Update, 12:26 p.m., 10/24/23:
Game Informer reached out to Sony and PlayStation looking for affirmation of Media Molecule layoffs and extra following the discharge of GLHF’s report. A spokesperson for Sony Interactive Entertainment despatched us a hyperlink to Media Molecule’s Twitter account, the place it shared the next message:
The authentic story continues beneath…
Original story, 9:32 a.m., 10/24/23:
PlayStation first-party studio Media Molecule, which is the staff behind Dreams and LittleBigPlanet, is reportedly set to layoff round 20 staff. That’s based on a brand new report from Sports Illustrated’s GLHF, which states the information of impending layoffs was revealed throughout an inner assembly held in the present day on the studio.
The layoffs are set to cut back staff employees by 15 to 20%, with a headcount discount of 135 to 115, based on GLHF. The report would not point out a selected purpose why past employees discount, however Game Informer has reached out to PlayStation to verify the layoffs and related numbers, why the layoffs is perhaps taking place, and if affected staff will obtain severance; we’ll replace the story if we study extra or obtain remark again from PlayStation.
Media Molecule was initially an unbiased studio earlier than PlayStation acquired it in 2010. The staff is answerable for LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet 2, Tearaway, and Dreams. Read Game Informer’s LittleBigPlanet 2 overview right here after which try our Dreams overview.
These reported Media Molecule layoffs be part of an sadly ever-growing record of layoffs affecting the studios behind video games launched in 2023, which by all accounts is among the greatest years in gaming when it comes to releases. In January, Microsoft laid off 10,000 staff amidst its ongoing $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which it accomplished earlier this month.
In August, Striking Distance Studios, the staff behind final 12 months’s The Callisto Protocol, laid off greater than 30 staff, and that very same month, Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer BioWare laid off 50 staff, together with long-time studio veterans. The following month, in September, Immortals of Aveum developer Ascendant Studios laid off roughly 45% of its employees.
Just this month, The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog has laid off at the least 25 staff and Telltale Games has gone via layoffs as effectively, though an precise variety of laid off staff has not but been revealed.
The hearts of the Game Informer employees are with everybody affected by these layoffs and people nonetheless on the studio.
[Source: GLHF]
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