Sony lays off 900 PlayStation employees

a team,

It is important to provide you with updates about the work as much as possible. Today I write with sad news. Through discussions over the past few months about the evolving economic landscape, changes in the way we develop, distribute, and launch products, and ensuring our organization is future-ready in this rapidly changing industry, we have come to the conclusion that difficult decisions are becoming inevitable. The leadership team and I have made the very difficult decision to restructure operations, which unfortunately includes a reduction in our workforce that has impacted the very talented individuals who have contributed to our success.

After careful consideration and many leadership discussions over several months, it became clear that changes had to be made to continue to grow the business and develop the company. We had to step back, look at our business holistically, and move forward with a focus on the long-term sustainability of the company and providing the best possible experiences for our community. The goal is to streamline our resources to ensure our continued success and ability to deliver the experiences players and creators expect from us.

I want to be as transparent as possible with you, our partners, and our community about what this means:

We envision reducing our headcount by approximately 900 people, or approximately 8% of our current workforce

There will be an impact on employees across all SIE regions – Americas, EMEA, Japan and Asia Pacific

Several PlayStation studios are affected

I know that receiving this news will be difficult and upsetting as you wonder what this means for you. The timelines and procedures for how we handle this matter will vary based on your location and local laws and regulations.

For those of you in the US, all affected employees will be notified today.

In the UK it is suggested:

PlayStation Studios' London studio will be completely shut down;

That there will be sales at Firesprite Studio;

And that there will be cuts in various jobs across SIE in the UK.

The proposed changes mean that we will enter a period of collective consultation before any final decisions are made. All employees who are part of the collective consultation will be informed of next steps today.

In Japan, we will implement the following job support program. Details will be sent separately.

In other countries, we will begin conversations with those potentially at risk or affected as a result of this proposed course of action.

For those who are leaving SIE: You are leaving this company with our deepest respect and appreciation for all your efforts during your tenure.

For those who will be staying at SIE: We will be saying goodbye to the friends and colleagues we cherish during this process, and it will be painful. Your flexibility, sensitivity and adaptability will be crucial in the coming weeks and months.

This will not be easy, and I am aware of the impact on well-being. Affected employees will receive support, including severance pay. Although these times are challenging, they do not indicate a lack of strength in our company, brand, or industry. Our goal is to remain flexible, adaptable and stay focused on delivering the best gaming experiences possible now and in the future.

We thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. Please be kind to yourselves and to each other.

Jim