Overview

• Bend Studio laid off about 40 employees, roughly 30% of its workforce, after Sony cancelled its live-service game earlier this year.
• Sony confirmed the studio will work on a new, undisclosed project as part of efforts to position Bend Studio for long-term success.
• The move comes after Sony trimmed its live-service slate from an initial goal of 12 titles by 2025 down to six following its 2022 acquisition of Bungie.
• Other PlayStation Studios have faced similar cuts, including the cancellation of a God of War live-service project at Bluepoint Games and the 2024 closure of Firewalk Studios.
• Analysts say these actions reflect a broader restructuring across Sony’s first-party teams and a pullback from ambitious live-service ventures.