Sony plans to cut about 900 jobs in its PlayStation division, or about 8% of its global workforce, becoming the latest company in the technology and gaming sector to announce layoffs.
Sony cited changes in the industry as a reason for the restructuring.
“The industry has changed dramatically, and we need to future-proof ourselves to prepare the business for what lies ahead,” Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan said in a blog post on Tuesday. “We need to meet developer and player expectations and continue to push future technology in games, so we've taken a step back to make sure we're ready to continue delivering the best gaming experiences to the community.”
Tuesday's layoffs come one month after Microsoft announced it would cut nearly 2,000 workers following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Riot Games, developer of the popular multiplayer fighting game League of Legends, said in January that it would lay off 11% of its employees.
The job cuts will occur in the Americas, Japan, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
In London, PlayStation Studio will be completely closed. Cuts will also take place at Firesprite Studio. Additionally, cuts will be made to various positions across Sony Interactive Entertainment in the UK, the company said.
End of service compensation will be provided to affected employees.
“While these times are challenging, they do not indicate a lack of strength in our company, brand or industry,” Ryan said. “Our goal is to remain flexible, adaptable and remain focused on delivering the best gaming experiences possible now and in the future.”
