Sony plans to lay off approximately 900 employees in its PlayStation sector, which accounts for about 8% of its total workforce worldwide. This move follows a trend among companies in the technology and gaming industry to downsize their staff.

The company stated that the restructuring was driven by industry shifts. The reduction in workforce will affect employees in the Americas, Japan, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region.

On Tuesday, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan, stated in a blog post that their company is dedicated to meeting the expectations of both developers and gamers. They are focused on driving advancements in gaming technology and have taken a moment to evaluate their strategies in order to maintain their commitment to delivering top-notch gaming experiences for the community.

Tuesday’s layoffs arrive one month after Microsoft said it would cut nearly 2,000 workers after its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. And Riot Games, the developer of the popular League of Legends multiplayer battle game, said in January that it was laying off 11% of its staff.

The PlayStation Studio in London will be shutting down entirely, and cuts will also be implemented at the Firesprite studio. Sony Interactive Entertainment in the UK will also see reductions in different roles, according to the company. Severance packages will be offered to impacted employees.

Ryan stated that although the current circumstances may be difficult, it does not reflect any weakness in our company, brand, or industry. He expressed our company’s commitment to staying flexible and resilient and providing exceptional gaming experiences both presently and in the future.

Sony faced difficulties in keeping up with the demand for its Playstation 5 console, which was launched in late 2020, due to consistent problems with its supply chain. However, the company eventually managed to achieve strong sales figures.

Source: theguardian.com