Sony Bend Studio, known for its iconic work on the *Days Gone* franchise, has been hit hard by a major round of layoffs, cutting about 30% of its workforce, or approximately 40 staff members. This move follows the cancellation of a live service project earlier this year, a decision that has left the studio scrambling for its next big title. In an official statement posted on their social media, Sony Bend expressed deep gratitude for the departing team members, acknowledging their crucial role in shaping the studio’s identity. The statement reads, “Today, we said goodbye to some incredibly talented teammates as we transition to our next project.
We’re deeply thankful for their contributions as they’ve shaped who we are, and their impact will always be a part of our story.”
Notably, this round of layoffs affected some long-serving members of the team, including Robert Morrison, a senior animator who had worked in the gaming industry since the mid-’90s and had previously contributed to other PlayStation Studios teams such as Santa Monica and PlayStation Studios Visual Arts. Other team members, like Kevin McAllister, creative and product lead on *Days Gone Remastered*, shared sentiments of sorrow but emphasized the team’s deep respect for those leaving. McAllister described the day as “sad” for the studio and expressed how much the team meant to him.
Schreier’s initial report highlighted that Bend Studio, like many others, has been caught in the crossfire of PlayStation’s ongoing struggles with its live service projects. The studio’s recent focus has been on spinning up a new project after its live service game was cancelled earlier this year. This marks another challenging chapter for the studio, which has seen several cancellations in recent years, leaving *Days Gone Remastered* as their only major release for the current-gen PlayStation 5.
As the landscape of gaming continues to evolve, Sony Bend is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain its place among other PlayStation studios like Insomniac and Sucker Punch, who have been able to consistently release titles on the PS5. Despite this, many fans continue to hold out hope for a *Days Gone* sequel, with some arguing that the game’s story and world still have untapped potential. However, with the recent layoffs, it seems less and less likely that the studio will be able to focus on such a project in the near future.
While Sony Bend navigates these tough times, one thing is clear: the gaming industry is changing, and only the most adaptable studios will survive. Whether that will mean a return to single-player, story-driven experiences or a shift toward more experimental forms of gameplay remains to be seen.