Sony has announced ‘significant’ layoffs that are set to affect PlayStation, with around 900 employees (8% of the workforce) being made redundant globally. This decision will impact most of PlayStation’s studios, including well-known ones like Insomniac (Spider-Man), Naughty Dog (The Last of Us), Firesprite (PSVR), and Guerrilla (Horizon).
The hardest-hit will be PlayStation’s London Studio, which will be completely closed down. This move is said to be part of a larger effort to ‘deliver the best gaming experiences possible’, but it adds to the wave of layoffs that have plagued the industry in the past year.
‘Difficult News About Our Workforce’
The announcement was made by SIE’s President & CEO, Jim Ryan, who will soon be leaving Sony after a thirty-year tenure. Ryan explained that these changes are necessary for the company to grow and develop in the long term, focusing on delivering the best experiences for the gaming community.
“After careful consideration and many leadership discussions over several months, it has become clear changes need to be made to continue to grow the business and develop the company. We had to step back, look at our business holistically, and move forward focusing on the long-term sustainability of the company and delivering the best experiences possible for our community. The goal is to streamline our resources to ensure our continued success and ability to deliver experiences gamers and creators have come to expect from us.”
These layoffs will affect regions across the world, and Ryan assured that support, including severance benefits, will be provided to affected employees. Despite the challenges, Ryan emphasized that this restructuring does not reflect weakness in the company, brand, or industry. The aim is to remain adaptable and continue providing top-notch gaming experiences.
With over 12,000 industry workers losing their jobs in the past year, the gaming and esports sectors are under immense pressure. The trend of layoffs shows no signs of stopping, making it a challenging time for the business.
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