Layoffs Strike Bend Studio Amid New Project Development
In a significant shakeup within the gaming industry, Bend Studio, a first-party developer under Sony, has announced a fresh round of layoffs. According to a report by Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, the studio is parting ways with a notable portion of its workforce as it gears up for a new gaming project.
“Today, we said goodbye to some incredibly talented teammates as we transition to our next project, ”said Bend Studio in a social media post today.“We’re deeply thankful for their contributions as they’ve shaped who we are, and their impact will always be part of our story.”
Bend Studio is primarily recognized for its 2019 title, Days Gone, an immersive open-world game featuring a post-apocalyptic zombie narrative, which even received a remaster earlier this year. Historically, the studio has been the creative force behind the beloved Syphon Filter series and has developed multiple games for Sony’s handheld consoles, such as Resistance: Retribution and Uncharted: Golden Abyss.
“This is a difficult moment for our team, but we hold immense respect for everyone who got us here, ”the company added.“As we move forward, we remain committed to building the future of Bend Studio with creativity, passion, and innovation in the titles we craft.”
While official figures on the layoffs were not disclosed by Sony, Schreier has indicated that around 30% of Bend Studio’s workforce, equating to approximately 40 employees, have been affected.
This announcement follows Sony’s recent decision to cancel two live service games that were under development at both Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. The specifics regarding those canceled titles remain under wraps. At that time, Sony expressed admiration for both studios, emphasizing their integral role within the PlayStation Studios family. Speculation now arises regarding the potential for further layoffs at Bluepoint, which had been working on a live service variant of God of War.
