Will Days Gone 2 Ever Be Made?
Days Gone 2 Development News
According to the first game’s director, Jeff Ross, Days Gone will never see a sequel. In a recent tweet referencing a poster, Ross stated: “A lot of people still ask me if there will ever be a Days Gone sequel, so I submit this poster as evidence it will never happen.” The poster references many characters from PlayStation’s past, including long dormant ones like Jak & Daxter, Sly Cooper, and Cole MacGrath from the first two Infamous games. Notably, the absence of Days Gone’s protagonist, Deacon St John, reinforces Ross’s belief that the series is dead.
In a report published by Bloomberg on 9th April 2021, well-connected games journalist Jason Schreier revealed that Sony Bend, the studio behind the 2019 game, attempted to pitch a sequel that year. Although the first game was profitable, its lengthy development and mixed critical reception did not support a viable option for Days Gone 2.
Despite this grim outlook, it remains unknown what Bend Studio is currently working on. It seems unlikely a sequel is coming, but if Days Gone has taught us anything, it is that nothing stays dead for long.
Moreover, there is a petition advocating for a sequel. If you’re keen for a sequel, drop your signature; although the outcome remains uncertain, the petition showcases fan support with 229,905 signatures at the time of writing. We will keep you updated on any further news regarding Days Gone 2.
In breaking news from Friday, 17th January, various gaming news outlets reported that Sony scrapped two previously unannounced live service games, one of which was a game by Bend Studio. Releasing to middling reviews, Days Gone was underappreciated following its April 2019 release. Due to this performance, Sony didn’t green light the sequel that the game set up in its final cutscene and instead redirected the development team to a live service project that will now never see the light of day, necessitating the relatively small studio to start anew on different projects.
Days Gone has experienced a surge in popularity, especially following its inclusion in the PlayStation Plus Collection for PS5 in 2020 and being the main offering for subscribers in April 2021. With numerous new gamers clamoring for a sequel and Sony’s recent shift away from the live service model, it is time to give the fans what they want!
Now, with the original game’s team having clearer schedules, and in the hope that Sony has no plans to close the studio, there are desires for Days Gone 2 to be in production soon.
However, a Days Gone 2 remains highly unlikely despite fan demand, with former directors expressing regret over the sequel’s cancellation and hinting that it was in development. As of June 2021, the studio is focusing on a new IP that builds on the open-world systems from Days Gone. Additionally, in January 2025, Sony canceled a live-service game in development at Bend Studio.
Fan Reactions to the Days Gone Sequel Petition
Fan Reactions to the Days Gone Sequel Petition
Days Gone is more than just a video game; it’s a deeply personal and emotional journey. It resonates with players who have faced loss, hardship, and the enduring struggle to rebuild. At its heart, it is a story of survival, redemption, and hope in a world gone mad.
Deacon St. John: A Relatable Hero
Deacon’s story captures the essence of resilience. His journey from a grieving drifter to a protector and leader reflects the universal struggle to find purpose in the face of despair. For many players, including myself as a biker, Deacon’s lifestyle, loyalty, and connection to his motorcycle strike a personal chord. His bike is more than a mode of transportation—it’s a symbol of freedom, identity, and survival.
Potential of a Sequel
- A sequel to Days Gone offers the chance to delve deeper into the world and its characters.
- The Evolution of the Freakers: The first game hinted at the Freakers’ sentience and NERO’s experiments. A sequel could explore these revelations further, introducing new threats and opportunities for humanity’s survival.
- A World in Recovery: Beyond survival, a sequel could focus on rebuilding society, forcing Deacon to balance his individualistic instincts with a newfound sense of responsibility.
- With modern technology and lessons learned from the first game, a sequel could refine gameplay, deepen the narrative, and provide the closure and continuation fans crave.
A Call to Action
Sony and Bend Studio, we believe in the potential of Days Gone. The game has left an indelible mark on its players. The passion for its story is evident in the petitions and community support calling for a sequel.
An increasing number of Days Gone fans are voicing their discontent at the cancellation by taking to change.org and signing a petition. So far, the petition for SONY to make a sequel to Days Gone has hit almost 180,000 signatures. Additionally, over 200,000 Days Gone fans have now signed a petition campaigning for a sequel. Although it probably won’t change anything if it hits 200,000, the collective effort underscores the strong desire for a continuation of the story.
Bend Studio’s Future After Days Gone 2 Cancellation
The developer of Days Gone has stated that it still plans to create “cool s**t” following the cancellation of its unannounced live-service game by parent company Sony.
Bend Studio community manager Kevin McAllister expressed gratitude to the fans, saying, “Thanks for the love and support everyone, especially to those that have reached out. P.S. We still plan on creating cool shit.”
As a backdrop, Bend Studio’s last release was 2019’s Days Gone on PlayStation 4, which later launched on PC in 2021. Currently, the studio is in the process of learning from its experiences. Totoki mentioned, “Basically, with regards to new IP, of course you don’t know the result until you actually try it.”
Sony’s recent struggles in the live-service arena have contributed to the cancellation of this project. Additionally, the failure of Concord followed the cancellation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us multiplayer game.
Looking ahead, Bend Studio intends to build on an optimum title portfolio during the current mid-range plan period. This strategy aims to combine single-player games—leveraging their strengths and predictability of becoming hits due to proven IP—with live-service games that carry a certain amount of risk upon release.
After the cancellation, there are hopes that Bend Studio may pivot towards creating a sequel to Days Gone 2, a title that fans have demanded for years. The studio is currently determining its next project and there is a possibility the team may return to single-player games.
Impact of Days Gone 2 on PlayStation’s Game Lineup
Days Gone developer Bend Studio has finally broken the silence in the wake of its next PS5 game getting canceled. Recently, it was reported that PlayStation opted to cancel Bend’s upcoming project, which was never publicly unveiled but was said to be live-service in nature. This decision was quite a surprise as PlayStation had previously chosen to not greenlight a sequel to Days Gone and instead pushed for Bend to work on this live-service venture.
At this point, it has been nearly six years since the launch of Days Gone. While Bend also worked on the PC port of Days Gone, which released in 2021, this would still represent one of the largest gaps of time between titles for any studio that PlayStation owns.
Many PlayStation fans might wonder if Bend Studio would look to go back to Days Gone 2 and revive that project. However, given that many of the key creatives who worked on the original Days Gone are no longer at Bend, this seems quite unlikely.
- Sony confirmed that it had canceled a live-service game that was in the works at Bend Studio.
- A developer at the studio has responded to the news, thanking fans for their support and confirming that the team still wants to make ‘cool sh**.’
Back in 2023, Sony management stated it would proceed with only six live-service games in the near future, down from a dozen. At that time, management emphasized a focus on quality over quantity.
Notably, Bend Studio’s latest release was 2019’s Days Gone, which is unlikely to get a sequel. In June 2024, Bend announced that the studio was making a new IP, which could have been the canceled live-service game.
In the absence of a Days Gone game sequel, a Days Gone biker movie is now in development.
This cancellation serves as another blow to Sony’s ambitious live-service game plans. In 2022, Sony acquired Destiny 2 developer Bungie and announced intentions to have 12 live-service games running by the end of 2025.
On the subject of Days Gone 2 making an appearance at a PlayStation showcase, Ross explained that Sony executives, including the newly crowned CEO Hermen Hulst, ‘were never fans,’ insinuating that’s a core issue.
Moreover, last April, Bloomberg reported that Bend Studio pitched a Days Gone sequel to Sony but was ultimately rejected due to the first game’s reception and long development time.
Is a Days Gone Movie in the Works?
The parade of PlayStation movie and series adaptations continues. According to Deadline, Sony is working on a Days Gone movie. The film is being developed by Sony PlayStation Productions, with an adaptation from X-Men: First Class story developer Sheldon Turner. The movie will be produced by Vendetta Productions and Sony PlayStation Productions.
As reported, the movie will be a ‘love ballad to motorcycle movies’, featuring the bike as Deacon’s sole form of transportation. Currently, the producers are eyeing Sam Heughan, known for his role in Outlander, to play Deacon St. John.
Released in 2019, Bend Studio’s zombie game Days Gone is set to be adapted for the big screen. If Sam Heughan lands the role, he would portray Deacon St. John. Additionally, it is noted that Turner’s script will reflect a modern-day western narrative, with the motorcycle being Deacon’s primary form of transportation.
The game itself is characterized by its setting in the Pacific Northwest after a devastating global pandemic. It chronicles the story of Deacon St. John, a former motorcycle club member fighting for survival against mutated humans and other adversities while searching for his long-lost love.
Overall, Days Gone is reportedly getting a live-action film adaptation, spearheaded by Sony’s PlayStation Productions unit, with Sam Heughan set to star.
In conclusion, Sony has found a new potential video game movie franchise, with the Days Gone movie currently in development, after experiencing increased success in adapting video game narratives to film.
