Buoyed by Helldivers 2's success, Sony signs deal with Left 4 Dead creator's new co-op shooter

The new co-op game being built by Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth and Bad Robot Games, the development studio arm of J.J. Abrams' multimedia company, has secured itself a major publisher in the form of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Hot off the massive success story that is Helldivers 2, SIE has confirmed that it will be producing and publishing the "unannounced four-player cooperative shooter" for both Playstation 5 and PC.

Few names bear as much weight in the co-op shooter space as Left 4 Dead, so I've been eager to see exactly what Mike Booth and Bad Robot Games have been cooking up ever since the designer let word slip that he was making something "built on the foundations of what made L4D special." He added, "If you enjoyed the teamwork, tension, and replayability of my past games, you'll probably find this one interesting." Sign me up.

Further details on what and when we can expect from this spiritual successor remain tantalizingly light. SIE's VP and head of global third-party relations, Christian Svensson, says that Bad Robot's "unique creative voice and passion for innovating across all forms of interactive entertainment perfectly aligns with SIE's mission to craft experiences that resonate deeply with players."

The partnership "allows us to bring our new IP to life, with an expansive vision for this new universe," Bad Robot Games CEO Anna Sweet adds. "With the support of Playstation, we hope to deliver a bold, innovative experience that is truly special for players. I could not be more excited that Mike Booth is at the creative helm, crafting a cooperative adventure that will lead to unforgettable moments with friends."

Quite what that will entail, such as whether we'll be going up against zombies, aliens, infected, or something entirely different, remains to be seen. There's certainly no question that Booth's presence has me eager to see it in action, but it's not an instant guarantee of success. Back 4 Blood, the L4D-like from Booth's old studio Turtle Rock, ended up winning my heart, but it didn't make a big enough splash to stop the developer from calling time on updates much earlier than originally planned.

Plus, Sony has had a rather brutal time as of late when it comes to multiplayer projects, making this partnership quite surprising. Helldivers 2 sticks out as a huge success story, but game cancelations and the infamous Concord disaster has burned the company over the last couple of years. With lessons hopefully learned, I've got my fingers crossed for Booth's new game.