In a significant shift for Sucker Punch Productions, co-founder Brian Fleming is preparing to depart from the studio at the beginning of the new year. Known for its popular titles like Ghost of Tsushima, Sly Cooper, and Infamous, Sucker Punch is setting the stage for new leadership as Fleming steps down after an impressive three-decade tenure.
Reports suggest that on January 1, Jason Connell and Adrian Bentley will assume the role of co-studio heads, with Nate Fox continuing as co-creative director alongside Connell. Adrian Bentley will also serve as technical director.
Our deepest thanks and gratitude to Sucker Punch Productions Co-Founder Brian Fleming, who is handing over the leadership reins as the studio begins a new chapter. Starting Jan 1, longtime creative and technical leaders Jason Connell and Adrian Bentley will step into new roles… pic.twitter.com/RvPzJfWHGl
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) December 16, 2025
The Legacy of Brian Fleming
Fleming, who founded Sucker Punch in 1997 alongside Bruce Oberg, Darrell Plank, Tom and Cathy Saxton, and Chris Zimmerman, initially launched the studio after working at Microsoft. Their debut into the gaming world began with the Sly Cooper series, in partnership with Sony. The collaboration extended into the creation of the Infamous series in 2009, leading to Sony’s acquisition of Sucker Punch after the release of Infamous 2 in 2011. Under Sony, the studio launched Ghost of Tsushima in 2020 and recently released a sequel, Ghost of Yōtei, in October. With Fleming’s exit, Oberg and Zimmerman remain the only original co-founders at the studio.
New Leadership Takes the Helm
Connell and Bentley are not new faces at Sucker Punch. Connell has been with the studio since 2010, starting as a lighting artist and gradually moving to lighting director, then creative and art director, and currently co-creative director of the Ghost franchise. Bentley joined in 2004 as a programmer after graduating from DigiPen Institute of Technology, climbing the ranks to engine programmer and eventually technical director.
What Lies Ahead for Sucker Punch?
Fleming leaves Sucker Punch at a seemingly strong point, with several critically and commercially acclaimed games under their belt. Ghost of Yōtei recently received positive reviews and has sold 3.3 million copies as of November 2. An additional New Game Plus mode has been made available, adding further content for fans. As Connell and Bentley take over, it remains to be seen what direction Sucker Punch will take, whether continuing with the Ghost franchise or venturing into new territories.