Massive Cuts at Sony

8% of Sony employees laid off!

Author

Zion Meiko
February 27, 2024

The new trend of video game companies laying off their employees…

A month ago, Microsoft announced layoffs of nearly 2,000 workers after acquiring Activision Blizzard. Riot Games also recently fired 11% of its staff. Sony just announced that they will lay off approximately 900 employees, which amounts to about 8% of its global workforce, specifically within its PlayStation division. More and more companies are restructuring due to industry and financial changes. 

Jim Ryan, the chief of PlayStation, explained the situation in a blog post:

“After careful consideration and many leadership discussions over several months, it has become clear changes need to be made to continue to grow the business and develop the company. We had to step back, look at our business holistically, and move forward focusing on the long-term sustainability of the company and delivering the best experiences possible for our community.”

Jim Ryan

The layoffs will impact various regions, including:

  • The Americas

  • Europe

  • Japan

  • The Middle East

  • Africa

  • Asia Pacific region

The place getting the worst cuts is the PlayStation Studios' London Studio; they’ve been shut down entirely, Firesprite studio is experiencing downsizing, and staff cuts at Guerrilla, Insomniac, and Naughty Dog. Luckily those laid off will receive severance benefits.

The decision to downsize comes after careful consideration and extensive discussions among Sony's leadership team. It reflects the company's strategic approach to ensure long-term sustainability and to prioritize delivering exceptional gaming experiences to its community amidst a rapidly changing industry landscape. It’s been a challenging era for our video game companies and their employees. I wonder who will be next?…

Happy drawing & sincerely yours,

ArtBeat