Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced significant layoffs in 2024, with about 900 employees across multiple studios being let go. PlayStation’s London Studio will be shut down as a result of these cuts.
In a blog post, departing Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan stated that these layoffs represent approximately 8% of PlayStation’s workforce. Ryan explained, “The leadership team and I made the incredibly difficult decision to restructure operations, which regrettably includes a reduction in our workforce impacting very talented individuals who have contributed to our success.”
Sony has confirmed that these cuts will affect several PlayStation studios globally. Employees in the U.S. will be notified today, while plans for a “next career support program” will be implemented in Japan. In the U.K., a period of collective consultation will precede final decisions, including layoffs at Firesprite and the complete closure of PlayStation’s London Studio.
Founded in 2002, London Studio gained recognition for its work on the PS2’s EyeToy and SingStar. In more recent years, the studio focused on VR, creating games like Blood & Truth and PlayStation VR Worlds. However, its planned live service fantasy game and any future projects are now unlikely to be realized.
The video game industry has seen over 17,000 developers lose their jobs in 2023 and 2024. Recent closures include Gute De Fabrik and layoffs at Supermassive Games.
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