Sony exploring revival of dormant franchises, insider confirms

Sony is looking. The rest is still waiting.
Nate the Hate confirmed Sony is exploring dormant franchises, but no projects are confirmed in active development yet.

Somewhere between nostalgia and strategy, Sony finds itself reconsidering the franchises it once set aside. Credible gaming insider Nate the Hate has confirmed that the company is in an active exploratory phase around dormant IPs like inFAMOUS, Sly Cooper, and Jak & Daxter — properties that still carry deep emotional weight for a generation of players. No projects have been greenlit, but the consideration itself signals that Sony understands the value of its own history. The question, as always, is whether institutional memory will translate into creative action.

  • Nate the Hate, whose track record includes calling Nintendo's Star Fox reveal before any official announcement, has lent rare credibility to long-circulating rumors about Sony reviving classic franchises.
  • Fans have spent years watching beloved series like Gravity Rush, Ape Escape, and Resistance collect dust, and even the hint of revival is enough to reignite passionate community speculation.
  • Sony appears to be weighing a model that bypasses its major first-party studios entirely, instead partnering with independent developers — a strategy already tested in the God of War pipeline.
  • Journalist Jordan Middler's earlier inFAMOUS remake rumor couldn't secure a second source, keeping the story in limbo and reminding fans how quickly hope can outrun confirmed reality.
  • No franchise revival has been greenlit or confirmed in active development, meaning the current moment is one of genuine possibility suspended in institutional uncertainty.

The long-dormant corners of PlayStation's back catalog may be stirring. Nate the Hate, one of gaming's most consistently accurate insiders, posted that Sony is genuinely exploring the revival of several classic franchises — properties like inFAMOUS, Sly Cooper, Jak & Daxter, Killzone, and Gravity Rush that haven't seen new releases in years. His credibility on matters like this is hard to dismiss, but he was deliberate about the limits of what he knows: Sony is in an evaluative phase, not a production phase. No projects are confirmed, no studios are assigned.

The speculation had already been circulating. Journalist Jordan Middler had reported on a possible inFAMOUS remake but acknowledged he couldn't secure a second source, leaving the story in rumor territory. Still, the idea resonated — these franchises represent decades of accumulated affection from a loyal segment of the player base, and fans have been waiting a long time for any signal that Sony remembers them.

What gives the story additional texture is the how, not just the whether. Internal discussions reportedly include a model where independent studios take on these legacy IPs rather than Sony's flagship first-party teams — echoing the collaborative approach used during God of War: Ragnarök's development. Notably, if inFAMOUS does move forward, Sucker Punch would not be involved, suggesting Sony is open to new creative voices inhabiting familiar worlds. For now, the company is looking. Everything else remains unwritten.

The rumor mill around Sony's dormant franchises just got a significant boost of credibility. Nate the Hate, one of gaming's most reliable insiders, posted on X that there is genuine substance behind speculation that Sony is actively exploring and considering the revival of some of its oldest, longest-dormant intellectual properties. The confirmation carries real weight—this is someone who recently called out Nintendo's new Star Fox game before any official announcement, and his track record in the industry is nearly spotless.

But Nate the Hate was careful to draw a line. What he knows is that Sony is in an exploratory and evaluative phase. He did not claim that any of these projects are actually in development, greenlit, or moving toward production. It's an important distinction, one that separates genuine internal consideration from concrete plans. The distinction matters because the gaming community has spent years hoping for news like this, and hope can easily outpace reality.

The speculation itself is not new. Journalist Jordan Middler had circulated specific rumors about an inFAMOUS remake, but he was honest about his sourcing—he could not get a second confirmation, which meant the story remained in rumor territory. Even so, the idea was enough to energize PlayStation fans who have watched beloved franchises sit dormant for years. inFAMOUS, Sly Cooper, Ape Escape, MotorStorm, Resistance, Jak & Daxter, Killzone, and Gravity Rush represent decades of accumulated nostalgia, franchises that still command genuine affection from a loyal segment of the player base.

What makes Nate the Hate's confirmation interesting is not just that Sony is thinking about these properties—it is how Sony might actually bring them back. One model being discussed internally involves partnering with talented independent studios rather than assigning the work to Sony's major first-party teams. This approach would follow the template established by God of War: Ragnarök's development, where external studios handled significant portions of work. The advantage is clear: it keeps iconic franchises alive and visible without consuming the bandwidth and budget of Sony's biggest in-house teams, and without requiring the full financial commitment of a massive AAA production.

According to Middler, if an inFAMOUS project does move forward, it would not be developed by Sucker Punch, the studio that created the original series. That detail alone suggests Sony is thinking creatively about how to approach these revivals—not as direct sequels or continuations necessarily, but as opportunities to let new creative voices take on established worlds. Whether that actually happens, and which franchises might be chosen first, remains entirely unconfirmed. For now, Sony is looking. The rest is still waiting.

There is truth to Sony exploring and considering the revival of some of its oldest and unused intellectual properties
— Nate the Hate, gaming insider
What he knows is that Sony is in an exploratory and evaluative phase, not that any of these projects are actually in development
— Reporting on Nate the Hate's statement
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Inventor

So Nate the Hate says Sony is exploring these old franchises. Does that mean anything is actually happening?

Model

Not necessarily. He was careful to say Sony is considering and exploring—that's internal evaluation, not greenlight. It's the difference between a studio thinking about an idea and actually building it.

Inventor

Why would they sit on these franchises for so long if they're valuable?

Model

First-party studios have limited capacity. If Sucker Punch is working on something new, they can't also make inFAMOUS. But if an independent studio takes it on, Sony keeps the IP alive without pulling resources from their major teams.

Inventor

Is there any chance this is just talk, and nothing comes of it?

Model

Absolutely. Exploration and consideration don't guarantee anything ships. But the fact that someone as reliable as Nate the Hate is confirming internal interest suggests it's serious enough to be worth watching.

Inventor

What would make one of these revivals actually happen?

Model

A studio with the right vision, a budget that makes sense, and probably a clear plan for how to make the game feel fresh rather than nostalgic. God of War showed that model can work—external development, strong creative direction, respect for the source material.

Inventor

So we're waiting for announcements?

Model

We're waiting for Sony to move from exploration to actual development. That's the next threshold. Until then, this is confirmation that the conversation is real, not that the games are coming.

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