog, and pre-order incentive campaigns. The studio has no independent capital structure, no external investors, and limited pricing flexibility as a captive first-party developer. The studio's primary strategic event of 2025 was the cancellation of Project Mirror Pond, a live-service initiative abandoned during Sony's broader pivot away from its 12-title live-service target for fiscal 2025.
Bend Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bend Studio
- Legal name
- Bend Studio
- Website
- https://bendstudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bend Studio is a Sony PlayStation first-party AAA game developer in Bend, Oregon, with over 150 staff building open-world action titles such as Days Gone and Days Gone Remastered for PS5 and PC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bend Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Console Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios (MPAFAAAM)
Keywords
Where Bend Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bend
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bend Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Video Game Sales (Base Game): One-time purchase revenue from full game sales. Days Gone Remastered sells for $49.99 USD for new players on PS5, with digital-only distribution via PlayStation Store and PC platforms via Steam and Epic Games Store.
- Game Upgrades and DLC: Revenue from game upgrades (PS4 to PS5 Remastered upgrade at $10 USD) and DLC expansions (Broken Road DLC at $10 USD for PC players). Includes new content such as Horde Assault mode, Permadeath mode, Speedrun mode, and Enhanced Photo Mode.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Days Gone Remastered (PS5) - New Player |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Days Gone Remastered (PS5) - Upgrade from PS4 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Days Gone Broken Road DLC (PC) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bend Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bend Studio develops and publishes AAA open-world action-adventure video games for Sony PlayStation and PC. Its commercial lineup is anchored by Days Gone Remastered (PS5) and the equivalent Broken Road DLC (Steam, Epic Games Store), featuring new Horde Assault, Permadeath, and Speedrun modes alongside DualSense support and an enhanced photo mode. The studio sells these games directly to consumers via digital storefronts as one-time purchases and upgrades.
Product overview
Bend Studio is a Sony PlayStation first-party AAA game developer with 30 years of experience. The studio's primary product offering is Days Gone, an open-world action-adventure game, now available in its definitive form as Days Gone Remastered for PlayStation 5. Days Gone Remastered serves as the core platform offering, enhanced with three new game modes: Horde Assault (a survival arcade mode), Permadeath (single-life challenge), and Speedrun (time attack). The studio also offers an Enhanced Photo Mode for player-created content. On PC, these features are distributed as the Broken Road DLC upgrade. The studio's portfolio includes prior titles such as the Syphon Filter series, Resistance: Retribution, and Uncharted: Golden Abyss.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Days Gone Remastered The definitive edition of Bend Studio's open-world action-adventure game, rebuilt for PlayStation 5 with enhanced graphics (4K, increased foliage draw distance, improved shadows and lighting), DualSense controller support, and three new game modes (Horde Assault, Permadeath, Speedrun) plus an Enhanced Photo Mode. Set in post-apocalyptic Oregon, players follow bounty hunter Deacon St. John. Available on PS5, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
- Broken Road DLC DLC content for Days Gone on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) that adds all the new content from Days Gone Remastered, including Horde Assault, Permadeath, Speedrun modes, DualSense support, accessibility features, and Enhanced Photo Mode. Priced at $10 USD for existing Days Gone owners.
Companies that use Bend Studio
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bend Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Bend Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Climax StudioscoreClimax Studios partnered with Bend Studio as a key development partner for Days Gone Remastered. The collaboration leveraged Climax's expertise to deliver the definitive version of Days Gone with improved visuals, DualSense haptics, and new game modes. This partnership enabled Bend Studio to bring the remaster to market with external development support while maintaining creative control.
- Sony Interactive EntertainmentcoreBend Studio is a wholly-owned first-party AAA game development studio of Sony Interactive Entertainment. As part of the Sony family, Bend Studio develops exclusively for PlayStation platforms and benefits from Sony's distribution network, marketing support, and platform resources. Bend Studio maintains operational independence in creative decisions while leveraging Sony's corporate infrastructure and PlayStation brand.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bend Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rockstar Games: Rockstar Games is a leading AAA open-world action developer (Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption) — a significantly larger publisher, but its open-world action-adventure catalog is the most direct genre competitor to Days Gone and comparable in production value and storytelling scope.
- CD Projekt Red: CD Projekt Red is an AAA developer of open-world narrative-driven RPGs (The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077), making it comparable in narrative scope, AAA ambition, and single-player focus — though larger in scale and PC-first in distribution.
- Crystal Dynamics: Crystal Dynamics is a mid-sized AAA developer of action-adventure titles (Tomb Raider, Marvel's Avengers). Its AAA production scale, mid-sized team structure, and action-adventure focus make it broadly comparable as a portfolio peer.
Direct peers
- Naughty Dog: Naughty Dog is a Sony first-party AAA studio responsible for Uncharted and The Last of Us franchises, sharing Bend Studio's single-player narrative action-adventure DNA and exclusive PlayStation development mandate. Both studios operate as wholly-owned PlayStation developers with comparable AAA scope and creative independence.
- Guerrilla Games: Guerrilla Games is a Sony first-party AAA studio behind the Horizon franchise, sharing Bend's first-party PlayStation development role and AAA open-world action-adventure scope. Both are wholly-owned Sony subsidiaries with similar creative structures.
- Insomniac Games: Insomniac Games is a Sony first-party AAA studio developing Marvel's Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank, sharing Bend Studio's exclusivity to PlayStation platforms and AAA action-adventure positioning. While larger in scope, it is the closest functional peer within PlayStation Studios.
- Sucker Punch Productions: Sucker Punch Productions is a Sony first-party AAA studio behind Ghost of Tsushima and the inFamous franchise. It shares Bend's first-party exclusive AAA model, mid-sized team structure, and single-player action-adventure focus.
- Santa Monica Studio: Santa Monica Studio is a Sony first-party AAA developer behind God of War, sharing Bend Studio's single-player action-adventure focus, exclusive PlayStation platform development mandate, and first-party development privileges within PlayStation Studios.
Emerging players
- Quantic Dream: Quantic Dream is a mid-sized narrative AAA developer (Detroit: Become Human, Heavy Rain) comparable in single-player narrative-action specialty, mid-sized team scale, and AAA production values — now independent after NetEase acquisition.
- Sumo Digital: Sumo Digital is a mid-sized AAA co-development and remaster specialist, making it directly comparable to the co-development and remaster capabilities demonstrated in Bend's Days Gone Remastered partnership with Climax Studios.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bend Studio social profiles
Digital presenceBend Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bend Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bend Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bend Studio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bend Studio
What does Bend Studio do?
Bend Studio develops and publishes AAA open-world action-adventure video games for Sony PlayStation and PC. Its commercial lineup is anchored by Days Gone Remastered (PS5) and the equivalent Broken Road DLC (Steam, Epic Games Store), featuring new Horde Assault, Permadeath, and Speedrun modes alongside DualSense support and an enhanced photo mode. The studio sells these games directly to consumers via digital storefronts as one-time purchases and upgrades.
Is Bend Studio a public or private company?
Bend Studio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bend Studio founded?
Bend Studio was founded in 1993. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bend Studio based?
Bend Studio is headquartered in Bend, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bend Studio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Video Game Sales (Base Game) is the primary driver. The others are game Upgrades and DLC.
Who are Bend Studio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rockstar Games, CD Projekt Red and Crystal Dynamics. Direct peers are Naughty Dog, Guerrilla Games, Insomniac Games, Sucker Punch Productions and Santa Monica Studio. Emerging players are Quantic Dream and Sumo Digital.
Does Bend Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bend Studio.
What industry is Bend Studio in?
Bend Studio's product category is Console Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAA, AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console), with a secondary code of MPAFAAAM, Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7990.