Sony Layoffs Discussion

[VV1LLC]

While I understand it's an industry thing, Sony's lost a lot of good people this year...

Sadly the news aren't getting any better...

Today IGN reported even more layoffs... The report only states that they're "numerous" and they would hit 3 studios Evolution, Guerilla and SCE London... (I would post link, but I cant yet cause Im new , so soon)


So could be it that these franchises have simply ended their profitable lifespan... Or could it be something more serious?

Let me know what you guys think!

 

[Razor]

I figure it's just people being dropped or slimming down teams partially for reasons you said: projects are over or no longer as profitable at the moment. I also think it could be conserving money.

 

[Stuck_X_Button]

So could be it that these franchises have simply ended their profitable lifespan... Or could it be something more serious?

I don't think it's serious (well for those being released it is), but it's just that some studios aren't as busy as they could be and some series aren't doing as hot (not to say that series couldn't be resuscitated).

 

[SpaceTiger]

I think it's just general layoffs. They occur every year really, it's just that they're making news lately. Last year EA layoff a bunch of people. It seems like standard practice.

 

[DrRipley]

I agree with the comments here. Sony is such a big company that changes constantly, that I think it would be exceptional for them not to have layoffs once in a while. I'm sure they are just moving on with some of their titles or projects and it's probably necessary to make way for new ones.

 

[Razor]

Who knows, those being released might make their own studio. I'm sure they'll end up somewhere else regardless.

 

[cenarion]

Well layoffs are pretty much standard in the videogames industry. In the later stages of game development companies need a lot more manpower than in the beginning. Since Killzone: Shadow Fall was released recently it is pretty expectable that layoffs happened at GG.

 

[Ghost_of_Crash]

Layoffs have always happened, it's just that we're more aware of it now with more news sources, social media, and people willing to talk on it and get their voice out.

 

[NuclearDragon]

Who knows, those being released might make their own studio. I'm sure they'll end up somewhere else regardless.

I wouldn't be surprised if a few of those released formed their own studio and actually mentioned a game early next year. That or they'll just get work with other studios.

 

[yossup]

Although this is depressing, I think it's a sign of the times. I think my generation was basically the peak of video gaming. As more people use the mobile platform, I think we'll see more game development over in that space. It's quite depressing as there's just not enough that you can do from a simple touch interface but you have to understand that this is the 21st century and people will follow the money. Less people are paying money for console gaming so it was foreseeable.

 

[mikka254]

I think that as technology advances, they will be less need for human labour. The PlayStation workforce probably did such a good job that the system already runs by itself by now. Of course the animators have to be around, but some job cuts were inevitable.

 

[jstep7262]

The thing is, Sony isn't just games. It has so many various branches focusing on such a wide variety of items. It really sounds like this is more of a movie related cut back this time, although they said they are making cuts to every department. It just thinning out the employees and making them work even harder for their jobs. Pretty common in my neck of the woods (automotive) unfortunately. I found this in a Variety article:

Sony Pictures Entertainment has begun layoffs for hundreds of employees, including approximately 216 people in its Culver City headquarters and its entire Interactive team, which numbers more than 70 people, both in California and elsewhere.

The interactive team, which serves as a digital marketing agency and production studio for the studio’s product, has worked on films such as “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” “Skyfall,” “The Smurfs,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “This Is the End,” “Hotel Transylvania,” “Looper” and “Men In Black” as well as TV shows like “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.” It also worked on social games and the studio’s mobile marketing presence.

 

[Maou]

Big layoffs in the videogame industry is nothing unheard off, I dare say its pretty common actually.
As jstep7262 also stated Sony is a big company with a huge variety of products ranging from cameras, tablets, phones to computers.
The cuts will be made to every department, I'm sure not a single one will particularly suffer much from it

 

[desarijulian]

True the cuts seem to be spread throughout the different branches of the company, but I'm not surprised. The cuts across the industry has been brutal. Studios shut down, publishers going under, even press and websites have closed there doors. It's always sad to hear about it but it's business.