Job Losses at London Studio as PlayStation VR Worlds Dev Is Completed

Team restructuring around new projects

by Sammy Barker Thu 15th Sep 2016

PlayStation VR Worlds PS4 PlayStation 4 1

Sony San Diego's not the only team in the platform holder's stable to sadly lose staff this week, as London Studio has also been struck by a round of layoffs. The first-party team has led the charge on PlayStation VR over the past few years, and it's behind one of the peripheral's showpiece launch titles: PlayStation VR Worlds.

However, in a statement sent to GamesIndustry.biz, the Japanese giant explained that it's reducing the team's workforce while it prepares for its next project: "The team will take all their learnings and experience as they move forward, however in order to achieve its ambitious goals, the studio will need to restructure around the needs of the new projects."

The silver lining is that Sony is at least trying to reallocate some staff to different projects, so fingers crossed everyone lands on their feet. Either way, we'd like to wish everyone affected our very best.

[source gamesindustry.biz, via eurogamer.net]

As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.

1
Berto_Gamut
Thu 15th Sep 2016

Yeah...VR is totally not too expensive to produce!

2
viciousarcanum
Thu 15th Sep 2016

Isn't this what usually happens when a project is completed?

3
wiiware
Thu 15th Sep 2016

I hope london studio make the london heist in to a full game.

4
get2sammyb
Thu 15th Sep 2016

@viciousarcanum Yes, unfortunately. Some devs have found a way to avoid it with DLC and stuff, but PlayStation VR Worlds isn't going to be one of those games.

5
HUMPERDOO
Thu 15th Sep 2016

I hope they all find new work obviously, but is this really so different to, say, film production? Or most creative projects for that matter? You're hired for your particular skill set for the duration of the project, which could be anything from days to years, and when it's completed you move on to something else, your team having achieved its goal. It's freelance essentially. I work in film and that's one of the reasons I enjoy it like I do - the variety provided by not being in one place too long.

(this isn't meant to be a gripe btw, just a point of discussion)

6
Victor_Meldrew
Thu 15th Sep 2016

I do find it odd though that these staff have worked on a new genre technically speaking and then being dumped despite their new and I assume needed skill set. Just a bit daft.

7
Tasuki
Thu 15th Sep 2016

This sounds more like people who were hired on for this project and, they probably knew that. Kinda like how stores hire holiday help around the holidays and after the holidays let the people go. Companies disclose that when they hire these people and they know that their jobs may not be permanent.

8
thedevilsjester
Thu 15th Sep 2016

@viciousarcanum Absolutely. This is what those developers sign up for when they get hired on for the job. Why is this a story? This happens to nearly every major studio when every major title is completed. Its part of being a game developer just as much as "not working during the summer" is part of the job of being a teacher.