PlayStation invests in Jade Raymond's new independent studio Haven

Jade Raymond has formed a new independent development team called Haven Entertainment Studios.

Based in Montreal, Canada, the studio and its first game has received funding from Sony. The debut title will be an original IP for PlayStation.

Raymond is a games industry veteran, having held senior roles at Google Stadia, EA and Ubisoft. She's was responsible for the Star Wars console and PC games at EA, and helped create the Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs franchises for Ubisoft. She also set-up Ubisoft Toronto and managed the team through the creation of its first game Splinter Cell: Blacklist.

According to Sony, the new studio is named because it games "will serve as havens for players", a concept that extends to the team itself "which will champion transparency and mutual respect".

"I could not be more excited about this opportunity to return to my roots and work with this talented team to create a new IP together," said Raymond. "Launching an independent studio with the backing of Sony Interactive Entertainment gives us full freedom to push boundaries with the support of a publisher that deeply understands the creative process of making games and is known for exceptional quality and a player-first approach."

PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst adds: "Sony Interactive Entertainment is proud to support and invest in Haven and its future. We understand the challenges and rewards of building creative teams from the ground up, as does Jade with her wealth of experience helming many of gaming's biggest franchises. We're confident in and excited for the bright future of Haven Studios and its first project, currently in development."