Sony Cuts Jobs at PlayStation Visual Arts and Malaysia Studios

The layoffs affect multiple teams, including those working on canceled projects and long-standing support roles, highlighting challenges in Sony's live-service strategy.

Sony has laid off an unspecified number of employees at its Visual Arts studio in San Diego and its Malaysian support studio, with affected staff informed their last day will be March 7.
The layoffs are described as widespread, impacting developers with decades of experience, including those who worked on canceled live-service projects such as Bend Studio's game.
Visual Arts, known for its contributions to The Last of Us series and other PlayStation first-party titles, has historically provided art, animation, and technical support to other studios.
Sony's recent restructuring follows a series of setbacks, including the cancellation of multiple live-service games and the closure of Firewalk and Neon Koi studios.
The downsizing reflects broader industry challenges, including rising development costs and shifting strategies under new leadership at Sony Interactive Entertainment.