Sony Shuts Down SOCOM Studio Zipper Interactive

Publisher officially announce closure of first party studio Zipper Interactive after 17 years.

by Matt Mann

Sony officially announced they would be shutting down one their first party studio Zipper Interactive. The studio was best known for MAG and the SOCOM series. The SOCOM series was one of the biggest video game series on the PS2 last generation; however the series has not lived up to expectations during the current generation of gaming. Here is what Sony had to say:
"Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm the closure of Zipper Interactive, a Seattle-based internal game development studio that has been part of the global development operation of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS), The closure is a result of a normal cycle of resource re-alignment within SCE WWS. Zipper has completed all work associated with its most recent project, Unit 13 for PlayStation Vita." "Zipper titles MAG, SOCOM 4 and Unit 13 will continue to be supported, including the new Daily Challenges in Unit 13."
Zipper Interactive posted this on twitter:
"After 17 years it€™s time to head off into the sunset. A sincere thank you to all our fans for everything you've done for us. Farewell."
As for the future of the SOCOM and MAG franchises it is still up in the air whether Sony will have another developer create new titles for either franchise. Like I said the SOCOM franchise lost a lot of steam this generation and I don't know if Sony feels it would be a worthwhile investment to continue making SOCOM or MAG games. Would you like to see another SOCOM/MAG game or do you think the franchises have run their course?
Contributor

I have been playing video games all my life but not only that I enjoy discussing them just as much as I love playing them. Therefore after going through college to get a criminal justice degree I became a freelance video game writer.