UPDATE: In keeping with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Sony’s closures of Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi will lead to 210 individuals being let go in whole. Firewalk sees 172 individuals lose their jobs whereas Neon Koi is one other 38.
ORIGINAL: Sony is shutting down Firewalk Studios. The information was first damaged by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, and GPlayr was rapidly in a position to corroborate with sources.
Sony made the announcement public shortly after the information broke in a message on its official web site.
“We persistently consider our video games portfolio and standing of our tasks to make sure we’re assembly close to and long-term enterprise priorities,” PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst mentioned. “As a part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen SIE’s Studio Enterprise, we’ve needed to make a troublesome choice relating to 2 of our studios – Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios.”
Hulst says that over the previous couple of months the workforce at PlayStation explored “all [their] choices” relating to the sport. Regardless of these efforts, nevertheless, the choice was made to shut the studio and sundown the sport for good.
“After a lot thought, we’ve decided the most effective path ahead is to completely sundown the sport and shut the studio,” he mentioned. ” I wish to thank all of Firewalk for his or her craftsmanship, inventive spirit and dedication.”
He continued: “I do know none of that is straightforward information to listen to, notably with colleagues and associates departing SIE. Each choices got critical thought, and in the end, we really feel they’re the correct ones to strengthen the group.”
Harmony launched in late August to lower than 1,000 gamers on Steam and roughly 25,000 copies offered. The sport was shut down two weeks later with speak of a possible return as a attainable free-to-play shooter.
In the end, that didn’t occur and Sony has moved on. There was no point out by Sony if all workers shall be let go or transfer to different areas inside the firm.
GPlayr has reached out to Sony for clarification on employment standing for these at Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi. There have been practically 14,000 identified jobs misplaced to layoffs in 2024 inside the video games business throughout practically 160 firms.
You possibly can learn Hulst’s full memo to employees under.
Expensive Group,
At present, I wish to share some necessary updates from Sony Interactive Leisure’s Studio Enterprise Group.
We persistently consider our video games portfolio and standing of our tasks to make sure we’re assembly close to and long-term enterprise priorities. As a part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen SIE’s Studio Enterprise, we’ve needed to make a troublesome choice relating to 2 of our studios – Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios.
Increasing past PlayStation units and crafting partaking on-line experiences alongside our single-player video games are key focal areas for us as we evolve our income streams. We should be strategic, although, in bringing our video games to new platforms and acknowledge when our video games fall wanting assembly participant expectations.
Whereas cell stays a precedence development space for the Studio Enterprise, we’re within the very early stage of our cell efforts. To attain success on this space we have to consider titles which are in-line with PlayStation Studios’ pedigree and have the potential to achieve extra gamers globally.
With this re-focused method, Neon Koi will shut, and its cell motion sport is not going to be shifting ahead. I wish to categorical my gratitude to everybody at Neon Koi for his or her arduous work and countless ardour to innovate.
Concerning Firewalk, as introduced in early September, sure elements of Harmony have been distinctive, however others didn’t land with sufficient gamers, and because of this we took the sport offline. We now have spent appreciable time these previous few months exploring all our choices.
After a lot thought, we’ve decided the most effective path ahead is to completely sundown the sport and shut the studio. I wish to thank all of Firewalk for his or her craftsmanship, inventive spirit and dedication.
The PvP first particular person shooter style is a aggressive house that’s constantly evolving, and sadly, we didn’t hit our targets with this title. We are going to take the teachings realized from Harmony and proceed to advance our dwell service capabilities to ship future development on this space.
I do know none of that is straightforward information to listen to, notably with colleagues and associates departing SIE. Each choices got critical thought, and in the end, we really feel they’re the correct ones to strengthen the group. Neon Koi and Firewalk have been residence to many proficient people, and we are going to work to search out placement for a few of these impacted inside our international group of studios the place attainable.
I’m a giant believer in the advantages of embracing inventive experimentation and growing new IP. Nevertheless, rising via sustainable financials, particularly in a challenged financial setting is vital.
Whereas right this moment is a troublesome day, there may be a lot to look ahead to within the months forward from the Studio Enterprise Group and our groups. I stay assured that we’re constructing a resilient and succesful group pushed by creating unforgettable leisure experiences for our gamers.
Thanks on your continued help.
