by Stacy Jones on Mar 31, 2011
Layoffs are inevitable in the gaming industry and industry giant Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) is not immune. The developer recently announced that it will be closing its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios as part of a strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of 205 jobs. Additionally, SOE will cease production on its spy-based MMOG The Agency to focus resources on the launch of two other MMOGs based on its Planetside and EverQuest IPs.
As always our best wishes go out to those affected by the layoffs. Check out SOE's official statement below.
As part of a strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce, SOE announced today that it will eliminate 205 positions and close its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios. As part of this restructuring, SOE is discontinuing production of The Agency so it can focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games. All possible steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern.
This strategic decision will have no impact on SOEs current portfolio of live games; additionally SOE will transition development efforts for the Denver and Tucson studios suite of products to its San Diego headquarters. This strategic alignment of development resources better positions SOE to remain a global leader in online gaming and deliver on its promise of creating entertaining games for players of all ages, and servicing the 20 million players that visited SOE servers in just the past year.