Bend Studio
| File:Bend Studio logo.svg Logo since June 2022 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Blank, Berlyn & Co., Inc.; Eidetic, Inc. |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Marc Blank, Michael Berlyn |
| Headquarters | Bend, Oregon , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Bubsy 3D, Syphon Filter series, Days Gone, Resistance: Retribution, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Uncharted: Fight for Fortune |
| Parent | Sony Interactive Entertainment (since 2000) |
Bend Studio—previously known as Blank, Berlyn & Co., Inc. and later Eidetic, Inc.—is a United States-based video game developer located in Bend, Oregon. Established in 1992 by Marc Blank and Michael Berlyn, the studio has gained recognition for titles such as Bubsy 3D, the Syphon Filter franchise, and Days Gone. Since the year 2000, Bend Studio has functioned as a first-party developer within Sony Interactive Entertainment and is part of PlayStation Studios.
History
The company was founded in 1992 by Marc Blank, a co-creator of Infocom, alongside adventure game designer Michael Berlyn, under the name Blank, Berlyn & Co. Initially concentrating on software and puzzle games for devices like the Apple Newton, their early portfolio featured games including Columbo's Mystery Capers and Dell Crossword Puzzles. Their entry into sports gaming came with the 1994 release of Live Action Football for Accolade.
In 1995, the studio rebranded to Eidetic and brought on technical director Christopher Reese, signaling a strategic pivot toward console game development. Their debut console title was Bubsy 3D (1996) for the PlayStation platform; however, it faced commercial difficulties amidst intense market competition. Subsequently, Sony's 989 Studios contracted Eidetic to create Syphon Filter, an action-stealth game which, despite production obstacles, surpassed one million copies sold following its 1999 launch. This achievement led to the creation of six further Syphon Filter installments up until 2007.
After Sony acquired Eidetic in 2000, the studio was renamed Bend Studio. The team broadened its scope by working on licensed projects such as Resistance: Retribution for PSP and contributed to PlayStation Vita titles including Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Uncharted: Fight for Fortune.
In April 2019, Bend Studio released Days Gone, marking their first original intellectual property since the Syphon Filter series debut. By late 2020, key leadership figures John Garvin and Jeff Ross had exited the company; Bend Studio publicly distanced itself from Garvin following his controversial remarks about the game's reception.
By mid-2021, development was underway on a new IP that would expand upon the open-world gameplay mechanics introduced in Days Gone. In June 2022, the studio unveiled an updated logo design. However, in January 2025 Sony cancelled a live-service project that Bend Studio had been developing since 2021. By June 2025, approximately 30% of Bend Studio’s employees were laid off as part of broader structural changes within Sony; while official numbers were not disclosed, this reduction was confirmed by the parent company.
Games developed
External links
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Organizations founded in Oregon in 1992
- Mergers and acquisitions completed in 2000
- U.S. companies founded in 1992
- Businesses headquartered in Bend, Oregon
- In-house video game development studios
- Studios under PlayStation
- Oregon-based video game enterprises
- Video game firms founded in 1992
- American companies established in 1992
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment