SOCOM Developer Suffers Layoffs

Hot on the heels of the releases of SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals and MAG, Sony has confirmed that developer Zipper Interactive has cut a portion of its staff.

Sony confirmed the layoffs to Gamasutra, describing it as "normal business practice and a result of cutting back on production resources after the launch of two major franchises." Sony wouldn't confirm how many employees had been fired, but Gamasutra's sources put the number at 30 or more. Whether or not such layoffs have become normal business practice, the news is unfortunate, but Sony says the Zipper will continue to support the games it has already released, and will continue creating new games in the future.

The news comes roughly a month after word that SOCOM 4's lead designer Travis Steiner left Zipper to start a new company.