The first gazette notice, required paperwork for the dissolution of a company, was first filed on November 11th, since then, the studio has filed the rest of its required paperwork, noting major changes to some of its important personnel. It is worth noting that neither Sony nor any one from the studio’s leadership has made any official announcement or comments about the dissolution.

Ballistic Moon was a studio founded by former Supermassive Games developers, having worked on several cinematic horror titles in the past. The studio had only worked on one major project before ultimately being dissolved—the Until Dawn remake for PC and PS5. However, the title saw lukewarm critical reception, with its Metacritic aggregate sitting at 70. While the visuals had been improved over the original PS4 release, many of the more critical reviewers noted that the $59.99 price tag, the change to a third-person over-the-shoulder angle for the camera, as well as technical issues were major flaws.

As for general reception, the Until Dawn remake’s launch was met with few players, with one report noting that its player count was 28 percent lower than the disastrous launch of Concord. Over the next year, Ballistic Moon would be hit by quite a few lay-offs, first letting go of around 40 of its employees in September 2024, and then another 20 roles being cut in December 2024. As of March 2025, the studio was considered “effectively closed”, with its founders and “possibly” a few other employees still on the payroll “at most”.

Until Dawn is a horror game that revolves around a group of young friends staying at an isolated ski lodge as part of their vacation. However, a prank goes wrong, resulting in two of them running out into the darkness, never to be heard from again. A year later, the remaining friends decide to revisit the lodge to commemorate the death of their friends. Things start getting out of hand, however, when strange things start happening, making it look like someone might be trying to kill the entire group.

The gameplay largely revolves around exploring the surroundings as one of the eight characters, slowly unravelling the mystery, and occasionally partaking in quick-time event-based action scenes. Along the way, players also get to make choices for each of the characters, with these decisions having far-reaching impact, defining which member of the crew lives, and who dies.

Until Dawn also got a movie last year, directed by David F. Sandberg. Despite sharing a name and certain themes, however, the movie’s story was an entirely new one. It revolves around four friends traveling to a remote valley to find answers about the disappearance of one of their friends’ sisters. The crew ultimately finds themselves trapped in a strange time loop, however, with many of them falling prey to horrifying ways of dying.

30. Until Dawn Remake

As good as the original? Well, no, especially when it comes to the soundtrack selection for certain scenes, specific lighting changes in the beginning, etc. However, Until Dawn’s remake does offer vastly superior performance and character models alongside new content and death animations. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll encourage someone to experience the original and see first-hand why it’s superior. For now, at least it’s better than the movie (not that that’s a high bar to clear).

29. Rise of the Rōnin

Unfairly compared to Ghost of Tsushima when it first launched, Team Ninja’s open-world action-adventure has its share of bright spots despite the story shortcomings. Combat is top-notch, as expected from the Nioh team, and hey, you can use a bayonet as a hybrid melee/ranged weapon, which is really cool. It may not quite have the budget, but you can’t deny Rise of the Rōnin’s ambition, especially with the sheer number of factions, branching paths, and combat depth.

28. Sackboy: A Big Adventure

LittleBigPlanet may be on ice for who knows how long, but Sackboy: A Big Adventure did help fill that void. The vaster movesets, coupled with returning tools like the grappling hook, made for an endearing adventure, especially when playing with a friend. While it didn’t necessarily break new ground in the genre, it was still a joyful romp through Craftworld.

27. The Nioh Collection

Two excellent titles in one package alongside all their paid DLC and updates for hundreds of hours of masocore action RPG fun – what more could you want? Well, maybe a reprieve from the difficulty. However, The Nioh Collection is a sheer testament to Team Ninja’s post-Ninja Gaiden design, blending that combo potential with Souls-like fundamentals and more grounded action, even if the loot chase isn’t for everyone.

26. Mafia: The Old Country

We never really got all our answers about how Mafia: The Old Country ties into the rest of the series (save for it being a prequel and containing a few cameos). Nevertheless, it was a strong return to everything that made the franchise so memorable, from the gripping narrative and strong characterization to the deeply involving themes. That Sicily looked so stunning to explore is also a plus.

25. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Jokes about remastering a title that wasn’t even a decade old aside, Guerrilla Games poured a significant amount of time and resources into revamping Horizon Zero Dawn for the remaster. Environments were changed, matching Forbidden West in terms of graphical quality, and entire cutscenes were overhauled and improved thanks to re-recorded dialogue. Otherwise, its gameplay fundamentals are as enjoyable as ever.

24. Demon’s Souls Remake

Aggravating as it is that Bluepoint was relegated to making a live-service title for all these years, at least we got the long-requested remake of Demon’s Souls. Purists may scoff at some of the visual choices and their effect on the atmosphere. And yet this remake brings the FromSoftware title into the contemporary age, idiosyncrasies and all, proving that some classics truly are timeless.

23. Sword of the Sea

Fancy hovering around some stunning environments on a hoversword, trying to piece together the sordid history of the place within three hours? Sword of the Sea may satisfy that urge…or leave you confused afterwards. Regardless, it’s a seamless blend of snowboarding, surfing, and platforming with deft pacing and more than a few surprises.

22. Returnal

From arcade shooters that it claimed wouldn’t sell to delivering one of the most pulse-pounding third-person action games of all time, Housemarque has had quite the journey. Returnal is a heck of a stop on the way, with Atropos presenting environments that are as brutalising as they are lovingly surreal. Its take on the rogue-like formula may not be for everyone, but when it comes to fast-paced action and bullet hell mechanics, few games can top it.

21. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

Showcasing the sheer speed of the PS5’s SSD, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart’s clever usage of rifts allowed for a dimension-hopping adventure the likes of which the series had never seen. But even if you ignore the technical wizardry, it’s just a stellar platformer all-around with its traversal mechanics, combat, and the sheer charm of its leading duo.

20. Helldivers 2

The sole success of Sony’s live-service initiative, and it’s easy to see why. Arriving almost out of nowhere to deliver explosive co-op action that’s easy to get into and impossible to put down, Helldivers 2 has grown into a behemoth of weapons, enemies, mission types, and whatnot. It’s almost detrimental in a way, given the technical issues, but when you can run around together in Killzone and Halo armor sets, it’s beyond worth it.

19. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Last year saw Microsoft finally release its first-party titles on PS5, but this year saw a once-iconic character returning to where it all began. We’re of course talking about Senua, whose first game debuted on PS4 before coming to Xbox. Suffice it to say that Senua’s Saga offers more of the same but with far more gorgeous visuals, and it works, despite the familiarity of it all.

18. Absolum

The very best in beat ’em up combat is mixed with deceptively simple upgrades and a branching world design that suits the genre as much as the storytelling. Saying it looks downright amazing would be an understatement, but it also packs in a surprisingly great soundtrack with a who’s who of composers on board. Suffice it to say that if you’re going in for more Streets of Rage 4-style goodness, Absolum will easily surpass those expectations.

17. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

After successfully reviving Silent Hill, it was the turn of Metal Gear Solid, that too where it all chronologically began. And while Delta: Snake Eater threw in some notable new features, from the over-the-shoulder camera to the revamped visuals and quality-of-life, it was, unabashedly, exactly like the original. Love it or hate it for that reason, it’s still a fantastic remake for one of the greatest of all time.

16. The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered

Yes, The Last of Us Part 2 isn’t technically a native PS5 title, and yes, the series’ re-releases are getting a little too excessive. On the other hand, it’s still a fantastic game with a story and twist that’s vehemently argued about to this day. The mix of survival mechanics and responsive gameplay, coupled with larger environments to explore and even more heart-pounding set pieces, all wrapped up in that signature post-apocalyptic atmosphere – it’s still a powerful combo to this day. Throw in the rogue-like No Return and other goodies, and you’ve got an even better deal.

15. Borderlands 4

It’s a good day when you can wake up, play a new Borderlands title and come away with “Not bad.” Featuring the gunplay of Borderlands 3 and none of the same narrative treatment, its main appeal is the vast world, laden with interesting activities, and more build-crafting opportunities than ever before. The looter shooter genre as a whole may seem tapped out, especially on this scale, but Borderlands 4 is still a fun time if you’re into the grind.

14. Forza Horizon 5

For years, PS5 players have heard about the brilliance of Forza Horizon 5. The extensive roster of cars (now at 900 and counting), the attention to detail of Mexico, its various jaw-dropping locations, and the sheer amount of content to experience. But for all its intricacies, systems, and realistic physics (if that’s what you’re into), Playground Games’ open-world racer is just the perfect fantasy for any car enthusiast to let loose.

13. Gran Turismo 7

The most drop-dead, stunning game in Polyphony Digital’s long, illustrious history and also the most controversial. But has that stopped Gran Turismo 7 from delivering the very best racing sim action this generation (especially after Forza Motorsport fumbled)? Not by a long shot, and the plethora of updates thus far, including the upcoming Spec 3 update, have made it even more worthwhile.

12. Silent Hill f

With the first hurdle of a competent remake surpassed, Konami faced its next big challenge: Delivering a new Silent Hill that was not only fun but downright terrifying. So naturally it went scorched earth by having Ryukishi07 pen the narrative and kera to design the creatures alongside a rural 1960s Japanese town as the setting. Even with complaints surrounding its combat, if there’s any horror title you need to experience this year, it’s Silent Hill f.

11. Days Gone Remastered

Even in the absence of a new game, you can’t keep ol’ Deacon St. John down. Finally arriving on the PS5, Days Gone Remastered offers everything that fans loved about the original with visual improvements and faster loading times. Permadeath and Speedrun modes provide fresh new challenges, while the brand new Horde Assault puts an arcade spin on surviving against an overwhelming amount of Freakers, complete with its own progression.

10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Bigger, better and somehow offering the same runtime, Insomniac’s sequel puts a somewhat darker twist on Peter Parker’s journey as Spider-Man. In reality, it expands on the original in some truly spectacular ways, from the varied playstyles to the customization and plethora of suits. Plus, Manhattan, alongside Brooklyn and Queens, has never looked better or flowed as seamlessly as you web sling through them at breakneck speeds.

9. Astro Bot

A pitch-perfect platformer with a presentation that’s equal parts stunning and endearing, packed with the best that the genre has to offer in terms of levels and mechanics…all without any fluff, and paying tribute to PlayStation’s extensive history? That somewhat describes Team Asobi’s Astro Bot in a nutshell, but you could also just call it a masterpiece. It may not boast the same scale as many of Sony’s other heavy hitters, but its heart is unmatched, making for an exclusive that everyone should play. However, at the very top of the PS5 mountain sits…

8. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

That Sandfall Interactive’s first title could launch this year and catapult up the list of must-play games of all time is a testament to its brilliance. And make no mistake – Clair Obscur is brilliant in every single way that should matter in a role-playing game, full of wondrous locales to explore, an involving story with memorable characters, a fantastic combat system that mixes turn-based and real-time actions to excellent effect, and the music. Oh, the music. If you haven’t experienced it already, then what are you waiting for?

7. God of War Ragnarok

Sony’s Santa Monica Studio is no stranger to going all out when it’s time to end a story, and Ragnarok is no exception. Themes of family, betrayal, belonging, and more are tackled; vast lands teeming with dangerous new threats are revealed; and the sheer amount of combos that you can potentially pull off is even more insane than ever. Ragnarok is the studio’s magnum opus, and the fact that it added an entire rogue-lite expansion, Valhalla, on top as an epilogue for free only further sweetens the deal.

6. Black Myth: Wukong

It’s not often that something so unbelievably gorgeous delivers on its mountain of expectations, but Black Myth: Wukong made it look easy. The stunning art direction and presentation are backed by an equally involving combat system and some of the coolest boss battles in a video game. Wukong is more than just a great action RPG, though – it’s also a testament to the sheer game development talent in China.

5. Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition

Let it not be said that Guerrilla Games didn’t follow the rule of “more” with Horizon Forbidden West. More Machines, weapon types, armor sets, activities, side quests, fidelity, characters, locations – the list goes on (and Horizon Zero Dawn isn’t a small game). Amid all this, it even offered some shocking revelations, not to mention a much-requested boss fight in the expansion, Burning Shores. It’s been almost four years since its release, but Horizon Forbidden West remains an addictive open-world experience.

4. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Venturing beyond the confines of Midgar didn’t just mean experiencing the broader world of Final Fantasy 7 as a whole – it also meant a completely new approach to exploration. More mini-games and optional activities, not to mention side quests where key party members took the lead to go with additional challenging bosses, all wrapped up in an open world format. And that’s not even getting into all the improvements with the combat, summons, and the sheer insanity of the story. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gets some flak for certain sequences going too long, but for long-time fans and RPG enthusiasts alike, it’s simply breathtaking in almost every way.

3. Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree

You probably saw this coming, but like a certain Scarlet Rotted Blade, Elden Ring and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, simply won’t know defeat. Are there areas where it falters, especially in performance? Absolutely, but for us, it’s such a masterclass in open-world design and action RPG combat. That first moment where you step out and gaze upon Limgrave; that moment where Stormveil Castle is conquered and you look out upon the deeper world; the first nightmarish moments of Caelid; and who can forget wandering into the Land of Shadow and getting uppies from the Furnace Golem? Elden Ring wears its influences – from Breath of the Wild to Dark Souls – on its sleeve, and delivers a magical journey that few other games have managed to surpass.

2. Ghost of Yōtei

Plenty of revenge sagas ask how far you’d go, but Ghost of Yōtei offered a slightly different twist, which led to a more layered narrative. Of course, it also took everything about Ghost of Tsushima and elevated it to whole new levels, whether it was the natural flow of its open world, the sheer variety in activities, or the responsive combat. Overall, a fantastic title and more than a worthy follow-up to its 2020 predecessor.

1. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Much has been said about Hideo Kojima and his, let’s say, unique storytelling. However, Death Stranding 2 didn’t just up the emotional quotient while introducing various unforgettable new characters. It also made vast improvements to the original’s gameplay, accommodating those who favored stealth, going in guns blazing, or the familiar friction-filled hiking. The sheer visual fidelity is top-tier among games this generation, and it all ties together into a satisfying tear-jerker of an ending.

Other notable PS5 titles include Ballistic Moon’s Until Dawn, a less-acclaimed remake based on Supermassive’s 2015 narrative horror, and V Rising, a sandbox action RPG where players control a newly awakened vampire. There’s also Wizard with a Gun, if you’re keen on less serious survival crafting action.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon will also be available for PS5 and PS4 players alongside narrative adventure As Dusk Falls and Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1. Premium subscribers also receive access to classics like Tekken 3, one of the best entries in the series, for both platforms. Strangely enough, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Soulcalibur 3, also rumored to be added, are missing.

Regardless, stay tuned when these titles go live next week. In the meantime, subscribers of all tiers can experience Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3 and Cocoon.

A remake of Supermassive’s classic, it was released for PS5 and PC in October 2024 to mixed reviews (and the Until Dawn film didn’t do much to bolster interest). You can check out our thoughts here, but alongside low Steam numbers, it reportedly performed worse than Concord on PS5. Developer Ballistic Moon would “effectively” close last March after failing to secure funding (and allegedly pitching another project to Sony).

Of course, there’s apparently even more in store, including As Dusk Falls and V Rising for Extra subscribers. As for PlayStation Classics, available exclusively for Premium subscribers, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tekken 3 and Soulcalibur 3 will reportedly be made available. Stay tuned for more updates and the official announcement in the meantime.

Resident Evil (2002)

The original Resident Evil was a groundbreaking title, mixing together survival and horror in a way that was never seen before. The PlayStation version was a product of its time, and the developer remastered it for the GameCube generation with a significant overhaul to its visuals and several quality-of-life changes. The fixed camera angles meant better pre-baked reflections and textures, making the visuals a step above what was possible with a free camera.

That’s per Insider Gaming, which claims in a freshly published report that Ballistic Moon has laid off the vast majority of its staff, to the extent that it has “effectively closed”. The studio laid off around 40 people in September, followed by another 20 roles cut in December. Currently, it’s claimed that the studio employs a handful at best – its founders, and “possibly” a few others “at most”.

It’s claimed that Ballistic Moon and Sony had preliminary discussions about a second project or updates for the Until Dawn remake possibly being greenlit, though that never happened. The studio allegedly pitched projects to other publishers but failed to secure funding.

Of course, on paper, Ballistic Moon remains active, and it’s claimed in the report that it’s likely to begin staffing back up if it obtains funding. For now, there has been no word from the studio on the state it is currently in.

Leaks have claimed that an Until Dawn sequel is currently in development at first-party PlayStation studio Firesprite. Meanwhile, an Until Dawn movie is also releasing on April 25.

It would also resonate with fans thanks to its writing and branching outcomes, pushing the limits of adventure games and crossing over into interactive drama. The format was so successful that it influenced Supermassive Games’ future work, as seen in The Dark Pictures Anthology, The Quarry, and The Casting of Frank Stone. Also, despite the hardware’s limits, Until Dawn leveraged it to deliver excellent facial and body animations, atmospheric lighting and shadows, and realistic environments.

A Ground-up Remake

While other PlayStation titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and The Last of Us get the “Remastered” treatment, Sony opted for a remake with Until Dawn, handing the reins to Ballistic Moon (which features several former members of Supermassive). Instead of improving the base game’s visuals or upgrading it for the PS5, the studio rebuilt it from the ground up for the console (and PC). It also added several changes, like a reworked Prologue, providing more context to the events that served as the basis for the rest of the game. There are new areas which offer new interactions, a third-person camera in some instances, new Totems to collect, and much more. But how does all this compare to the original?

Unreal Engine 5 serves as the base for the remake, with almost everything from models, environments, animations and effects seeing updates. The improvements to materials (especially on clothing), rendering and textures for characters and environments, on top of a higher level of detail, bring the world to life with startling fidelity. It even allows for revamping the system used to inflict injuries on characters, resulting in more realistic cuts and bruises, making some deaths look much more eerie than the original, even without the excessive gore. Meanwhile, ray tracing is implemented for shadows, ambient occlusion and reflections to stellar effect.

Lighting and Shadow Improvements

One of the more notable examples of the new lighting can be seen in the Prologue after Beth storms out of the cabin. The original game featured the rest of the cast outside arguing while they were illuminated by the interior lighting. In the remake, that illumination is more natural and warm, resulting in more subtle shadows and varying color tones. It even serves to light up other background characters, like Emily and Jessica (especially when the latter appeared more shrouded in shadows in the original).

The difference in quality of lighting and shadows is all the more apparent when we follow Hannah in the Prologue as she searches for Beth. The moon rays and the shadows they create in the original are more defined. However, in the remake, they’re softer and feel more natural, resulting in a different kind of atmosphere that’s more foreboding and gothic.

When Beth uses the flashlight on her phone, there’s a defining contrast between its hard glare and the moonlight on the environment. This sequence is a bit extended, resulting in a change of pacing with some extra scares and surprises, but soon follows the same frantic chase sequence and quick time events of the original.

Tone Shift and Model Improvements

Of course, the first Chapter – where Sam arrives at the Blackwood Mountain one year later – is where some more divisive stylistic choices emerge. The original Until Dawn opted for a nighttime atmosphere where, once again, the moon is the major light source. We even see the title’s chapter, “Memento Mori”, with the added text, “10 hours until dawn,” implying that it’s in the evening/early night.

However, the remake removes this text and opts for more dusk-style lighting with wildly different color tones. The jury is out on this and how it impacts the overall atmosphere – some are indifferent, others hate it with a burning passion. Perhaps it’s meant to highlight the increased fidelity, including the higher level of detail in the environment, like more extensive tree branches and foliage. Even the Blackwood Pines sign looks more weathered and defined with discolored textures compared to the original’s flat board, which looks like it was carved out the day prior.

As much criticism as one can heap on some time-of-day changes and their accompanying lighting or the new camera perspective, there’s no denying just how incredible the character models look. The detailed skin textures showcase visible pores while the eyes appear more vibrant. The difference in Sam’s clothing, with the cap featuring meticulously detailed fur strands, or the scarf, with more defined frayed threads, is also simply incredible to behold. Snowflakes on cloth are also more visible, adding further to the attention to detail. The facial animations are also a major upgrade without being too over-the-top.

Overhauled Cinematography

Another interesting contrast between the two versions is how Ballistic Moon revamped much of the cinematography. It varies extensively – take the Prologue scene where Beth leaves the cabin and shows more of the characters outside than the original, a decidedly more subtle change. However, in the cabin in Chapter 1, Sam confronting Josh about no hot water features a different camera angle entirely – which actually shows off more of the environment and lighting but still gives the impression of viewing the action from behind Chris and Ashley. The shaky cam as seen in the sequence where a masked figure chases Josh and Sam, also feels more natural, meshing better when cutting to the figure stumbling.

Overall, the Until Dawn remake is a significant upgrade in visuals. It improves on the base game in numerous ways, providing more haunting environments and extensive detail on its characters. The new cinematography also looks crisp without taking away from the original’s vision and the lighting and shadows look immaculate. First chapter tones aside, it captures the creepiness and harrowing atmosphere of the original to a tee, even amplifying it to new heights. If you’ve never experienced the original, the remake is worth checking, though you might want to wait for patches to address some of the reported bugs.

However, it’s impressive how much the original Until Dawn has held up by today’s standards. As much as I enjoyed the more natural lighting and softer shadows or the rebuilt character models and how much more expressive they are, there’s an atmosphere to the original which feels distinct and oppressive. Perhaps it’s the colder tones and starker lighting which lead to a more dramatic effect, or the presentation. Regardless, PS5 players may want to check it despite the lack of a dedicated upgrade, not only because of a lower price point but to experience Supermassive’s vision first-hand.