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989 Studios

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989 Studios
FormerlySony Interactive Studios America (1995–1998)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
PredecessorSony Imagesoft
Founded1995; 31 years ago (1995) (original)
2001; 25 years ago (2001) (relaunch)
Defunct2000 (2000) (original)
2005 (2005) (relaunch)
FateDissolved following a merger with Sony Computer Entertainment America
HeadquartersFoster City, California, United States,
ParentSony Computer Entertainment America

989 Studios was a division of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) that developed games for PlayStation consoles and Windows personal computers. Their games include EverQuest, Twisted Metal III, Twisted Metal 4, Syphon Filter, Syphon Filter 2, Jet Moto 3, Bust a Groove, and others.

History

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The 989 Sports name developed from a long history of name changes and corporate shuffling within Sony centered around operations in Foster City, California. In August 1995, the video game business of Sony Imagesoft was merged with the product development branch of SCEA, becoming Sony Interactive Studios America (SISA) and the PC division became Sony Interactive PC Studios America, with Sony Interactive Sports launching as the sports label.[1][2][3] In 1997, team members from SISA leave to form an independent game developer, RedZone Interactive.[4]

In 1998, SISA was spun off from SCEA, with the intent to became an autonomous and independent video game publisher and brand label for SCEA in a similar manner Psygnosis operated from SCEE and the video game division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan operating from SCEI, with Sony handling marketing and distribution functions,[5][6] and later on, it was renamed 989 Studios, and its sports label was renamed to 989 Sports.[7][8][9] The online division of 989 was spun off as RedEye Interactive, which was later renamed to Verant Interactive in 1999, before it was sold to Sony Online Entertainment in 2000.[10]

Psygnosis' North American operations were eventually merged into 989 Studios as its European operations of the company was sold off to Eidos Interactive.[11] In 1999, the studio established a development office in Santa Monica, and took over production of its devevelopment of non-sports titles, while its sports titles were moved into its own San Diego studio.[12]

On April 1, 2000, 989 Studios was merged back into SCEA as a first party development group, in order to prepare for the then-upcoming PlayStation 2. Most of its employees had left its company, including Kelly Flock. After 989, the Santa Monica development team became Santa Monica Studio and the San Diego sports development team became San Diego Studio.[9] SCEA continued to release sports games under the 989 Sports brand[9][13] until the brand was retired in 2005 and all future sports games continued ot be published under SCEA and it was renamed to SCEA Sports Studio.[14]

Games

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As Sony Interactive Studios America

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As 989 Studios

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As 989 Sports

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Harmon, Amy (August 18, 1995). "Company Town". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "News Notes". Play Meter. September 1995. p. 3.
  3. ^ Meston, Zach (August 1995). "PlayStation Hits the Nation". Videogame Advisor. p. 3.
  4. ^ Staff, I. G. N. (January 23, 2001). "Sony Acquires Red Zone". IGN. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  5. ^ Staff, I. G. N. (March 26, 1998). "Sony Splits". IGN. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  6. ^ "SISA Goes Independent". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. June 1998. p. 20.
  7. ^ "SISA Becomes 989". GameSpot. June 2, 1998. Archived from the original on October 12, 2000. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "SISA Changes to 989, Psygnosis Brings Microsoft, Activision Revives Classics". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. August 1998. p. 24.
  9. ^ a b c IGN Staff (February 4, 2000). "Sony Swallows 989 Studios". IGN. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  10. ^ Keefer, John (March 31, 2006). "GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 19 of 19". GameSpy. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007.
  11. ^ "Psygnosis Split Down the Middle?". GameSpot. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  12. ^ Staff, I. G. N. (November 6, 1998). "989's New So Cal Digs". IGN. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  13. ^ McGehee, Michael (March 9, 2000). "Sony set to fold 989 studio". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "989 No More". GameSpot. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
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