"New PlayStation Game Inspired by Smash Bros Coming Soon"

Summary

• Bungie's mysterious game, code-named Gummy Bears, has reportedly changed developers and is now being developed at a new PlayStation studio.
• While primarily a MOBA, the game is rumored to take inspiration from Super Smash Bros. by featuring a percentage-based damage system instead of traditional health bars.
• Gummy Bears has been in development for at least three years, but could still be years away from release. It aims to target a younger demographic than any prior Bungie game.

A first-party PlayStation game code-named Gummy Bears is said to draw significant inspiration from the Super Smash Bros. series. This intriguing detail emerged from a recent report that also sheds light on other aspects of this mysterious PlayStation project.

The first hints of Gummy Bears' existence surfaced online in August 2023, when The Game Post reported that a MOBA title with this codename was under development at Bungie. A year later, Bungie announced layoffs affecting 220 employees—a 17% reduction in its workforce. During this announcement, Bungie also disclosed that an additional 155 of its staff members would be integrated into Sony Interactive Entertainment in the near future.

These integration efforts have now led Sony to establish a new PlayStation studio, according to The Game Post, citing unnamed sources. This new subsidiary, reportedly comprising around 40 employees, has taken over the development of Gummy Bears. Although the upcoming first-party PlayStation game is likely years away from release, its current development stage remains undisclosed. Despite the scarcity of details, The Game Post reports that Gummy Bears will borrow a key mechanic from Super Smash Bros.

Gummy Bears Reportedly Won't Have Health Bars, Similar to Smash Bros.

Specifically, Gummy Bears is said to eschew traditional health bars, instead using a percentage-based damage system that determines how far a character is knocked back upon being hit. When this percentage reaches a high enough level, characters can be knocked off the map, echoing the damage percent system used in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Gummy Bears will reportedly include three character classes typical of a MOBA: Attack, Defense, and Support. The game is expected to offer multiple game modes and feature an aesthetic described as cozy, vibrant, and "lo-fi." These elements mark a significant departure from Bungie's previous work, a deliberate choice aimed at differentiating Gummy Bears and appealing to a younger demographic.

Counting its time at Bungie, Gummy Bears has reportedly been in development since at least 2022. The recent claim of a developer switch aligns with the news of PlayStation establishing a new studio in Los Angeles, assuming this California-based division is indeed the one working on Gummy Bears.