It is a somber day for the gaming community Sony Bend, studio responsible for the widely appreciated title Days Gone, has confirmed layoffs. While the news has appeared on multiple outlets, things seem to be looking rough for the Oregon-based developers.
In an official statement on the studio's X (previously Twitter) account, the studio acknowledged departures and thanked colleagues who would not be continuing with them.
"Today, we said goodbye to some incredibly talented teammates as we transition to our next project. We thank them for their contributions and for leaving their mark on the identity and history of our studio."
The studio pronounced that these were challenging times but again assured respect for all those they walked along the path. Looking to the future, the Bend Studio vowed to "build the future of Bend Studio with creativity, passion, and innovation in the titles we craft."
The reality of these layoffs is being felt intensely by the people affected. Some members from the development storm, including a few senior veterans, voiced their discontent on social media. Morrison Robert, a senior staff animator with a long history in game, came out to confirm that he was one of them.
Kevin McAllister, who worked as creative and product lead on the Days Gone Remaster and communications manager, yet was not cut, offered the heartfelt
"It's a sad day in Bend. I love this studio; it means so much to me. Hard to put into words when something like this hits your team."
These thoughts resonated across many others in the studio.
As reported by sources such as Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, these layoffs-approximately 30% of the studio's staff-are believed to follow the cancellation of a live service project earlier this year, and it seems the studio is now attempting to go on with a new project, yet to be disclosed.
This news is highlighting a rough time for Sony Bend. While other PlayStation Studios have released multiple titles during the current console generation, the last major new release from Sony Bend happened to be Days Gone in 2019. Days Gone Remastered is their only title for the current generation, while other recent projects were canceled, apparently mid-development.
It is a painful situation for a studio that has for so long been an important contributor to PlayStation's first-party offerings. The industry, and fans, will be closely watching to see what happens next for Sony Bend as they walk through these changes and concentrate on their next creative pursuit.
