PlayStation cuts 900 jobs, closes London studio ‘for the future’

February 27, 2024, 19:07

PlayStation is laying off 900 people and closing its London studio as it seeks to “prepare for the future”.

Jim Ryan, the gaming giant’s chief executive, said the company had made a “very difficult decision” because “the industry has changed significantly.”

He said the company needed to prepare “for the future” with layoffs representing about 8 percent of PlayStation’s global workforce.

The move comes after many other technology and gaming companies have also cut jobs in recent months.

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In an email to PlayStation staff, Ryan said the London studio would be shutting down “for good.”

He added that there would be job cuts at the company’s Liverpool-based Firesprite Studios and “reductions in various functions across Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) in the UK”.

“The PlayStation community means everything to us, so we felt it was important to update you on this difficult day at our company,” Ryan said in a blog post.

“We have made the very difficult decision to announce plans to begin reducing our workforce by approximately 8%, or approximately 900 people, globally, subject to local laws and consultation processes.

“Employees around the world are affected, including at our studios.

“They are incredibly talented people who have contributed to our success, and we are extremely grateful for their contributions.

“However, the industry is changing significantly and we need to prepare our businesses for the future.

“We need to continue to meet developer and gamer expectations and drive future technology in gaming, so we’ve taken a step back to ensure we’re positioned to continue delivering the best gaming experience to our community.”