Mass Layoff At Days Gone Studio After Reside Service Cancelation

Days Gone maker Bend Studio has been hit by layoffs. Roughly a 3rd of the first-party PlayStation workforce was minimize following the latest cancelation of an unannounced dwell service challenge, however Sony confirmed the studio is engaged on a brand new challenge now and it stays “assured in its future and inventive course.”

“Earlier this yr, Bend Studio wrapped growth on a dwell service idea. After cautious consideration, we selected to not transfer ahead with it,” a spokesperson for Sony confirmed to Kotaku in an e-mail. “Because the workforce shifts focus to its subsequent challenge, we’ve made strategic adjustments to raised place the studio for long-term success. As a part of this transition, a workforce discount has taken place on the studio. This determination 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.”

About 40 builders on the Oregon-based studio have been laid at this time, as first reported by Bloomberg. The challenge they have been beforehand engaged on was canceled earlier this yr amid a purge of some inner dwell service initiatives, together with an internet God of Struggle spin-off at Bluepoint Video games. “Bend Studio laid off a bunch of individuals at this time,” senior animator Robert Morrison posted on X. “I used to be part of the layoffs. I did my greatest. Hopefully I can discover a new workforce to hitch.”

Finest recognized for the Syphon Filter espionage video games within the PS1 and PS2 eras, Bend Studio later moved on to growing handheld ports of first-party franchises like Resistance and Uncharted earlier than finally making 2019’s open world zombie blockbuster Days Gone. The sport didn’t evaluate as extremely as some PlayStation exclusives however nonetheless offered effectively.

Whereas followers pined for a sequel, the studio hasn’t launched a recreation since. Days Gone obtained a PS5 model earlier this yr however has in any other case laid dormant as Bend Studio reportedly labored on a brand new dwell service IP. Leaked photos made it seem just like the now canceled recreation was an internet multiplayer loot shooter of types, although no official particulars in regards to the challenge have been ever shared publicly.

The Bend Studio cuts are the newest self-inflicted wound of a PS5 technology dwell service pivot that’s left Sony conspicuously quick on huge first-party blockbusters. Reside service spin-offs of Twisted Metallic and The Final of Us have been additionally canceled, whereas Harmony’s launch went so poorly the corporate refunded the sport and shutdown the studio behind it which had acquired only a couple years prior.

One other upcoming on-line shooter, Fairgame$, was lately delayed in accordance with Bloomberg after it obtained detrimental suggestions from exterior testing. That studio’s head, Jade Raymond, departed across the identical time.

Replace 6/10/2025 5:06 p.m. ET: Added assertion from Sony.

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