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Sony announced on Tuesday that it would lay off about 900 staff, representing 8% of its PlayStation division’s workforce.
The U.S. cuts will be made at Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog, along with the company’s technology, creative and support teams, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst said in a note posted on Sony Interactive Entertainment’s website. .
In addition, PlayStation Studios’ London location will be closed and other locations in the UK will be downsized, including other locations in Europe including Firesprite in Liverpool and Guerrilla Games in Amsterdam.
The memo states that some projects will not be able to move forward, but does not specify which ones.
“Our industry is continually experiencing fundamental changes that impact the way we all create and play games,” Hulst’s memo said. “To deliver the immersive, narrative-driven stories that PlayStation Studios is known for, in the high-quality bar we aspire to, we need to re-evaluate how we operate.”
The company will require “a different approach and different resources,” the note continued, adding that “growth itself is not an ambition.”
“Our philosophy has always been to allow for creative experimentation,” he said. “Sometimes a great idea doesn’t become a great game. In some cases, a project begins with the best of intentions before changes within the market or industry change plans.”
The layoffs follow layoffs at other video game companies in recent months, including 1,900 jobs lost at Microsoft’s Blizzard and Xbox in January. In September, Fortnite maker Epic Games cut 830 jobs.
“We have made a very difficult decision,” outgoing Sony Interactive CEO Jim Ryan said in a blog post. “They are incredibly talented people who have contributed to our success and we are extremely grateful for their contributions. However, the industry has changed significantly and we We need to be ready to build our business for the future. We need to meet the expectations of developers and gamers and continue to drive future technology in gaming, so we can provide our community with the best gaming experience. We took a step back to see if we were ready to continue delivering.”
Sony Group’s U.S.-listed shares rose 4 cents to $86.11 after the opening bell. The stock price has fallen about 8% since the beginning of the year.
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