Update: Sony has responded to our request for comment on the layoffs at three studios in the UK, confirming the matter.
“Regular reviews take place throughout SCE Worldwide Studios, ensuring that the resources that we have in such a competitive business can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects," a Sony representative told Game Informer via email. "As part of this process, we have reviewed and assessed all current projects and have decided to make some changes to some of our European Studios. As a result of this, there will be a focused restructure within London Studio, Guerrilla Cambridge Studio and Evolution Studio to ensure that the SCE WWS is in the best position to achieve their goals going forward. Our first party development studios are key to our creative strategy and we are very excited about the future projects being worked on.”
Original Story:
Sony is set for a $1.1 billion company-wide loss when its fiscal year ends on March 31, despite strong performance in the games division. Even strong sales of the PlayStation 4 aren’t insulating first party studios from restructuring and layoffs according to reports this morning.
Videogamer is reporting that three UK studios have suffered an unknown number of layoffs. The three teams in question are London Studio (Playroom for PS4, The Deep demo for Project Morpheus), Guerrilla Cambridge (Killzone Mercenary for Vita), Evolution Studios (Driveclub).
These layoffs follow cuts made to Sony’s Santa Monica studio earlier this month. That action also reportedly saw the cancelation of a new intellectual property at the studio. God of War III director Stig Asmussen also recently departed the company.
We’ve reached out to SCEA for comment and confirmation along with a request for more information about the projects and number of employees impacted by the layoffs. We’ll update should we receive a response.
[Source: Videogamer]
Our Take
Our thoughts are with those who find themselves out of work due to this recent round of layoffs. Given Sony’s corporate shortfall in the current fiscal year, I expect we’ll see more streamlining and layoffs in the coming months.