Sackboy: A Big Adventure is Sackboy’s first stand-alone game and one of 19 launch titles for Sony's long-awaited next-generation Playstation 5 console. Directed by Olly Reid, Axis delivered 23 minutes of seamless in-game cinematics in 4K at 60 fps for both PS4 & PS5.
Axis collaborated with the Playstation 5 team as the cinematics partner to define the cinematic style and develop the storytelling language. Working closely with partners Sony and Sumo from script to 2D storyboards, to edit; all the way to final real-time cinematic, ensured the clear-cut linking of the narrative to the look and feel of the surrounding gameplay.
Axis pushed themselves to take every aspect to another level, bringing their experience in creating realtime cinematics to ensure the player feels the story moments.
Traci Tufte, Executive Producer for Realtime comments: “We were thrilled when Sony asked Axis to be involved in the project. Realtime is a key area of focus for Axis, we are always excited about opportunities that grow our knowledge and expertise, and allow us to work more dynamically with the client.”
Working directly with the game development team so early in the cinematic process, allowed for a deeper collaborative relationship. Axis’ real-time pipeline was built for maximum flex and adaptability. This allowed syncing with Sumo’s game build and made way for an efficient shared workflow on Sackboy.
The freedom and trust which has developed out of this way of working allowed the team at Axis to focus on the visual storytelling.
Michael Zaman, Head of Realtime comments: “Not only did we bring the story to life but the fluidity of our pipeline meant that we integrated our whole real-time pipeline with Sumo. This allowed us to deliver the project to both a high-quality bar and on schedule.”
One of three real-time projects in production in 2020, Sackboy: a Big Adventure adds to Axis’ growing slate of in-engine releases, including Gears 5, The bOnd and Deathloop.
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For further information please contact Adele Khawli adelekhawli@axisstudiosgroup.com
Notes to the Editor
Axis Studios is an award-winning entertainment company, founded in Glasgow in 2000 by CEO Richard Scott, in partnership with Dana Dorian, Stuart Aitken and Graham McKenna. It boasts an international team of directors, designers, artists, animators, writers and producers, working across its studios. As well as being the largest animation studio in Scotland, it also has one of the largest CGI teams in the UK.
Axis started as a gaming animation company, producing many award-winning trailers such as the much-vaunted trailer for Dead Island, which won Baftas, Cannes Lions, The International Andy Award and many more. Its recent awards include: 3 Daytime Emmy's and an Annie award for Lost in Oz, a BAFTA Scotland award for Netflix’s Love Death and Robots, an AEAF award for Throne of Eldraine, a Cannes Lions Nomination for War of the Spark and an RTS craft award for Kiss Me First.
Axis Studios is building on our track record of creating narratively compelling work in animated entertainment & VFX, to originate and deliver groundbreaking content of the highest quality that engages audiences worldwide.