Ghost of Yotei Animator Cleared to Release Steam Hit Dinoblade

By Sakib Khandokar, Lead Analyst Published Jul 30, 2026, 9:22 PM UTC 1 min read

Industry Report Official details verified High confidence

Ghost of Yotei Animator Cleared to Release Steam Hit Dinoblade

Sony studio Sucker Punch granted explicit permission for Ghost of Yotei animator Jean Nguyen to develop and release his own independent PC game, the hit Steam release Dinoblade. While studio policies across the industry typically restrict side projects, Nguyen confirmed that Sucker Punch was "very supportive" of his work.

Quick Facts

Game: Dinoblade
Platform: PC (Steam)
Developer: Jean Nguyen with a small team including his brother
Primary Studio: Sucker Punch (Ghost of Yotei)

Developing a dinosaur action RPG alongside a demanding animation job at a major studio required formal authorization. Nguyen noted that most game studios do not permit staff to pursue independent commercial titles while employed full-time. To clear the project, Nguyen went through formal legal channels at Sucker Punch to secure approval. Crucially, Nguyen retains 100% ownership of the Dinoblade intellectual property, and he remains on staff at Sucker Punch.

The project was built alongside a few supporters, including Nguyen's brother. Beyond the legal clearance and ownership split confirmed by Nguyen, the exact terms of the agreement between the developer and Sucker Punch remain private, and no additional platform ports or studio partnerships have been announced.