Left 4 Dead Creator Developing New Cooperative Shooter at Bad Robot Games in Partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment
Bad Robot Games, the studio founded over seven years ago by JJ Abrams in collaboration with Tencent, is officially advancing one of its most ambitious undertakings yet. After years of quiet development and the eventual cancellation of the earlier SPYJINX project, the studio has confirmed a strategic partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment to produce and publish a new cooperative multiplayer shooter created under the direction of Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth. Sony formalized the agreement through an official announcement, available via Sony Interactive Entertainment’s press release, confirming that the title will be released for PC and PlayStation 5.
Booth, who joined Bad Robot Games in early 2021, has been leading the design of the new IP with a strong emphasis on social, cooperative gameplay and emergent team-driven experiences. The studio’s CEO, Anna Sweet, stated that partnering with Sony provides the scale and creative support required to bring the IP to its highest potential, emphasizing that the studio aims to deliver a bold and innovative experience shaped around memorable co-op moments. Sony leadership expressed similar enthusiasm, with Christian Svensson noting that Bad Robot’s talent and creative culture align deeply with Sony’s mission to deliver premium interactive entertainment. According to Svensson, Sony is “thrilled” to help bring the project to market and believes players will be eager to explore what the team has been building.
While the game has not yet been revealed publicly, the timeline indicates long-term development with substantial progress. Bad Robot Games has been assembling high-profile talent for several years, and Booth’s involvement since 2021 suggests the title has evolved well beyond conceptual stages. Sony’s formal backing further signals that production is advancing, with the collaboration positioning the game as a potential major entry in the cooperative shooter space. Booth’s legacy in shaping the genre with Left 4 Dead places considerable expectations on the project, especially as cooperative shooters continue to evolve and diversify within the industry.
No release window or title has been shared, and neither Sony nor Bad Robot Games has commented on how closely the IP may follow Booth’s established design philosophies. However, given the scope of the partnership and the length of development, industry observers anticipate that additional details may emerge in the near future. PlayStation has historically aligned its second- and third-party partnerships with major showcase events, making the title a strong candidate for an upcoming reveal.
The confirmation of the collaboration consolidates Bad Robot’s transition from experimental mobile concepts toward large-scale console and PC development supported by one of the industry’s most established publishing ecosystems.
What style of cooperative gameplay would you like to see Mike Booth revisit or reinvent with this new IP? Share your thoughts in the comments.
