Sony’s first-party Bend Studio has undergone a round of layoffs following the cancellation of “a live service concept”.
As first reported by Bloomberg, it’s claimed that roughly a third of employees have been affected by redundancies.
Sony has not confirmed this number, but has issued a statement via Kotaku.
“Earlier this year, Bend Studio wrapped development on a live service concept. After careful consideration, we chose not to move forward with it,” a spokesperson said.
“As the team shifts focus to its next project, we’ve made strategic changes to better position the studio for long-term success. As part of this transition, a workforce reduction has taken place at the studio.
“This decision was not made lightly, and we are extremely grateful for the meaningful contributions of all those impacted. Bend Studio has been a valued part of PlayStation Studios for decades, and we remain confident in its future and creative direction.”
Sony confirmed the cancellation of Bend Studio’s live service concept earlier this year, alongside a title from Bluepoint Games.
“Bend and Bluepoint are highly accomplished teams who are valued members of the PlayStation Studios family, and we are working closely with each studio to determine what are the next projects,” a spokesperson noted.