Last week, a report on the development of the online game Twisted Metal by Firesprite studio was released. Sony, yesterday, laid off 900 employees, approximately 8% of its workforce, resulting in the closure of its London studios. Several projects, including the new vehicular combat game, were completely canceled.
The news of extensive employee layoffs was reported by Bloomberg. Following the reports, PlayStation issued a press statement declaring a change in strategy and a reassessment of several projects and studios. Sony’s recent decisions led to the cancellation of the online game The Last of Us, and now, the cancellation of Twisted Metal.
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The new vehicular combat game was in development by Firesprite studio, and rumors suggested its production was just beginning. Consequently, Sony canceled the game in its early stages of production. It’s worth mentioning that Jim Ryan visited London studios, known for creating virtual reality games, last week. Today, the news of the studio’s closure was announced, leaving employees bewildered. Many were surprised by the studio’s closure and believe Sony is not even confident in VR game production, indicating a significant change in strategy.
Cancellation of Twisted Metal
The 900 laid-off developers are from studios like Naughty Dog, Guerrilla Games, and Insomniac Games, which have produced the majority of PlayStation’s games in recent years. The cancellation of The Last of Us online contributed to the layoffs at Naughty Dog. The reason for the dismissal of other employees is unclear. Jim Ryan stated in an email to employees that they had to make a difficult decision and significant structural changes were made.
Jim Ryan further added that the laid-off employees would leave the company with the utmost respect, thanking them for their contributions. He described this decision and situation as “painful.” Microsoft also laid off around 1,900 employees last month, and the trend of workforce realignment in gaming companies continues strongly. The year 2024 witnessed the largest workforce realignment in the history of the video game industry. The significant growth of gaming during the pandemic followed by a decline has led many companies to decide on cost-cutting measures.
According to reports, Twisted Metal will not be developed. The production of the online game Horizon Zero Dawn is reportedly ongoing, and at the same time, changes in the production process of PlayStation games have been made. The closure of the London studio may signify Sony’s increased support for the PC platform and the possibility of PC games being playable on the PSVR 2 headset. What are your thoughts? What changes do you think will occur in the PlayStation business?
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