A New PlayStation Promo Suggests Sony Has Acquired the Kena IP from Ember Lab

Sony has released a new promotional sizzle reel trailer featuring Thai performer and PlayStation ambassador Lisa.

On first glance there is little remarkable about the video, which cycles through several current and upcoming PlayStation Studios titles, including Marvel’s Tokon: Fighting Souls, God of War Laufey, and Kena: Scars of Kosmora.

The trailer can be seen below:

However, the final game mentioned has drawn some attention, owing entirely to some barely perceptible fine print.

Sharp-eyed viewers have noticed a copyright notice that conflicts with previously established information: beneath footage of the game it reads “©Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC,” alongside the statement, “Kena Scars of Kosmora is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC.”

Upon investigation, nearly every other source indicates that the rights-holder is in fact Ember Lab, the developer behind the game and its predecessor, Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

That said, it remains entirely possible that listings for Scars of Kosmora are simply out of date and will be updated in due course.

While certainty is not possible, it seems likely that Sony has in fact acquired the Kena IP from the studio.

In recent history, PlayStation has sought to retain ownership of IPs it has published, a stance made fairly clear in its dealings with Kojima Productions.

Sony originally held ownership of Death Stranding, but this was relinquished to Kojima Productions in November 2024.

The company’s withdrawal from the Physint project is also said to have stemmed from IP rights concerns; Sony wished to own the trademark, but Kojima Productions declined to cooperate.

Sony thus appears to be pushing for full ownership of the games it publishes. With Kena: Scars of Kosmora and this new disclaimer, it would seem it has successfully negotiated with Ember Lab to take control of the IP, and the text in the video is unlikely to be a mistake.

Some are also speculating that this could imply Sony has acquired Ember Lab itself, though that is, in the author’s view, a stretch.

Readers are invited to share their thoughts in the comments section below.