Sony’s Bend Studio — the team behind Days Gone, the Syphon Filter series, and other popular titles — has conducted another round of layoffs, affecting about 30 per cent of its workforce. The layoffs followed the cancellation of a yet-to-be-announced live service game that the studio was developing earlier this year. After shelving this project, the studio has shifted its focus to a new, unnamed game.
Earlier this year, Sony also officially cancelled the live service games previously in development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games.
The company described these decisions as “strategic changes” made in pursuit of long-term success.
Bend Studio has reportedly expressed its appreciation to the departing team members — a total of 40 — for their roles and contributions, which helped the studio achieve what it has to date.
It’s worth noting that Bend Studio is best known for developing Days Gone, an open-world zombie survival game that first released in 2019 on the PS4. Set against the dramatic landscapes of Oregon, the game earned a following for its rich world and cinematic gameplay. The PS5 remaster further enhanced its popularity with improved graphics and performance.
Fans are now eager to see what Bend is developing next — with many hoping for a sequel to Days Gone — although no official details have been revealed.
