Sony Interactive Entertainment just announced a major partnership with Bad Robot Games that has co-op shooter fans buzzing with excitement. The collaboration will bring a brand new four-player cooperative shooter to PlayStation 5 and PC, with none other than Mike Booth at the helm as game director. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Booth created the iconic Left 4 Dead series that defined cooperative zombie mayhem for an entire generation of gamers.
The announcement came on December 3, 2025, through an official press release from Sony Interactive Entertainment. While specific details about the game remain under wraps, the partnership signals Sony’s continued investment in live-service and multiplayer experiences, even after some high-profile setbacks in recent years.
The Creative Force Behind the Project
Mike Booth brings serious credentials to this project. He founded Turtle Rock Studios in 2002 and served as creator and lead designer of Left 4 Dead, one of the most influential cooperative shooters ever made. His innovative work on the AI Director system dynamically adjusted gameplay during each playthrough, creating unique experiences that kept players coming back. Left 4 Dead won Computer Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play at the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, and Booth personally won a British Academy Games Award for Multiplayer in 2009.
After leaving Turtle Rock Studios in 2012, Booth joined Bad Robot Games in 2020 and became Chief Creative Officer in 2022. He previously teased this project back in August 2025 on the Left 4 Dead subreddit, calling it a four-player co-op shooter built on the foundations of what made his previous work special. The game, internally known as Project Tacoma, promises to expand on the co-op formula in ways Booth has wanted to explore for years.
What We Know About the Game
Details are deliberately scarce at this early stage, but here’s what has been confirmed so far:
- Four-player cooperative shooter designed for teamwork and replayability
- In development for PlayStation 5 and PC
- Directed by Mike Booth with his signature approach to co-op gameplay
- Features a new intellectual property with an expansive universe
- Currently in early development with playtests already underway
- More details will be shared at a later date
Anna Sweet, CEO of Bad Robot Games, expressed genuine enthusiasm about the collaboration. She emphasized that partnering with Sony allows them to bring their new IP to life with an expansive vision. With PlayStation’s support, the team hopes to deliver a bold, innovative experience that creates unforgettable moments for players enjoying the game with friends.
Bad Robot Games: From Film to Interactive Entertainment
Bad Robot Games operates as a division of Bad Robot, the film, television, and theater production company founded by renowned director and producer JJ Abrams. The parent company has delivered blockbuster franchises including Lost, Cloverfield, Mission: Impossible, Star Wars, and Star Trek. Bad Robot Games was formed with a singular mission to continually reinvent how stories are played.
The studio is fully remote and consists of a diverse community of creatives focused on creating worlds you can experience across all screens. While they’ve worked on external collaborations in the past, this marks their first internally developed game. The studio has been building toward this moment, transitioning from a support role to becoming a primary creator of interactive worlds.
Sony’s Live-Service Strategy Context
This partnership arrives during a pivotal moment for Sony’s multiplayer ambitions. Back in 2022, former PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan promised the company would release 12 live-service games by 2025. That plan has since been dramatically scaled back after numerous cancellations and setbacks, including the disastrous launch and shutdown of Concord.
Of the original 12 planned live-service titles, only Helldivers 2 has enjoyed genuine success. Several projects were cancelled before release, while others like Marathon remain in troubled development. Sony has since cancelled additional projects from studios like Bend and Bluepoint, causing the company to reconsider its priorities. However, current SIE Studio Business Group CEO Herman Hulst maintains that the specific number of releases matters less than having diverse player experiences and communities.
Christian Svensson, VP and Head of 2P/3P Content Ventures & Strategic Initiatives at Sony Interactive Entertainment, praised Bad Robot Games’ assembled talent. He noted that their 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.
What This Means for Players
For fans of cooperative shooters, this announcement represents a potential return to form. Mike Booth’s track record speaks for itself, and the creative freedom that comes with building a new IP from scratch could result in something truly special. The combination of Bad Robot’s storytelling expertise and Booth’s gameplay design philosophy creates intriguing possibilities.
Players interested in getting early access can sign up for playtests through the Bad Robot Games website. The studio has been conducting limited playtests asking participants about their gaming preferences, whether they prefer PC or console, their voice chat habits, and their experience with games like Apex Legends, PUBG, and Fortnite.
Key Partnership Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bad Robot Games (JJ Abrams company) |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Game Director | Mike Booth (Left 4 Dead creator) |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5 and PC |
| Genre | Four-player cooperative shooter |
| Status | Early development, playtests underway |
| Announcement Date | December 3, 2025 |
FAQs
Who is Mike Booth and why is his involvement significant?
Mike Booth is the creator and lead designer of Left 4 Dead, widely considered one of the most influential cooperative shooters ever made. He founded Turtle Rock Studios in 2002 and pioneered the AI Director system that dynamically adjusted gameplay. His work has won multiple awards including Computer Game of the Year and a BAFTA for Multiplayer.
When will the Bad Robot Games co-op shooter be released?
No release date has been announced yet. The game is currently in early development with playtests underway. Sony and Bad Robot Games have stated that more details will be shared at a later date.
What platforms will the game be available on?
The game is confirmed for PlayStation 5 and PC. There has been no mention of Xbox or other platform releases at this time.
What is Bad Robot Games and what is their connection to JJ Abrams?
Bad Robot Games is the gaming division of Bad Robot, the production company founded by filmmaker JJ Abrams. The parent company has produced major franchises including Lost, Star Wars, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Cloverfield. This will be Bad Robot Games’ first internally developed title.
How can I sign up for playtests of the new co-op shooter?
You can sign up for playtests by visiting the Bad Robot Games website at badrobotgames.com. The studio is looking for a limited number of players to participate in early testing of Project Tacoma, the game’s internal codename.
Is this part of Sony’s live-service game strategy?
While not explicitly confirmed as a live-service title, the partnership fits into Sony’s broader multiplayer and cooperative gaming strategy. Sony has been refocusing its approach after cancelling several live-service projects, with only Helldivers 2 proving successful from its original slate of 12 planned titles.
Will this game be similar to Left 4 Dead?
Mike Booth has stated the game is built on the foundations of what made Left 4 Dead special, focusing on teamwork, tension, and replayability. However, he has also mentioned it expands on the co-op formula in ways he has wanted to explore for a long time, suggesting new innovations beyond his previous work.
What is Project Tacoma?
Project Tacoma is the internal development codename for Bad Robot Games’ cooperative shooter. The final retail name has not been announced yet.
Conclusion
The partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bad Robot Games represents one of the most exciting multiplayer announcements in recent memory. With Mike Booth’s proven track record in cooperative game design and Bad Robot’s storytelling pedigree, this project has serious potential to deliver something special. While Sony’s live-service strategy has faced significant challenges, bringing in proven talent like Booth and partnering with an established entertainment powerhouse like Bad Robot shows they’re learning from past mistakes. For fans who have been waiting years for a spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, this collaboration offers genuine hope that lightning might strike twice. Keep an eye out for more details in the coming months as development progresses.