The wave of layoffs in the video game and tech industry has now also reached Sony Interactive Entertainment: The PlayStation Group puts several hundred employees in front of the door. In addition, a studio in Europe will be permanently closed.
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According to Sony this is a necessary stepto “equip the company for the future”. To do this, we are taking a step back so that we can “continue to develop the best gaming experiences for the community”. Those affected by the Wave of layoffs several PlayStation Studios, with the PlayStation London Studio being hit particularly hard.
Sony: Wave of layoffs at PlayStation Group
According to its own statement, Sony Interactive Entertainment is laying off employees overall around 900 employees or about 8 percent of its global employees. Which studios are affected in detail is largely stated in the report published by President Jim Ryan e-mail not prominent – with two exceptions.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announces a reduction in its global workforce: https://t.co/O5hLTYGltq
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) February 27, 2024
The PlayStation London Studio will completely closed. Since 2002, mostly experimental games have been developed in the British capital, including: Singing star and various EyeToy games. Most recently, the focus was on developing titles for the PlayStation VR. The team also worked on one cooperative multiplayer game for the PlayStation 5, which was supposed to take place in a modern fantasy London.
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Also affected, also based in England and most recently known for VR titles: Firesprite. The creators of Horizon: Call of the Mountain are being downsized and accordingly employees have to leave. What impact this will have on Sony's VR business remains to be seen.
Sony's top studios were also affected
In addition, as reported by Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreierare also Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games and Guerrilla games affected by the layoffs. The decision is just coming a few days after Sony's financial reportin which the company stated that it had sold fewer consoles than originally expected.
The internal email Meanwhile, Jim Ryan concludes: “While these are difficult times, this is not a sign of a lack of stability in our company, our brand or our industry. Our goal is to remain agile and adaptable and to continue to do so “To focus on providing the best possible gaming experiences now and in the future.”
Sony is also not the only company, which has recently laid off countless employees. First At the end of January, Microsoft shed over 1,900 employees out. Also with the engine manufacturer Unity cut 1,800 jobswhile 500 employees at Riot Games had to leave.