Sony has laid off about 30% of the workers at Bend Studio, the first-party developer of the PlayStation 4 open-world recreation Days Gone. The writer confirmed the layoffs in a press release to GameSpot.
In keeping with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, about 40 folks had been laid off from the studio.
In its assertion, Sony additionally confirmed that Bend Studio had been engaged on a live-service recreation earlier within the 12 months, however that recreation has been canceled and the studio is transferring on to a brand new, unnamed venture.
“Earlier this 12 months, Bend Studio wrapped growth on a live-service idea,” the assertion reads. “After cautious consideration, we selected to not transfer ahead with it. Because the group shifts focus to its subsequent venture, we’ve made strategic adjustments to higher place the studio for long-term success. As a part of this transition, a workforce discount has taken place on the studio. This choice was not made frivolously, and we’re extraordinarily grateful for the significant contributions of all these impacted. Bend Studio has been a valued a part of PlayStation Studios for many years, and we stay assured in its future and inventive course.”
Sony has canceled a number of video games because it introduced a deal with growing live-service ideas following its acquisition of Future 2 developer Bungie in 2022. Initially, the writer mentioned it supposed to launch 12 live-service video games by 2025, however in 2023 narrowed that determine to simply six. The Bend layoffs are simply the most recent of many Sony has made in recent times, together with the closing of Firewalk Studios after the launch of live-service first-person shooter Harmony and layoffs at Bungie following its acquisition and the discharge of Future 2’s final main enlargement, The Remaining Form.
Additionally amongst current closures was Sony’s London Studio and Deviation Video games, each shuttered in 2024. The latter studio was closed earlier than it may ship its first recreation, after being based by Name of Responsibility veterans Dave Anthony and Jason Blundell in 2020. Each studios had been reportedly engaged on video games that had been canceled of their closures.
Along with Bend’s canceled recreation, Sony reportedly canceled a live-service God of Conflict title, and developer Naughty Canine canceled The Final of Us On-line, a brand new multiplayer addition to the favored single-player collection.
Sony has additionally seen some success within the live-service enviornment, significantly with Helldivers 2 from developer Arrowhead Video games, which has bought greater than 12 million copies since its 2024 launch.