Big Shift at Sucker Punch: New Studio Heads from Next Year

Brian Fleming, a co-founder and long-time studio head at Sucker Punch, is leaving the studio behind Ghost of Yotei. Sony says the studio will move to new leadership at the start of 2026, with two senior internal leaders stepping up.

If you’re a PlayStation fan, the headline here is simple: this is a leadership handover at one of Sony’s key first-party teams — not a game announcement.

What’s happening with Brian Fleming

Brian Fleming is stepping down from his role at Sucker Punch. The change was shared by Sony Interactive Entertainment in an announcement reported by VGC.

• Fleming is described as Sucker Punch’s co-founder and long-time studio head.
• The leadership transition is set to start 1 January 2026.
• The studio is currently framed around the “Ghost of Yōtei studio Sucker Punch” identity in the reporting.

Sucker Punch doesn’t do “small news”. It’s a studio that tends to ship big, spaced-out releases — which is why any leadership change draws attention, even when it’s clearly positioned as a planned transition.

Who’s taking over on 1 January 2026

Sony says Jason Connell and Adrian Bentley will step into new roles as studio heads from 1 January 2026.

• Jason Connell: described as a long-time creative leader and co-creative director on the Ghost franchise.
• Adrian Bentley: described as technical director who led engineering and production efforts.
• This is positioned as an internal handover to people already running major parts of the studio.

In other words: Sony isn’t parachuting in a “fixer”. It’s promoting two senior people who already have fingerprints all over Sucker Punch’s recent work.

Sucker Punch’s “one thing at a time” philosophy

Earlier this year, Fleming told VGC the studio tends to keep its focus tight — even if fans want remasters, side projects, or a quick return to older series.

• Fleming suggested the studio can “only do one thing at a time.”
• He also implied big projects can take years, which limits how often Sucker Punch can switch directions.
• That mindset helps explain why the studio output is usually one major game at a time.

It’s a very Sucker Punch way of working: fewer projects, more attention on the one they’re actually shipping. Love it or hate it, that approach has shaped how the studio plans games — and it’s useful context as new leadership steps in.

Quick refresher: why Sucker Punch matters to PlayStation

VGC notes Sucker Punch has been a PlayStation first-party studio since 2011, and it’s known for Sly Cooper, inFAMOUS, and Ghost of Tsushima.

• First-party status: part of PlayStation’s internal studio line-up (since 2011, per VGC).
• Track record: multiple long-running PlayStation series under one roof.
• Current spotlight: the studio is being talked about in the context of Ghost of Yōtei.

If you want a separate (and very consumer-friendly) angle on the Ghost of Yōtei hype cycle, here’s our coverage of the themed PS5 hardware: Ghost of Yōtei limited edition PS5 console and DualSense bundles.

And if this news has you finally thinking “maybe I should actually buy a PS5”, our local guide is here: Which PS5 should you buy in the UAE?.

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