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Report: Driveclub Developer To Lose Half Its Staff
The recently announced layoffs at Driveclub developer Evolution Studios in England may have cut the number of employees at the company in half, according to a report.
Eurogamer talked to two independent sources "close to the studio," who total the losses at 55 staff members – half the studio.
One source told the site that some of the employees may return as contractors, but no decisions have been made.
Last week it was announced that Evolution Studios would be downsizing and focusing on the franchise "as a service," including the release of the long-delayed free PlayStation Plus edition.
When we originally contacted Sony with a request for further elaboration on the layoffs, the company did not respond.
[Source: Eurogamer]
Our Take
While it's easy to see these layoffs as a punitive measure for the game's launch, the larger context is Sony's wider financial troubles. Unfortunately, it puts the Sony and the PS4 in a bad spot. Diminishing the capacity of a first-party developer only reduces the chances of getting a successful project – something that Sony needs, as gaming remains the lone bright spot for the company.
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