Days Gone maker Bend Studio has been hit by layoffs. Roughly a 3rd of the first-party PlayStation workforce was lower following the current cancelation of an unannounced stay service mission, however Sony confirmed the studio is engaged on a brand new mission now and it stays “assured in its future and inventive route.”
“Earlier this 12 months, Bend Studio wrapped growth on a stay 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 mission, we’ve made strategic modifications to higher place the studio for long-term success. As a part of this transition, a workforce discount has taken place on the studio. This choice 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 route.”
About 40 builders on the Oregon-based studio had been laid right this moment, as first reported by Bloomberg. The mission they had been beforehand engaged on was canceled earlier this 12 months amid a purge of some inner stay service initiatives, together with an internet God of Battle spin-off at Bluepoint Video games. “Bend Studio laid off a bunch of individuals right this moment,” senior animator Robert Morrison posted on X. “I used to be part of the layoffs. I did my finest. Hopefully I can discover a new workforce to hitch.”
Greatest 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 ultimately making 2019’s open world zombie blockbuster Days Gone. The sport didn’t assessment as extremely as some PlayStation exclusives however nonetheless bought properly.
Whereas followers pined for a sequel, the studio hasn’t launched a recreation since. Days Gone acquired a PS5 model earlier this 12 months however has in any other case laid dormant as Bend Studio reportedly labored on a brand new stay service IP. Leaked pictures 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 mission had been ever shared publicly.
The Bend Studio cuts are the most recent self-inflicted wound of a PS5 era stay service pivot that’s left Sony conspicuously quick on large first-party blockbusters. Stay service spin-offs of Twisted Metallic and The Final of Us had 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 keeping with Bloomberg after it acquired adverse suggestions from exterior testing. That studio’s head, Jade Raymond, departed across the similar time.
Replace 6/10/2025 5:06 p.m. ET: Added assertion from Sony.
.
