Last updated on April 4th, 2024 at 11:18 am

The company will reduce its workforce by 8%, citing industry changes and the need to meet expectations from developers and gamers

Sony plans to trim approximately 900 positions in its PlayStation division, representing roughly 8% of its worldwide workforce. This move aligns with a broader trend in the technology and gaming sectors towards restructuring. The company attributed the decision to industry changes and specified that the layoffs would affect regions including the Americas, Japan, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.

In a blog post on Tuesday, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan stated, “We need to meet the expectations of developers and gamers and continue to drive future gaming technology forward, so we took a step back to ensure we are prepared to continue delivering the best gaming experiences to the community.”

Tuesday’s layoffs come just a month after Microsoft announced it would cut nearly 2,000 workers following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Similarly, Riot Games, the developer of the popular League of Legends multiplayer battle game, stated in January that it would be laying off 11% of its staff.

In London, the PlayStation Studio will be completely closed, and cuts will also be made at Firesprite studio. Additionally, reductions will occur in various functions across Sony Interactive Entertainment in the UK. Severance benefits will be provided to affected employees.

While these are challenging times, they do not reflect a lack of strength in our company, our brand, or our industry,” Ryan stated. “Our aim is to remain agile and adaptable, focusing on delivering the best gaming experiences possible, both now and in the future.”

Sony faced challenges meeting demand for its PlayStation 5 console, which was released near the end of 2020, due to ongoing supply chain issues, but it ultimately achieved high sales numbers.