PlayStation is cutting around 900 staff worldwide, around 8% of its entire workforce
PlayStation is set to lay off around 900 employees worldwide.
The news was confirmed in a statement by current SIE president and CEO Jim Ryan – set to step down next month – who said the company had made the “extremely hard decision” to reduce its overall headcount by “about 8% or about 900 people”.
The layoffs will include the entire closure of the PlayStation London Studio.
PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst has commented on the news.
Hulstsays the platform holder is “reevaluating how we operate”, and that the layoffs have also resulted in the cancellation of unnamed game projects.
“These are incredibly talented people who have been part of our success, and we are very grateful for their contributions,” Ryan’s statement reads.
“However, the industry has changed immensely, and we need to future ready ourselves to set the business up for what lies ahead.
“We need to deliver on expectations from developers and gamers and continue to propel future technology in gaming, so we took a step back to ensure we are set up to continue bringing the best gaming experiences to the community.”
A separate statement from SIE also confirmed that Insomniac Games, Naughty Dog, Guerrilla and PlayStation’s technology, creative and support teams will also be “impacted by a reduction in workforce”.
Ryan also shared a company-wide email which was sent to staff today, explaining the plans in more detail. The email states that:
US employees affected by the layoffs will be told today, while in the UK it has been proposed that:
It was announced in 2022 that Sony’s London Studio was working on an “online co-op combat game” set in a fantasy London. The status of this game is now unclear.
“For those who will be leaving SIE,” Ryan’s email continues, “you are leaving this company with our deepest respect and appreciation for all your efforts during your tenure.
“For those who will be staying at SIE – we will be saying goodbye to friends and colleagues that we cherish during this process, and this will be
Read more on videogameschronicle.com
